Maureen F. Gorsen

• Settled an EPA enforcement action against a client’s former subsidiary for hazardous waste violations at its facility in Union City, California, reducing the initial multimillion-dollar penalty request to $120,000.
• Represented a client against violations of the RCRA and Clean Water Act in connection with the client’s chemical plant in Pittsburg, California. Negotiations over the alleged surface water discharge and waste handling issues resulted in a $40,000 settlement.
• Regulatory advocacy on low carbon fuel standards and cap and trade regulation amendments before the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
• Litigation in appellate court against the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for administrative law violations.
• Regulatory advocacy on behalf of the automobile industry regarding regulation of automobile components by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).
• Filed an amicus brief on behalf of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association challenging the auction component of the California cap and trade rules under AB 32.
• Represented aerospace parts manufacturers, food processors, and hospitals before CARB on allowance allocations under AB 32.
• Advising clients on the EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act chemical data reporting rule.
• Preparing web, document, and product label disclosures under SB 657 and related human trafficking, conflict minerals, and supply chain legal requirements.
• Advising clients on Prop 65 compliance.

Located in Sacramento, Maureen Gorsen focuses on enforcement defense and regulatory compliance counsel, combining public policy, litigation, and regulatory advocacy to achieve her clients’ business objectives. She defends clients in federal and state enforcement actions, including hazardous waste, stormwater, air quality, AB 32, Prop 65, product labeling, food packaging, and business and tax regulation. She develops strategies for regulatory and permit compliance for environmental, financial, tax, consumer products, and supply chain regulation issues. Maureen also assists clients in developing corporate policies to reduce product liability risks and meet sustainability, supply chain, anti-slavery and human trafficking, and conflict minerals statutes.

Maureen is the former director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), where she directed regulation of waste, soil, and water cleanups under CERCLA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and brownfields laws. She spearheaded the California Green Chemistry Initiative and resulting laws governing chemicals under the California Safer Consumer Products rules and other states’ products programs and federal TSCA reform.

Maureen is the former general counsel of the California Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the former general counsel for the California Natural Resources Agency. In these roles, she oversaw policies that enforce California’s environmental laws, including Prop 65, the Endangered Species Act, Coastal Act, and CEQA.

She has been ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Lawyers since 2013.

Bar Admissions

• California
• Virginia

Education

• Georgetown University (J.D., 1993)
• Johns Hopkins University (M.A., 1992)
• University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1986)

Memberships