Robert W. Whetzel, vice chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, advises a wide range of clients on issues arising under federal and state environmental laws. He has extensive experience with federal and state environmental agencies, and in private-party environmental litigation. He also handles complex permitting matters and transactional matters. Bob represents clients across the full spectrum of environmental issues, including air, water, solid and hazardous waste, site acquisition and development, and site remediation. His practice includes permitting, compliance counseling, enforcement and private-party environmental litigation.
Appearing before a variety of courts, agencies and administrative tribunes on environmental matters, Bob’s recent cases have included compliance counseling for major chemical manufacturers, defense of EPA multimedia enforcement actions, appeals of TMDL regulations, appeals of water quality standards, appeals of Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act regulations, and numerous permit appeals. Bob also represents both new and existing businesses in permitting matters, recently handling permitting issues for manufacturing, recycling companies, energy companies and utilities.
Bob is active in legislative affairs in the State of Delaware, testifying and commenting on numerous environmental proposals. He is a registered lobbyist in the State of Delaware, and frequently testifies for industry organizations on environmental legislation.
Bob serves on numerous regulatory advisory committees, including the Brownfields Advisory Committee, the Chronic Violators Regulatory Development Committee, the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act Advisory Group and the Title V Fee Advisory Committee. A frequent speaker at conferences and seminars on environmental issues, Bob will be a panelist at a program entitled "The Delaware Coastal Zone Act at 40: Past, Present, and Future," presented by Widener University School of Law on September 30, 2011.