Jeffrey L. Hunter
- Portland
- Denver
For nearly 30 years, Jeff has counseled corporate, governmental, and individual clients in the United States and internationally.
Jeff Hunter’s work comprises such environmental issues as regulatory compliance; administrative enforcement and environmental litigation, including white collar criminal matters; permitting, development, and defending against permit challenges; cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated industrial and commercial properties; brownfield redevelopment projects; and environmental due diligence in real estate and corporate transactions.
Jeff’s environmental counseling and administrative enforcement experience implicates the Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; and Toxic Substances Control Act. He is also knowledgeable regarding the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and the Mine Safety and Health Act.
In state matters, Jeff advises on state laws operating in lieu of the federal environmental programs; state electronic-waste recycling laws; state product labeling and reporting laws, including California Proposition 65; and children’s safe products. He has experience in international laws regarding the restriction of hazardous substances; waste electrical and electronic equipment; and the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals. Jeff has led internal investigations and audits related to environmental compliance, disclosure of the findings, development of environmental compliance management systems, and obtaining ISO 14001 certification.
Jeff has litigated cost recovery, property damage, and contribution actions; participated and led potentially responsible party group allocations and negotiated Consent Decrees with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice; assisted clients with responding to Section 104(e) requests for information and access; and negotiated and defended CERCLA Section 106 orders. For clients faced with potential criminal or civil enforcement, Jeff has successfully negotiated reduced charges and penalties, supplemental environmental projects in lieu of penalties, and suspension and debarment agreements.
For clients involved in real estate and corporate acquisitions, Jeff performs due diligence, advises on corporate financial disclosure obligations related to the environment, and helps ensure compliance with the European Union and other countries' environmental laws and directives. He has directed and led environmental due diligence, including completing Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and environmental health and safety audits. To facilitate transactions, Jeff has successfully negotiated prospective purchase agreements with federal/state agencies, obtained no further action letters, and advised clients on environmental insurance. Jeff has negotiated environmental provisions in leases, purchase and sale agreements, stock purchase agreements, merger and acquisition agreements, and other transaction documents, including complex remediation, hold-back, and indemnity agreements.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D., 1995
- University of Pittsburgh, B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1991
Bar and Court Admissions
-
Oregon
-
Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Related Employment
- Doherty, Rumble & Butler, P.C., Denver, Associate, 1998-1999
- Burns, Figa & Will, P.C., Denver, Associate, 1994-1998
Professional Recognition
Listed in Thomson Reuters “Stand-out Lawyers,” 2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Environmental Law, 2013-2025
Ranked in Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" for Environment in Oregon, 2018-2024
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Oregon Business & Industry, Water Policy Committee, Co-chair
- American Bar Association; Section of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
- Oregon Bar Association
- Solid Waste Association of North America
- Northwest Environmental Business Council
- Oregon Association of Environmental Professionals
- Associated Oregon Industries
- Air & Waste Management Association, Oregon Chapter, Past Chair
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Energy
Various Undisclosed Clients
Representation of clients with the development, transportation, processing, and sale of oil and gas products.
Environment, Energy & Resources
Food Processing Company
Advise a food processing company regarding new PHSMA regulations for gas pipelines.
Various Clients
Preparation and oversight of internal investigations and audits including fatality and reportable accident investigations under OSHA; implementation of PSM audits under OSHA; implementation of RMP audits under the CAA; preparation of other environmental, safety and health audits for internal compliance evaluations, and release reporting under federal and state law.
Various Clients
Regulatory counseling under various federal and state authorities including CERCLA, EPCRA, RCRA, CWA, CAA, OSHA, MSHA, DOT, FRA, NEPA, SMCRA, TSCA, FIFRA and state law equivalents of these statutes. Counseling and representation of clients with respect to regulatory compliance involving international environmental authorities including RoHS directives and WEEE standards affecting business transactions in the European Union, Asia, and North and South America.
Various Clients
Contract negotiations and water rights transfer, remedial project oversight relating to the transfer of ownership of contaminated industrial properties including asbestos abatement, underground and aboveground storage tank closure, building demolition, and soil and groundwater remediation pursuant to federal and state authorities including state voluntary cleanup acts.
Investigations & White Collar Defense
U.S. v. Herron
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Representation of client in defense of alleged criminal violations of the Clean Air Act relating to the asbestos abatement project at Fort Morgan High School, Fort Morgan, Colorado. Negotiated a successful plea with the United States resulting in a complete dismissal of all felony counts. Case No. 04-CR-0152
Litigation
Various Undisclosed Clients
Litigation defense against governmental and private parties including defense of cost recovery actions under CERCLA; defense and prosecution of citizen suit actions under RCRA, CWA, CAA; prosecution and defense of civil actions based in common law theories of recovery.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Defense representation of clients in regulatory compliance enforcement actions under various federal and state authorities including CERCLA, EPCRA, RCRA, CWA, CAA, OSHA, MSHA, DOT, FRA, NEPA, SMCRA, TSCA, FIFRA and state law equivalents of these statutes.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Sale of S.D.S. Lumber and Timber Holding
Represented S.D.S. Lumber Co. and S.D.S. Co., L.L.C. in their sale to Twin Creeks Timber, LLC, The Conservation Fund, and WKO, Inc.
Hunter Communications, Inc. Sale
Represented Hunter Communications, Inc. in its acquisition by Grain Management LLC.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Implementation of due diligence investigations, negotiation and drafting merger and acquisition agreements involving environmental, safety and health issues.
Real Estate
Seafood Wholesaler
Represent a seafood wholesaler in Alaska with the sale of property and the review and revision of sale documents.
Telecommunications Service Provider
Represent a telecommunications service provider with the sale of ground lease and property in Seattle.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Representation of clients with the purchase and sale of mineral interests and related permitting and compliance.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Representation of clients with the purchase and sale of properties, land use development and permitting including hazardous and solid waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities: transfer stations; correctional facilities; and commercial and residential development.
Various Undisclosed Clients
Representation of clients with financing and commercial leasing for properties involving environmental, safety and health issues.