California Water Attorneys Representing Clients in Issues Related to the Clean Water Act

The attorneys at Bick Law have extensive experience representing clients in a broad scope of matters arising under the federal Clean Water Act and companion state law programs. Our environmental law firm has built a strong reputation for helping businesses throughout California and across the United States address their most critical environmental issues and disputes.

We are a team of highly accomplished professionals focused on partnering with our clients to find legal solutions that resolve problems in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. Our lawyers are cognizant of the difficult challenges businesses face in connection with the Clean Water Act and other federal and state regulatory schemes and we work to manage and mitigate the potential risks and costs associated with these programs.

The Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law focused on protecting and improving the nation’s water resources. The CWA was originally enacted as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) Amendments of 1972 but was renamed “The Clean Water Act” following amendments in 1977. The goal of the CWA program is “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.”

Administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CWA establishes regulations designed to protect the water from sources of pollution and sets forth water quality standards for contaminants. Under the CWA, businesses and other entities must obtain a permit through the EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program before releasing pollutants from a point source into navigable waters. Parties who discharge pollutants into the water without the required permits face legal action by the EPA and state enforcement agencies.

Resolving CWA Problems and Challenges

Bick Law is well known for its ability to help clients maneuver through the complex issues and procedures related to the Clean Water Act. We have experience working with businesses across all industries to develop and implement environmental compliance programs and assist clients in obtaining the required NPDES permits for their company’s projects and facilities. Our lawyers also defend companies in enforcement matters arising under the CWA, including civil and criminal enforcement.

When companies are threatened by potential litigation, such as EPA and state enforcement actions, criminal actions, and citizen suits, our California water attorneys are fully prepared to protect and defend our clients at every point in the legal process. We have experience with the grand jury process for alleged CWA violations that reach from individuals to subsidiaries to corporate parents. While our attorneys have an in-depth understanding of the complex scientific and technical issues that arise in these types of mattes, we often collaborate with world-renowned experts in the areas of hydrology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, meteorology, biology and marine biology to create the strongest positions for our clients in enforcement actions, as well as in pre-enforcement negotiations with the government.