Sacramento 916.520.4816
Assistant Information
Sonia Louie
Phone 916.520.5357
Email
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Pace University, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, 2013
- B.A., Boston University, 2008
Bar Admissions
- California, 2013
Court Admissions
- United States District Court, Eastern District of California
- United States District Court, Northern District of California
- United States District Court, Central District of California
Meghan A. Quinn
Counsel
Meghan Quinn assists clients with resolving complex regulatory compliance issues, regulatory and civil enforcement actions, and third-party citizens suits arising under federal and state laws, and works closely with clients and technical experts to effectively and efficiently address site-specific issues.
Meghan’s practice revolves around providing sound and practical guidance to clients within a myriad of byzantine state and federal regulatory schemes, involving hazardous materials management issues, Community Right to Know Laws, groundwater contamination and management issues, water quality, restoration and reclamation activities, and ensuring that client operations comply with overlapping, and sometimes inconsistent, local, state, and federal requirements. Her approach is thorough and thoughtful, and aims to provide clients with “cradle to grave” advice so that near and long-term goals are anticipated and met.
Some of Meghan’s sub-specialties involve assisting clients with advice regarding the handling, storage, disposal, and reuse of onsite and imported materials (whether hazardous or non-hazardous), and the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated property, with a focus on groundwater contamination issues. Her remediation and redevelopment practice extends to assisting clients to resolve Cleanup and Abatement Orders and enforcement actions related to California’s Hazardous Waste Control Law, Community Right to Know Laws, and hazardous materials management issues.
Meghan has also honed specialized expertise regarding the management of threatened and endangered species and plants under both federal and state laws, in the context of ongoing facility operations, the restoration or reclamation of previously disturbed areas, or project development and implementation. She recently assisted a client with the preparation of a Habitat Conservation Plan, and routinely opines on the manner in which projects can successfully move forward even where threatened and endangered species are involved.
Additionally, Meghan works closely with technical experts to develop jurisdictional delineations of waters and wetlands, assisting clients with navigating the complex regulatory landscape applicable to such features and the interaction between California and federal law. Clients also frequently call upon her for advice on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit and Waste Discharge Requirement Order negotiations, Basin Planning issues, and TMDL development and implementation. She also assists clients with resolving regulatory issues, enforcement actions, and citizens suits that arise under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) and Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Meghan excels at translating complex technical information into legal arguments to efficiently address client needs.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- California Construction and Industrial Materials Association
- American Bar Association, Section on Environment, Energy and Resources, 2012-present; Membership Vice Chair, Waste and Resource Recovery Committee, 2014-2018
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Environmental Law Section, 2013-present
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
- National Association of Women Lawyers, Environmental Section, 2013-2015
- Association of Women in Water, Energy & Environment
- California Association of Sanitation Agencies
- California Stormwater Quality Association, Construction Subcommittee
Administrative and Civil Litigation
- Advised large infrastructure company on Clean Water Act litigation strategy pertaining to unitary waters theory and issues arising under the water transfer rule.
- Assisted multiple municipalities and special districts with resolving and settling Clean Water Act citizens suits to avoid formal litigation.
- Defended state court action involving state law tort claims arising from alleged vapor intrusion from alleged soil/ground water contamination.
- Simultaneously represented multiple parties in complex multi-party CERCLA allocation proceeding focused on soil remediation.
- Represented Fortune 50 Company at large multi-party CERCLA allocation proceeding and related complex multi-party litigation.
- Assisted private entities with resolution of administrative enforcement actions regarding alleged Hazardous Waste Control Law violations.
- Assisted private entities with resolution of administrative enforcement actions arising under local land use law and related provisions of Stated and federal water quality control laws.
- Assisted private entities with resolution of Endangered Species Act violations, including evaluation of designated Critical Habitat.
Compliance Counseling
- Assisted municipalities, special districts, and private clients with development of water quality permitting strategies and challenging 303(d) listings.
- Advised Fortune 50 Company on development of Hazardous Materials Business Plans, annual EPCRA filings, and development of standard operating procedures.
