Karen McGaffey's practice involves the full range of environmental issues. She
assists clients with project development, permitting, compliance and regulatory
matters under state and federal environmental and land use laws, including the
National and State Environmental Policy Acts (NEPA/SEPA), the Clean Water Act
(CWA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). She
represents clients in environmental litigation, including CERCLA and MTCA cost
recovery actions, natural resource damage claims, government enforcement
actions, citizen suits and lawsuits challenging permits and regulatory
developments. She also assists with due diligence investigations and other
environmental aspects of corporate and real estate transactions.
Karen's
practice emphasizes energy project development and facility siting. She assists
clients in the development of all types of energy facilities, including natural
gas-fired power plants, wood-fired cogeneration facilities, wind power projects,
solar energy projects, electric transmission lines, and pipelines carrying oil,
petroleum products, natural gas and hydrogen. She advises clients on greenhouse
gas mitigation requirements and opportunities. She also assists clients with
legislative and regulatory matters concerning energy facility siting, climate
change, renewable energy credits and renewable energy portfolio standards.
Karen serves on the Firmwide Management Committee and Executive
Committee.