Amy Chasanov litigates environmental and natural resource matters, participates in proposed state and federal rulemakings, and advises clients on environmental compliance and enforcement matters. Ms. Chasanov has worked on matters involving a number of environmental statutes, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Superfund, and Safe Drinking Water Act. Ms. Chasanov's work is often focused on the energy industry, and she has represented clients before numerous federal district and appellate courts, as well as the Interior Board of Land Appeals. She has also analyzed the federal government's Clean Water Act jurisdiction in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006). Ms. Chasanov has also devoted a significant amount of time to pro bono matters, including representing clients on worker's compensation and employment discrimination matters, and improving the District of Columbia's unemployment insurance program.
Representative Matters
· Represent major oil companies before federal agencies concerning environmental regulatory issues arising from the April 2010 BP Macondo Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
· Represented Shell Offshore Inc. in various NEPA lawsuits in the Ninth Circuit and in District Court for the District of Alaska which challenge the federal government's decisions to allow major offshore arctic Alaska oil exploration. Native Village of Point Hope v. Salazar, No. 09-73942 (9th Cir.); Native Village of Point Hope v. Salazar, No. 08-00004 (D. Alaska).
· Represented the City of Dallas in NEPA challenge to Fish and Wildlife Service's designation of a national wildlife refuge in Texas. City of Dallas v. Hall, 562 F.3d 712 (5th Cir. 2009), cert denied.
· In matter currently on appeal to the Tenth Circuit, successfully represented consortium of oil and gas companies who intervened in NEPA lawsuit challenging government's decision to allow coalbed natural gas development on federal leases in Wyoming. Western Org. of Resource Councils v. BLM, No. 04-CV-18-J, slip op. (D. Wyo. Nov. 26, 2008).
· Represented Marathon Oil Company in successful challenge to EPA's definition of "navigable waters" in its 2002 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule. American Petroleum Institute, v. Johnson, 541 F. Supp. 2d 165 (D.D.C. 2008).
· On behalf of Marathon Oil Company, drafted comments on EPA's proposed rules and guidance, including proposed changes to the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule; EPA and Corps of Engineer's joint guidance interpreting Rapanos; and a potential effluent limit guideline for coalbed natural gas.
· On behalf of Marathon Oil Company, drafted comments and participated in Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission state rulemaking.
· Represented Nuclear Energy Institute in challenge to regulatory standards applicable to Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. Nuclear Energy Institute, Inc. v. EPA, 373 F.3d 1251 (D.C. Cir. 2004).
· Represented Nuclear Energy Institute in challenge to regulatory rulemaking under Safe Drinking Water Act. City of Waukesha v. EPA, 320 F.3d 228 (D.C. Cir. 2003).
· Represented City of San Bernardino in successful settlement of CERCLA cost recovery action against the U.S. Army for contamination of city's water supply resulting from World War II-era Army operations. City of San Bernardino v. United States Army, No. CV 96-8667 MRP (C.D. Cal).
· Before the Ninth Circuit, defended the University of Arizona against efforts to prevent the construction of astronomical observatory complex.
· Represented government contractor in complex False Claims Act case. United States, ex rel. Wilkins v. North American Constr. Corp., 173 F. Supp. 2d 601, (S.D. Tex.2001).
Recent Testimony
· Testimony Before U.S. House of Representatives, Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support on Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act, H.R. 2233 (Sept. 19, 2007)
Publications
· "Clean Water Act Jurisdiction: Navigating The Rapanos Quagmire," Crowell & Moring's Mining Law Monitor, Vol. 26, Issue 1 (Spring 2011). Co-Authors: Amy B. Chasanov and Michael Bogert.
Alerts & Newsletters
· "Supreme Court Allows Pre-Enforcement Jurisdictional Challenges To EPA Compliance Orders - Applicability Beyond the Clean Water Act Is Unclear," Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert (March 29, 2012). Contacts: Amy B. Chasanov, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Monica M. Welt.
· "BOEMRE Proposes Additional SEMS Program Requirements," Environment & Natural Resources Law Alert (September 28, 2011). Contacts: Susan M. Mathiascheck, Duane A. Siler, Kyle W. Parker, Amy B. Chasanov, John C. Martin, Dawn Miller, Providence Spina.