Voluntary Remediation
Schiff Hardin's Environmental Practice Group has extensive experience in assisting clients with voluntary remediation projects, including the environmental aspects of Brownfields-type redevelopment with respect to former industrial, commercial, transportation and utility facilities throughout the United States. Whether engaged at an early stage of a remediation or redevelopment project, or after projects were stalled by regulatory or community objections to the nature or extent of a private cleanup, our attorneys have helped clients accomplish their project objectives. Our attorneys have assessed and counseled on existing remediation strategies to determine viability, interfaced with state and local regulators to obtain approval or clearance for the existing or modified remediation strategy, and devised strategies to improve community relations so as to minimize the risk that community objections will negatively impact completion of projects.
Former Industrial Facilities and Manufactured Gas Plants
We have assisted clients with the de-commissioning and closure of their manufacturing plants throughout the country. We have significant experience assisting gas utilities with projects involving former manufactured gas plants (MGPs). Over the years, we have assisted several utilities in evaluating remedial strategies, negotiating remedial plans, drafting access agreements and restrictive covenants, and/or devising and implementing community relations plans at scores of MGPs in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maryland and Vermont.
Developers and Brownfields
In addition, we have represented a number of Midwest developers in rehabilitating and returning to productive use environmentally-challenged real estate. This includes numerous mixed use real estate development projects ranging in size from very small to dozens of acres. Many projects have been built on property formerly used by industry or transportation companies. From the first review of Phase I environmental assessments through negotiating contracts for purchase with environmental risk shifting clauses, to obtaining no further remediation letters, the Environmental Group is involved in the development of new communities.
