Tyler G. Welti is counsel in Venable’s Environmental Practice in the San Francisco office. Drawing on his experience with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment & Natural Resources Division, he represents clients in a wide range of federal and state environmental, natural resources, land use, and other litigation matters, including government enforcement actions, citizen suits, California Environmental Quality Act petitions, and Administrative Procedure Act challenges and appeals.
Tyler has particular expertise in counseling and defending project developments involving a federal or state nexus, including transportation, renewable and conventional energy development, timber, mining, water, and other infrastructure projects.
Tyler’s experience includes counseling and litigation involving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), Mining Law, Mineral Leasing Act, Antiquities Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and many other state and federal laws and regulations.
Tyler began his career as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment & Natural Resources Division, where he served as lead counsel on a number of major environmental cases.
He received a special distinction award for tireless efforts on behalf of the American public for his work on the Deepwater Horizon litigation. He also served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Consuelo M. Callahan for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Experience :
- Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Environment & Natural Resources Division
- In re Mont. Wilderness Association (management of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, including oil and gas, roads, and airstrips)
- Represented the federal government in three cases raising over a dozen claims challenging an agency’s management of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Prevailed on all claims in all cases in district court, and won all substantial claims on appeal. See In re Mont. Wilderness Assoc., 807 F. Supp. 2d 990 (D. Mont. 2011), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, 725 F.3d 988 (9th Cir. 2013).
- Alaska v. Salazar (responses to Deepwater Horizon oil spill)
- Represented the federal government in Alaska’s challenge to moratoria on oil and gas drilling imposed in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Prevailed in expedited summary judgment proceedings.Alaska v. Salazar, No. 10-cv-00205 at ECF No. 80 (D. Alaska Jan. 26, 2011).
- Natural Resources Defense Council v. Salazar (seismic exploration of Gulf of Mexico)
- Representing the federal government, brokered a settlement agreement between the government, environmental groups, and industry in a challenge to seismic exploration of the Gulf of Mexico based on alleged impacts to protected species.
Education :
- J.D. University of Virginia School of Law 2008
- B.A. English Yale University 2002
Bar Admissions : California, District of Columbia
Clerk Experience : Honorable Consuelo M. Callahan U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Professional Memberships : Vice-Chair, Public Land and Resources Committee of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources.
Cost
Rate : $$$