Andrew Turner

Andrew J. Turner has worked extensively on natural resources, focusing on wetlands, endangered species and the marine environment. He has been influential in shaping jurisprudence at the intersection of environmental, energy and marine resource laws to the benefit of regulated industry and the environment.

Andrew works with clients when their activities involve wetlands, endangered species, federal lands, and waterfront and offshore resources. He has dedicated years of practice to navigating the complex natural resource framework, drawing the connections to offer clients efficient strategies to tackle some of their most pressing environmental problems.

Andrew has permitting and litigation experience under the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Endangered Species Act. His experience includes compliance counseling, administrative rulemaking, permit administration, civil and criminal litigation, and federal regulatory agency practice.

Representative clients include energy and water providers, state and local agencies, builders and developers, consumer product companies, vessel owners and operators, and related trade associations.

Prior to joining the firm, Andrew served in the US Coast Guard Office of Maritime & International Law as Senior Counsel for Oceans and Environmental Affairs, and subsequently as the Coast Guard Chief of General Law.

He also served in the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Office of General Counsel, focusing on Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act regulation and litigation, and in the US Air Force as a Judge Advocate, where he retired as colonel from the Air Force Reserves.

Andrew is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and the US Courts of Appeals for the Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, and District of Columbia Circuits.

Experience:

• Currently serves as lead counsel for Florida land-owning company in ESA suit challenging US Army Corps of Engineers and US Fish & Wildlife Service over Clean Water Act permit in connection with limestone project.
• Represents energy and utility industry, waterfront facilities, vessel interests, developers, and state and local agencies in regulatory matters and litigation under the CWA, ESA, NEPA, MMPA, and other environmental, maritime and security laws.
• Lead counsel representing utility groups in litigation involving Clean Water Act section 404 Nationwide Permit Program.
• Lead counsel representing land-owning companies in Endangered Species Act litigation resulting in favorable precedent-setting appellate court decision.
• Counsel to consumer products company in permitting and litigation over Forest Service permit for pipeline project.
• Counsel to energy company in litigation brought pursuant to NEPA, ESA and CWA challenging Corps permit.
• Regularly assist applicants in obtaining and defining federal permits issued under the CWA and other statutes.
• Counsel clients on compliance with environmental, maritime and security laws.
• Extensive experience with federal environmental and maritime regulatory agencies, military departments and Department of Justice.
• Extensive civil and criminal litigation experience.

EDUCATION:

• LLM, Environmental Law, The George Washington University, 2000
• JD, West Virginia University, 1992
• BBA, Florida Atlantic University, 1988

BAR ADMISSIONS:

• District of Columbia
• Pennsylvania

GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE:

• Chief of General Law, US Coast Guard
• Senior Counsel for Oceans and Environmental Affairs, Office of Maritime & International Law, US Coast Guard
• Office of the General Counsel for Fisheries, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Senior Reserve JAG to Director, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Civil Law and Litigation Division, US Air Force
• Reserves, US Air Force
• Environmental Counsel, Prosecutor, and Criminal Defense Attorney at field units; Air Staff Lawyer at Pentagon and HQ units for the US Air Force