Successfully represented a tribal utility authority in Connecticut supporting one of the world’s largest gaming facilities to develop a regional water supply project involving several municipal water supply distribution and user systems. The project called for connection of multiple entity infrastructure, as well as improvements to existing system elements and construction of new storage capacity. The system was designed to accommodate additional future connections with other regional towns and the potential for development of system redundancies to allow use of alternative supply sources in emergencies. We negotiated the terms of the water allocation process, pricing standards, systems operational obligations, and construction cost allocation formula for the project. We also negotiated related agreements between our client and various project members to fund municipal storage supply enhancements, construction cost reimbursement methods, and exclusive service area agreements.

Representing a national public research university in Connecticut that manages its own water supply with a full evaluation of additional source water supply alternatives. These range from development of new groundwater well fields to interconnection with other public and private water supply systems. Our project includes assistance in public health and environmental permitting, as well as negotiation of water supply, development, and management agreements (for example, Intermunicipality Agreement governing payments).

Representation of a private sector client serving as a water supply company in evaluating supply options and alternatives, treatment options and alternatives, and jurisdictional issues associated with expansion.

Representation of a private sector client in the performance of a water supply and distribution analysis to evaluate options to secure, treat, and provide potable and irrigation water for a city, as well as a town, in the Rocky Mountains. We worked with the client and the city and town with respect to all requisite permits, water rights, infrastructure, and expert consulting matters.

Representation of a commercial development client securing water supply for a large retail facility. The project was challenged by a lack of public water supply infrastructure and on-site chemical and radionuclide contamination. We performed the water supply alternatives analysis that evaluated potential connection with an abutting municipal system, a large residential development project, an adjacent exclusive service area supplier, and an on-site supply system with advanced treatment. We demonstrated to regulators that the on-site system was the best option and secured the regulatory approvals to undertake that approach.

Representation of private developer of water infrastructure in connection with water system development, licensing, and conveyance.

Represent municipal water company expanding surface water resources.

Representation of a municipal water supply client to replace a substantial groundwater supply resource contaminated by industrial waste disposal practices. We assisted the client in securing regulatory approvals for a replacement supply that involved coordination of multiple permittee projects all affecting an over-allocated resource. We developed the state’s first joint allocation methodology for multiple permittees tied to stream flow monitoring data.

Successful representation of a Connecticut city’s water utility with its permitting campaign required to expand its surface water reservoir and increase the height of the reservoir’s dam/weir.

Assisted numerous municipalities with their development and passage of aquifer protection ordinances.

Counseled a large, privately held manufacturing client in a project involving a contaminated municipal water supply well, a regional and onsite groundwater investigation and remediation, and an on-site RCRA Corrective Action.

Represent municipal water company in developing regulatory wellhead protection and cost recovery associated with groundwater contamination.

Representation of a municipal water department in the earliest multimunicipal permit and operating agreement with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection regarding coordinated water supply diversions from the Quinnipiac River.

Representation of a public golf course facility as permit applicant under the Connecticut Water Diversion Policy Act for approval of  water supply ponds and irrigation distribution systems.

On a compressed schedule, completed a three-state legal due diligence review for an international public utility considering the acquisition of a large U.S. private water company, including preliminary review and analysis of critical regulatory, environmental, real estate, tax, and labor and employment matters.

Assisted clients with the acquisition and divestiture of water supply companies involved with both public water supply and the provision of bottled water.

Advised water authority regarding title and transactional aspects of the acquisition of property in eastern Massachusetts for the development of a new water storage facility. Researched title information, advised authority’s in-house counsel on drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreement, drafted and negotiated title-clearing instruments, and provided extensive closing assistance for property acquisition.

Assisted water supply company with the environmental/regulatory aspects of its sale of a large Connecticut water supply and distribution system.

Represent major water company relative to acquisition and compliance.

Represented the City of Bridgeport Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) in connection with its entry into an anaerobic digestion facility design, build, and operate agreement with an affiliate of Anaergia, Inc., pursuant to which one of the nation's first anaerobic digestion and cogeneration facilities will be established and operated in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Represented the City of Bridgeport Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) in connection with its entry into a wastewater treatment system service agreement with Severn Trent Environmental Services, Inc., pursuant to which Severn Trent shall operate and maintain the WPCA's wastewater treatment facilities for a 10-year initial term.

Represented the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (GNHWPCA) in connection with its entry into a maintenance services agreement with New Haven Residuals, Limited Partnership, an affiliate of Synagro Technologies Inc., pursuant to which New Haven Residuals shall maintain the GNHWPCA's wastewater treatment facilities for a 15-year initial term.

Represented the City of Danbury, Connecticut, in connection with privatization of its wastewater treatment plant where the City obtained a $10 million advance payment on prospective savings and stabilized future rates under a 20-year management contract. Negotiated the purchase agreement with, and received approval from, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Represented numerous Connecticut municipalities in structuring and negotiating a wastewater treatment system service agreement relating to the maintenance and operation of each of the municipalities' wastewater treatment facilities by a private contract operator.

Represented the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (the GNHWPCA), a regional water pollution control authority organized under chapter 446k of the General Statutes of Connecticut, in its formation, acquisition of water pollution assets, and issuance of bonds to finance the transaction. The GNHWPCA serves four municipalities in the greater New Haven area, including New Haven, East Haven, Hamden, and Woodbridge. Drafted all of the relevant transaction documents, including the concurrent ordinance, the bylaws of the GNHWPCA, the asset purchase agreement, a transition services agreement, a cost-sharing agreement, and other ancillary closing documents and negotiated the terms of such agreements with counsel from the other constituent municipalities. The City of New Haven was counseled through the approval process for this transaction, including representation of the City's interests before the City Plan Commission, the Water Pollution Control Authority, and the Board of Aldermen. Our representation of the City of New Haven and the GNHWPCA on this project required the joint efforts of lawyers in our Public Finance; Business Transactions; Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications; and Real Estate + Development Groups. We continue representation of the GNHWPCA as general counsel and bond counsel.

Aquaculture permit project representing a commercial aquaculture operation in securing state and federal structures permits.

Successful representation of a Connecticut town’s water works department in connection with damage claims against third parties that affected high-production wells in its primary well field.

Successful representation of governmental authority relative to damage claims against third parties that affected high-production wells in its primary well field.

Represent water pollution control authority in federal Clean Water Act citizen suit, including state statutory and common law claims.

Representation of large privately held manufacturer sued as sole PPR from a  four-mile production plume affecting public and private water supplier in two separate municipalities.

Represented tug and barge operator in connection with vessel explosion off Staten Island. The EPA brought a claim against the operator under the Clean Water Act (CWA) due to resulting oil contamination. Our defense challenged the agency’s interpretation of “point source” under the CWA.

Represented a municipal water pollution control authority (WPCA) in claims against a centralized waste treatment facility for unpermitted discharges and unpaid sewer use charges. Counseled the client on sewer use charge issues and the adoption of regulations and permit program elements restricting these indirect discharges. Worked on multidisciplinary team that represented the WPCA through permit and rate proceedings, related litigation and collection efforts, and a global settlement between the WPCA and the industrial user.