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Overview
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Experience
Introduction
For more than 30 years, Jeff has counseled corporate, government, and individual clients in the United States and internationally.
Jeffrey L. Hunter’s work includes environmental issues such as regulatory compliance; permitting, development, and defending against permit challenges; administrative enforcement and environmental litigation, including white-collar criminal matters; cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated industrial and commercial properties; product stewardship, including state extended producer responsibility laws and restrictions on PFAS in consumer products; brownfield redevelopment projects; and environmental due diligence in real estate and corporate transactions.
Jeff’s environmental counseling and administrative enforcement experience implicates the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; and the Toxic Substances Control Act. He is also knowledgeable of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and the Mine Safety and Health Act.
Jeff advises on state laws operating in lieu of the federal environmental programs; state electronic-waste recycling laws; state product labeling and reporting laws, including California Proposition 65; children’s safe products; extended producer responsibility laws; and building performance standards and state laws restricting PFAS compounds in consumer products. He has experience in international laws including the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS), waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals (REACH). He has led internal investigations and audits related to environmental compliance, disclosure of findings to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental protection agencies, development of environmental compliance management systems, and obtaining ISO 14001 certification.
Jeff has litigated cost recovery, property damage, and contribution actions. He has also participated and led potentially responsible party group allocations and negotiated consent decrees with the EPA and the U.S Department of Justice, assisted clients in responding to Section 104(e) requests for information and access, and negotiated and defended CERCLA Section 106 orders. For clients faced with potential criminal or civil enforcement, Jeff has negotiated reduced charges and penalties, supplemental environmental projects in lieu of penalties, and suspension and debarment agreements.
In real estate and corporate acquisitions, Jeff performs due diligence, advises on corporate financial disclosure obligations related to the environment, and helps comply with the European Union and other countries' environmental laws and directives. To facilitate transactions, he has negotiated prospective purchase agreements with federal and state agencies, obtained no further action letters, and advised on environmental insurance. He has negotiated environmental provisions in leases, purchase and sale agreements, stock purchase agreements, M&A agreements, and other transaction documents, including complex remediation, hold-back, and indemnity agreements.
Education & credentials
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D., 1995
- University of Pittsburgh, B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1991
- Oregon
- Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- Doherty, Rumble & Butler, P.C., Denver, Associate, 1998-1999
- Burns, Figa & Will, P.C., Denver, Associate, 1994-1998
Professional recognition
Listed in Thomson Reuters “Stand-out Lawyers,” 2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Environmental Law, 2013-2026
Ranked in Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" for Environment in Oregon, 2018-2026
Impact
- Oregon Business & Industry, Water Policy Committee, Co-chair
- American Bar Association; Section of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
- Oregon Bar Association
- Solid Waste Association of North America
- Northwest Environmental Business Council
- Oregon Association of Environmental Professionals
- Associated Oregon Industries
- Air & Waste Management Association, Oregon Chapter, Past Chair
Various Undisclosed Clients
Representation of clients with the development, transportation, processing, and sale of oil and gas products.
Food Processing Company
Advise a food processing company regarding new PHSMA regulations for gas pipelines.
Various Clients
Preparation and oversight of internal investigations and audits including fatality and reportable accident investigations under OSHA; implementation of PSM audits under OSHA; implementation of RMP audits under the CAA; preparation of other environmental, safety and health audits for internal compliance evaluations, and release reporting under federal and state law.
Various Clients
Regulatory counseling under various federal and state authorities including CERCLA, EPCRA, RCRA, CWA, CAA, OSHA, MSHA, DOT, FRA, NEPA, SMCRA, TSCA, FIFRA and state law equivalents of these statutes. Counseling and representation of clients with respect to regulatory compliance involving international environmental authorities including RoHS directives and WEEE standards affecting business transactions in the European Union, Asia, and North and South America.
Various Clients
Contract negotiations and water rights transfer, remedial project oversight relating to the transfer of ownership of contaminated industrial properties including asbestos abatement, underground and aboveground storage tank closure, building demolition, and soil and groundwater remediation pursuant to federal and state authorities including state voluntary cleanup acts.
U.S. v. Herron
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Representation of client in defense of alleged criminal violations of the Clean Air Act relating to the asbestos abatement project at Fort Morgan High School, Fort Morgan, Colorado. Negotiated a successful plea with the United States resulting in a complete dismissal of all felony counts. Case No. 04-CR-0152
Various Undisclosed Clients
Litigation defense against governmental and private parties including defense of cost recovery actions under CERCLA; defense and prosecution of citizen suit actions under RCRA, CWA, CAA; prosecution and defense of civil actions based in common law theories of recovery.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Defense representation of clients in regulatory compliance enforcement actions under various federal and state authorities including CERCLA, EPCRA, RCRA, CWA, CAA, OSHA, MSHA, DOT, FRA, NEPA, SMCRA, TSCA, FIFRA and state law equivalents of these statutes.
Sale of S.D.S. Lumber and Timber Holding
Represented S.D.S. Lumber Co. and S.D.S. Co., L.L.C. in their sale to Twin Creeks Timber, LLC, The Conservation Fund, and WKO, Inc.
Hunter Communications, Inc. Sale
Represented Hunter Communications, Inc. in its acquisition by Grain Management LLC.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Implementation of due diligence investigations, negotiation and drafting merger and acquisition agreements involving environmental, safety and health issues.
Seafood Wholesaler
Represent a seafood wholesaler in Alaska with the sale of property and the review and revision of sale documents.
Telecommunications Service Provider
Represent a telecommunications service provider with the sale of ground lease and property in Seattle.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Representation of clients with the purchase and sale of mineral interests and related permitting and compliance.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Representation of clients with the purchase and sale of properties, land use development and permitting including hazardous and solid waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities: transfer stations; correctional facilities; and commercial and residential development.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Representation of clients with financing and commercial leasing for properties involving environmental, safety and health issues.
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