William C B Underwood

With over 20 years of experience with federal, state, and local air quality laws and representing clients across the U.S. in a variety of industries, I am uniquely adept at providing effective counsel and working toward solutions that best serve my client’s needs.  An emphasis of my practice is to help clients understand their compliance obligations under the myriad of air quality programs, regulations, and agency guidance so that these obligations can be managed as effectively and efficiently as possible.  Given the multi-disciplinary nature of air quality matters, I prefer a team approach and works closely with management, technical and operational personnel, consultants, and regulators to achieve successful results for my clients.

A hallmark of my practice has been assisting clients obtain air quality permits or permit revisions to authorize new facilities or changes at existing facilities in a timely manner.  I help clients identify applicable requirements, prepare applications, and negotiate with permitting authorities to establish permit terms that clearly and accurately reflect underlying legal obligations, impose conditions that are least burdensome as possible, and provide necessary operational flexibility.  I also regularly assists clients develop systems to ensure compliance after permit issuance and prepare compliance certification, monitoring, and other reports required by the permit.

While I counsel clients to take a proactive approach to air quality regulatory compliance, even the best run facilities can experience problems.  When problems occur, I helps clients take appropriate corrective action and provide applicable notifications to regulators.  I also have substantial experience assisting clients respond to agency requests for information, notices of violations, and enforcement actions.  With this unique insight, I hve helped clients successfully resolve compliance issues and, when necessary, negotiate orders or other settlement agreements with enforcement authorities.