Christopher L. Bell

Practice Details

• Firm Information
  Position

  Shareholder

  Firm Name

  Greenberg Traurig, LLP
• Representative Cases & Transactions
  Cases

  Experience: Environmental Enforcement
  Litigation: Defending a railroad in an EPA enforcement case arising from the derailment of a train transporting crude oil, as well as in related citizen suits brought under the Clean Water Act
  the Oil Pollution Control Act.
  Represented a manufacturing company in a criminal Clean Air Act investigation
  the government declined to bring charges.
  Defended a railroad in a criminal Clean Water Act case arising from a release of chemicals
  the court dismissed the charges on preemption grounds prior to trial.
  Defending an energy company in a Clean Air Act enforcement case being brought regarding emissions from its upstream operations.
  Represented a multiple-facility resolve combined criminal
  civil enforcement claims under the Clean Air
  Clean Water Acts, including negotiating probation
  debarment agreements
  advising the company on implementing
  complying with those agreements.
  Defended companies in Department of Energy enforcement actions involving allegations of violations of energy efficiency st
  ards.
  Defended power generation clients in Represented several power generating facilities in Clean Air Act new source review enforcement cases.
  Represented clients in numerous enforcement actions involving allegations of the improper use, storage
  disposal of PCBs.
  Defended a railroad in a toxic tort suit alleging damages from coal dust released from railcars
  case dismissed on preemption grounds.
  Defended companies facing allegations of violations of TSCA, including PMN
  import/export requirements.
  Defended a chemical company in criminal
  civil enforcement actions arising from chemical releases (including one leading to a fatality).
  Compliance
  Sustainable Development: EPA Independent Monitor overseeing Duke Energy's compliance with a complex set of debarment
  probation agreements arising from a guilty plea to violations of the Clean Water Act associated with releases of coal ash.
  Assist facilities in applying for, obtaining, defending
  complying with Clean Air Act
  Clean Water Act permits.
  Assisted dozens of companies around the world design, implement
  evaluate environmental management
  compliance systems, including systems based on ISO 14001
  the Sentencing Guidelines.
  Advise clients on water rights in Texas, including negotiating various types of agreements involving the sale
  use of water rights.
  Served as member of independent peer-review committee reviewing
  commenting on a Fortune 25 company's global sustainability strategy, as well as its annual sustainability report.
  Advise clients on compliance auditing programs, including disclosure under Federal
  state auditing policies, conducting audits,
  evaluating corporate auditing programs.
  Provide compliance advice under all of the major environmental statutes, including the Clean Air Act, RCRA, Clean Water Act, TSCA (including PCBs
  the balance of the chemical regulatory program, including PMNs, substantial risk reporting, etc.)
  FIFRA.
  Conducted a comprehensive environmental compliance systems review of a large multi-state natural gas pipeline
  distribution system.
  Advise clients on compliance with non-U.S. environmental requirements, including REACH, ROHS
  international transportation requirements (e.g., Basel Convention, IMDG).
  Advocacy: Represent clients in D.C. Circuit challenges to EPA rulemakings under RCRA, the Clean Air Act
  TSCA. Recent representations include appellate litigation involving the Clean Power Plan, the RCRA Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials rule, the RCRA Subtitle D solid waste rules, the revised MACT st
  ard for the plating
  anodizing sector,
  a petition to regulate lead-containing ammunition under TSCA.
  Lead U.S. negotiator in the drafting of the original ISO 14001 EMS st
  ard, as well as ISO st
  ards on environmental auditing, life cycle assessment,
  environmental performance evaluation.
  Regularly write comments on proposed rules under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, RCRA, TSCA
  FIFRA.
  Part of the U.S. international team negotiating ISO st
  ards on nanotechnology since 2005, including serving as the primary drafter of ISO/TR 13121 Nanomaterial Risk Evaluation (2011)
  the chair of ISO/TC 229's task group on nanotechnology
  sustainability.
  Represented a trade association in negotiating with EPA a favorable regulatory interpretation encouraging the beneficial re-use of recovered materials.
  Member of the U.S. negotiating team for the recently published ISO 37001 st
  ard on anti-corruption management systems.
  Remediation: Represented a petro-chemical company in a remedial
  natural resources damages matter involving a wetl
  s/riverine environment.
  Advising several clients on PCB remediation
  decontamination matters, including dredging
  soil remediation projects, managing the demolition
  decommissioning of buildings,
  the disposition of PCB containing or contaminated equipment.
  Environmental Aspects of Transactions: Conduct environmental due diligence on transactions, including reviews of legacy environmental conditions, operational compliance,
  environmental issues related to product portfolios.
  Negotiate environmental provisions of transactional documents.
  Represented clients in several transactions involving wind
  solar projects.
  Advise clients on risk management strategies such as insurance to address legacy environmental issues in transactions.
  Help manage compliance challenges in the transactional context, including post-closing auditing
  the applicability of Federal
  state audit disclosure policies.
  The above representations were h
  led by Mr. Bell prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
  Previous Experience: Certified Manufacturing Technician (Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 1979)
• Additional Links
  http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Christopher-L-Bell