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Robert N. Steinwurtzel

Robert Steinwurtzel’s practice focuses on environmental issues with an emphasis on regulatory proceedings, compliance issues, litigation and arbitration/mediation. Rob represents a wide variety of clients, including corporations and trade associations in the petroleum, oilfield, chemical, mining, non-ferrous smelting, metals, battery manufacturing and steel industries. For these industries, Rob has handled numerous enforcement, private party and citizen suit claims and lawsuits. He also serves as common or litigation counsel for multiple parties at Superfund sites located in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina and Florida. He participates in major rulemakings for the EPA and OSHA concerning the use, production or exposure to lead and other metals, as well as subsequent judicial challenges before the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals. Rob’s clients rely upon his extensive experience and knowledge in resolving significant and varied environmental claims and his business-oriented approach in achieving solutions.

Rob’s practice extends to representation before OSHA, where he successfully negotiated the issuance of the first permanent variance from a health standard. He has handled numerous temporary variance and interim order applications, and negotiated voluntary compliance programs for industries confronted with engineering control obligations. Rob’s practice includes the defense of OSHA citations.

Rob’s practice also focuses on representation of sellers and purchasers of contaminated properties. He has handled numerous transactions involving the assessment and allocation of liabilities through contract negotiations, insurance, prospective purchaser agreements and voluntary cleanup programs.

Rob’s involvement with environmental issues dates back to the mid-1970s. He was a Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife Service and National Parks at the Department of the Interior, where he worked on the Endangered Species Act, NEPA and various public land statutes. Following his service at Interior, Rob joined the Enforcement Division at the EPA, where he was responsible for the establishment of a national wetlands enforcement program. In 1979, Rob entered private practice.

Rob is a frequent speaker on environmental and health and safety issues. He has lectured at the National Law Center, George Washington University, on the Clean Water Act and RCRA. He also has published several articles and served on the Board of Editors of Hazardous Substances magazine.

Rob is very active in pro bono and volunteer work. He has served on several committees and the Board of Trustees for Franklin and Marshall College and was a long-time member of the Governing Board for the Anti-Defamation League. For many years, Rob served as a member of the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and on WWF’s Species Leadership Committee.

Rob has received the highest rating assigned by Martindale-Hubbell (AV).