- Assisted large technology company with opening data centers in a variety of jurisdictions by evaluating applicable land use and environmental laws.
- Advised private and public entities on compliance with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and related California Hazardous Waste Control Law Requirements.
- Advised municipal and private clients on strategies for resolving groundwater contamination at contaminated properties and related negotiations with DTSC and various Regional Water Boards.
- Assisted client with evaluating onsite wastewater treatment system under the Clean Water Act and development of related property sale strategy.
- Advised various Fortune 500 Companies on Proposition 65 compliance issues, litigation risk and effective use of exposure assessments.
- Advised various Fortune 500 Companies on state level chemical restrictions and energy efficiency laws related to product lines.
- Assisted private entities with development of Endangered Species Act compliance strategies, including permitting, agency negotiations, and development of avoidance and mitigation measures.
Environmental Permitting
- Advised municipal client on permitting strategy and securing permits for development of coastal infrastructure projects.
- Assisted large oil and gas company with a name change, which required review, evaluation and transfer of hundreds of permits in various jurisdictions.
- Assisted mining company with development of Habitat Conservation Plan.
- Advised special district on CWA 404 permitting strategy in mining area under federal jurisdiction.
- Advised large oil and gas company on compliant development of off-shore resources.
- Assisted several Fortune 50 Companies with development of multi-jurisdiction construction stormwater compliance plans and development of standard operating procedures.
- Evaluated full line of French sporting goods under federal and California law, and assisted with obtaining access to U.S. market.
- Assisted large technology company with development of world-wide import strategy and product compliance for line of electronic products.
- Assisted large multinational wood panel manufacturers with development of TSCA Title VI (Formaldehyde emissions) implementation plans and EH&S trainings.
- Assisted large multinational wood panel manufacturers with development of TSCA Title VI, CARB Air Toxics Control Measure and Proposition 65 compliant labeling strategy.
- Advised large solar company on TSCA and OSHA implications related to construction of utility scale solar panel installation.
- Advised Fortune 100 Company on solar panel waste classification, treatment and disposal under federal and California law.
- Advised Fortune 50 Company on retailer-specific hazardous waste issues and medical waste disposal compliance at the California and local levels.
Announcements
2 related items-
January 5, 2022Downey Brand Promotes Two Attorneys to Counsel
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December 11, 2018Downey Brand’s San Francisco Office Welcomes Meghan Quinn
Speaking Engagements / Events
1 related items-
August 27-28, 2020Clean Water & Wetlands in CaliforniaLaw Seminars International - A Comprehensive Update on New Developments
Blogs
7 related items-
October 19, 2021Ninth Circuit Finds that Distribution of Drinking Water Containing MCL-Compliant Levels of Hexavalent Chromium Gives Rise to RCRA Liability in Decision that Upends Law of the Circuit
CEQA Chronicles -
March 1, 2021Judge Finds that Water Boards Have Authority to Regulate Discharges of Dredge and Fill Material as Waste Under Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
CEQA Chronicles -
January 22, 2021Judge Suspends State Procedures as Applied to Majority of Waters of the State; Retains Application to Waters Subject to the Clean Water Act and All Ocean Waters Regardless of Jurisdiction
CEQA Chronicles -
May 4, 2020Twenty-Two Environmental Groups and Nineteen Jurisdictions File Suit in Three District Courts Challenging The 2020 WOTUS Rule
CEQA Chronicles -
April 23, 2020After Months of Delay The 2020 WOTUS Rule is Finally Published, Ensuring the California Regulated Community Receives No Relief Associated with the Rule’s Bright Lines and Clarifications
CEQA Chronicles -
September 11, 2019State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredge or Fill Material to Waters of the State Becomes Effective on May 28, 2020
CEQA Chronicles -
April 4, 2019After Years of Handwringing and Lengthy Stakeholder Negotiations, California Water Board Adopts State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredge or Fill Material to Waters of the State
CEQA Chronicles
Legal Alerts
11 related items-
May 15, 2022U.S. Department of Justice Announces New Office of Environmental Justice and Return of Supplemental Environmental Projects
Environmental Law -
