Christopher (Chris) W. Rich
- Portland Office Managing Partner
- Portland
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Chris focuses his practice on complex environmental regulatory work such as permitting, compliance, enforcement, cleanup, transactions, and project development, helping clients navigate the regulatory landscape.
Chris Rich works on real estate and merger and acquisition due diligence, contract negotiation, and risk management strategies. His 20 years of experience working with state and federal regulatory agencies includes serving as a former state DEQ enforcement officer, litigating environmental cases in private practice, and serving on state Advisory Committees, Business Organizations, and Boards. His numerous program areas include water quality, stormwater, hazardous waste, air emissions, toxics, federal lands, and cleanup of contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater.
Permitting and Compliance
Chris provides clients with permitting guidance, regulatory analysis, and strategies to successfully engage with state and federal regulatory agencies to achieve their goals. This includes primarily Clean Water Act (CWA) and stormwater permitting/compliance advice, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permitting and closure, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) compliance, Clean Air Act (CAA) permitting, and municipal land use ordinances.
Chris previously served as lead regulatory counsel for a government contractor operating the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UMCDF), a U.S. Army federal facility located in Eastern Oregon charged with the destruction of 12 percent of the U.S. stockpile of legacy chemical weapons. UMCDF completed the safe destruction of all chemical agents in late 2011 and Chris advised the facility through successful completion of the RCRA Closure process.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D., 1991
- University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., History, 1987
Bar and Court Admissions
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Oregon
Related Employment
- Rycewicz & Chenoweth, LLP, Portland, OR, Attorney, 1999-2006
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, OR, 1994-1999
Additional Languages
- Spanish
Professional Recognition
Ranked by Chambers USA, as "America’s Leading Lawyers" for Environment, 2006-2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental, 2010-2025
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Oregon DEQ 1200-Z Industrial Stormwater General Permit Rulemaking Advisory Committee, 2019-2020
- Oregon Business Association, Environment and Economic Development Committee, Chair, 2004-2010
- Oregon Environmental Council, Board of Directors, 2005-2008
- Department of Environmental Quality Air Contaminant Discharge Permit (ACDP) and Regional Haze Advisory Committee, 2008
- Department of Environmental Quality, Mercury Rule Advisory Committee, 2006
- Department of Environmental Quality, Enforcement Advisory Committee, 2005
- Department of Environmental Quality, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, 2002-2003
- Environmental Partnerships for Oregon Communities Advisory Committee, 1999-2003
