Natural Resources
Van Cott’s Natural Resource attorneys provide legal services in connection with oil, gas, mining, public lands, mining health and safety, water, wildlife, tribal law and resource regulatory matters. Van Cott has many years of experience in handling natural resource transactions, including acquisition and sale of mining and oil gas properties and corporate transaction. Van Cott’s attorneys practice before federal and state administrative agencies involving development of public and tribal lands. We advise clients regarding property and resource acquisition, financing, environmental regulations, permits and approvals, title examination, and lease and contract negotiations.
Environmental
Van Cott has represented clients on all facets of environmental law and regulation at the federal, state and local level. Our environmental practice developed from a historical representation of mining, oil and gas, and railroad companies, including mines and production facilities, processing plants, refineries, oil and gas pipelines and other transportation facilities. We also have many years of experience with the complex environmental and jurisdictional issues surrounding the development of public and tribal lands and water resources in the West. In addition to our natural resource clients, Van Cott has handled environmental compliance, permitting and due diligence for such diverse clients as airlines, hospitals, chemical manufacturers, metals and mining manufacturers, cabinet manufacturers, recyclers, electrical supply companies, ski resorts, contractors, developers, lenders, bankruptcy trustees, as well as individuals and small businesses throughout Utah and the Intermountain West
Water
Van Cott is experienced in practicing before the Utah State Engineer and Division of Water Rights. We regularly represent clients in acquiring and perfecting new and existing water rights for development projects, including acquisition of existing agricultural use rights for industrial and domestic use. We also perform due diligence on water rights and issue title opinions on ownership of water rights.
Van Cott represented a natural resources subsidiary of a major investor-owned utility which was involved in a major minerals project in Southern Utah. The project required establishment of a townsite on a state school section. Water-related work for this project included the acquisition of water rights for industrial, commercial and domestic purposes; the formation of a special service district to supply, build, own and operate the water supply and sewage systems; and the financing of those systems through industrial revenue bonds and loans provided by agencies of the State of Utah.