January 24, 2022New Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Standard Makes Strides Towards Addressing Regulatory Uncertainty Associated With Emerging Contaminants, Such as PFAS
Environmental Law -
October 15, 2021Ninth Circuit Finds that Distribution of Drinking Water Containing MCL-Compliant Levels of Hexavalent Chromium Gives Rise to RCRA Liability in Decision that Upends Law of the Circuit
Environmental Law -
March 1, 2021Judge Finds that Water Boards Have Authority to Regulate Discharges of Dredge and Fill Material as Waste Under Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
Water Quality Law -
January 20, 2021Judge Suspends State Procedures as Applied to Majority of Waters of the State; Retains Application to Waters Subject to the Clean Water Act and All Ocean Waters Regardless of Jurisdiction
Environmental Law -
May 4, 2020Twenty-Two Environmental Groups and Nineteen Jurisdictions File Suit in Three District Courts Challenging The 2020 WOTUS Rule
Environmental Law -
April 23, 2020After Months of Delay The 2020 WOTUS Rule is Finally Published, Ensuring the California Regulated Community Receives No Relief Associated with the Rule’s Bright Lines and Clarifications
Environmental Law -
March 20, 2020Compliance with Water Board Requirements During the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Emergency
Downey Brand COVID-19 News and UpdatesEnvironmental Law -
September 10, 2019State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredge or Fill Material to Waters of the State Becomes Effective on May 28, 2020
Environmental Law -
May 9. 2019Joint Powers Authority Comprised of Irrigation Districts and the City and County of San Francisco Challenge Recently Adopted State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredge or Fill Material to Waters of the State
Environmental Law -
April 4, 2019After Years of Handwringing and Lengthy Stakeholder Negotiations, California Water Board Adopts State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredge or Fill Material to Waters of the State
Environmental Law
Publications
10 related items-
March 2022U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA Enter into Joint Memorandum Regarding ESA Consultations for Existing Structures
California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 31, Number 6 -
February 18, 2022Developing Offshore Wind in California – Environmental Permitting and Interconnection Considerations
Downey Brand Energy Publication -
October 2021Ninth Circuit Continues to Uphold the Significant Nexus Test for Navigable Waters Under the Clean Water Act
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 2, Number 1 -
May 26, 2021Biden Administration renews focus on federal PFAS regulation
Daily Journal -
April 2021USEPA Headquarters Dismisses Appeal of U.S. District Court’s More Narrow Jurisdictional Delineation of Salt Ponds Adjacent to San Francisco Bay
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 31, Number 7 -
February 2021U.S EPA Finalizes Guidance on Implementation of U.S. Supreme Court’s ‘Functional Equivalent’ Clean Water Act Test in County of Maui Case
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 1, Number 5 -
March 2020U.S. EPA and the Corps Release Waters of the United States Rule that Closely Adheres to Justice Scalia’s Rapanos Opinion—But Due to California’s New Wetlands Program, Provides Little Relief to the State Regulated Community
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 30, Number 6 -
December 20, 2019California Heads Into the Next Decade With Over 100 New Environmental Laws
Daily Journal -
June 2019U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh in on Decades Old Debate As to Whether Discharges of Pollutants to Groundwater Hyrdrologically Connected to Suface Waters Require a Clean Water Permit
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 29, Number 9 -
August 2, 2016Increased Efforts to Enforce Hazardous Waste Rules
Daily Journal
Meghan is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, trail running, and snowboarding throughout the American West. She also volunteers with the Bay Area Climbing Coalition, an organization dedicated to stewardship efforts to keep Northern California’s climbing areas clear of debris and graffiti.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- California Construction and Industrial Materials Association
- American Bar Association, Section on Environment, Energy and Resources, 2012-present; Membership Vice Chair, Waste and Resource Recovery Committee, 2014-2018
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Environmental Law Section, 2013-present
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
- National Association of Women Lawyers, Environmental Section, 2013-2015
- Association of Women in Water, Energy & Environment
- California Association of Sanitation Agencies
- California Stormwater Quality Association, Construction Subcommittee