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Michael Weller
Associate
Assistant
Rachel Nee202.828.5825
Michael Weller is a member of the firm's environmental and natural resources practice. Mr. Weller advises developers, manufacturers, refiners, industry trade associations, investor groups and financial institutions, assisting them in the management of environmental risks, liabilities and regulatory compliance issues arising in the context of enforcement actions, litigation and corporate transactions.
Mr. Weller's recent experience includes strategic counseling of clients engaged in the upstream oil and gas industry, defending actions brought under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and Clean Air Act, developing responses to EPA requests for information (RFIs), and preparing comments on EPA regulatory initiatives, including the proposed SO2, NO2, and Ozone NAAQS and EPA's suite of greenhouse gas-related regulations.
Prior to his career as an attorney, Mr. Weller worked for seven years as a biologist and environmental consultant throughout California, Maryland and Virginia and has hands-on experience managing the environmental and permitting components of a wide range of projects, including federal highway construction, mixed-use developments, master-planned communities, and mitigation banking and conservation transactions. He has ushered many of these projects through all phases of the permitting process, from initial planning to agency negotiation and compliance tracking.
Mr. Weller's prior work as a consultant combined with his experiences as an attorney provide him with a deep understanding of the practical implementation of the Clean Water Act (CWA). He has prepared CWA 404 permit applications; developed wetland and stream mitigation plans; advised in the context of permit compliance; negotiated with federal and state regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and & Wildlife Service, and EPA; and counseled clients regarding pending enforcement actions.
Representative Matters
Handled environmental due diligence in potential $1 billion acquisition of natural gas and oil-fired power plants.
Counsels one of the largest suppliers and recyclers of solvents in the United States regarding regional and state regulatory developments.
Assists industry group in the preparation of comments on EPA regulatory initiatives, including the proposed SO2, NO2, and Ozone NAAQS; the Boiler MACT and GACT; and EPA's suite of greenhouse gas-related regulations.
Represented coal-fired power plant in negotiations with environmental group and developed litigation strategy related to receipt of notice of intent to sue under the Clean Air Act citizen suit provisions.
Counseled residential real estate developer on detailed aspects of the Clean Water Act related to an EPA enforcement action.
Acted as litigation and public relations counsel to a natural gas company during a state enforcement action associated with alleged groundwater contamination.
Handled environmental due diligence and risk analysis as part of the divestiture of nearly $250 million in upstream natural gas assets.
Publications and Speeches
Co-author, “Climate Change and Environmental Law,” Environmental Law Handbook, 21st ed. 2011, Government Institutes.
"TCEQ Releases Emissions Study for Barnett Shale - Added Regulatory Attention Expected," Environmental Law Update, January 29, 2010.
Co-author, "California Requires Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting in 2009," Energy Law Update, December 2008.
Co-author, "Deseret Decision Regarding CO2 Avoids the Key Question and Creates Significant Uncertainty," Environmental Law Update, November 2008.
Education
J.D., George Washington University Law School, 2009
B.S., Towson University, 2000
Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Affiliations
American Bar Association, Energy and Environmental Law Section
State Bar of Maryland
