Environmental

Blaney’s Environmental Law Group understands the special challenges involved in developing and implementing sound environmental compliance and stewardship policies within a strict regulatory context. We understand as well the special responsibilities owed by businesses in large footprint industries to the environment and society at large. We ensure that our services and how we deliver them reflect this understanding.

The Group is comprised of an interdisciplinary set of lawyers who share a common interest and expertise in particular aspects of environmental law and represent both private and public sector clients a wide range of environmental matters. Our lawyers are sought after speakers and writers in the area and recognized as leaders in their field.

Our range of services reflects the full breath of the firm. We act in commercial and financial transactions with complex environmental dimensions and regularly advise clients on liability and risk management (including material disclosure and directors and officers liability), site remediation and clean-ups including some of the most significant sites in the Province. Where necessary, we also provide advice and representation in related occupational health and safety aspects.

On the advocacy side, our lawyers regularly appear before all levels of the Ontario courts and administrative tribunals such as the Environmental Review Tribunal, and before government and policy-making bodies, in all areas of environmental regulation including impact assessments, contaminated land issues, regulatory proceedings, sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as in quasi-criminal and by-law violation prosecutions.

Related services we provide include:

• managing and supervising environmental and engineering consultants and their work product; advising committees of the board of directors on compliance, disclosure and risk management;
• drafting agreements relating to environmental issues such as indemnities, remediation and disclosure; developing environmental mission statements and policies, best practices as well as training and due diligence programs;
• developing strategies to manage and assess confidentiality and potential privilege of environmental information;
• advising in the creation and implementation of dispute resolution mechanisms;
• managing environmental assessments and audits in order to evaluate areas of material risk with respect to potentially toxic assets such as hazardous waste, PCBs, asbestos, and storage tanks;
• making submissions and commentary on proposed changes to legislation at all levels; representing and advising on appropriate responses to environmental spills and emergencies;
• obtaining permits and approvals in relation to operations;
• assessing across the board regulatory compliance; and
• negotiating and overseeing the implementation of clean-up and control orders and abatement programs of all types.