Environmental Crisis Management

The world is an unpredictable place; despite the best laid plans, unexpected events can affect even the most prepared companies. Catastrophes such as explosion, fire, chemical release and natural disasters can threaten the viability of any business, and environmental damage and personal injury to employees or people in the surrounding community can subject a company to extensive governmental investigation resulting in both civil and criminal enforcement. Such events can also lead to major environmental remediation costs and toxic tort liability. 

The environmental lawyers at Alston & Bird have broad experience in responding to catastrophic events. We have served as members of crisis response teams that mobilize quickly to meet and work with regulators to create solutions and minimize legal exposure when such events occur. Our attorneys have experience serving as part of governmental response teams and can provide first-hand guidance on what to expect from any investigations. We are also skilled in working with regulators to minimize the immediate adverse effects of a crisis, resolve enforcement issues and restore our clients’ businesses to viable long-term enterprises.

• Served on the quick-response team mobilized to investigate an explosion at a food processing facility that resulted in extensive damage to the facility, killed 14 workers and injured over 40 more. The team worked with regulators to resolve an extensive OSHA complaint, rebuild the facility and insure its compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations.
• Representation of a used-oil facility charged with environmental violations as a result of a fire at a facility that caused the death of one worker.
• Responded to an EPA search warrant at drum-recycling facility where the illegal storage of hazardous waste was suspected.