Meghan A. Quinn

Senior Associate

Meghan Quinn assists clients with resolving complex regulatory compliance issues, enforcement actions, and citizens suits arising under federal and state laws by working closely with technical experts to address specific client needs.

Meghan focuses her practice on assisting 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. She excels at translating complex technical information into legal arguments to efficiently address client needs.

Meghan routinely 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 Meghan for advice on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit and Waste Discharge Requirement Order negotiations, Basin Planning issues, and TMDL development and implementation.

Meghan also assists clients with the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated property, with a focus on groundwater contamination issues. Meghan’s remediation and redevelopment practice extends to assisting clients with resolving 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.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • 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
  • National Association of Women Lawyers, Environmental Section, 2013-2015
  • 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.

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 aerospace company 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.

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.

Press Releases

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Speaking Engagements / Events

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Blogs

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Legal Alerts

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Publications

2 related items
  • March 2020
    U.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
  • June 2019
    U.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

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

  • 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
  • National Association of Women Lawyers, Environmental Section, 2013-2015
  • California Association of Sanitation Agencies
  • California Stormwater Quality Association, Construction Subcommittee