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Steven Barringer is a member of GT’s Environmental and Government Law and Policy practice groups. Steve has a unique practice that combines substantive environmental law knowledge with deep government law and policy experience. He began his career as an attorney-adviser and Special Assistant to the Solicitor at the Department of Interior. In private practice, Steve has represented industry clients in numerous EPA rulemakings, and defended clients in enforcement actions brought by EPA and states. He has advised companies regarding compliance with federal and state environmental laws. Steve has represented parties involved at major Superfund sites – including several of the largest Superfund sites in the United States – both in remediation settlement negotiations and cost-recovery actions. He has advised clients on international treaty obligations applicable to the transboundary movement of mercury and other hazardous wastes, and has managed local counsel examining environmental laws in Central America and Europe applicable to the transboundary movement of such wastes.

Steve’s broad experience representing environmental clients led to his work on government law and policy matters. He has interacted with federal and state regulators on numerous rule-makings and policy developments. He advises clients regarding federal legislative and agency strategy, including use of the appropriations process to achieve policy goals. Steve served on an EPA advisory committee examining federal hazardous waste regulations, and was selected by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to represent industry stakeholders in negotiations to develop consensus amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. He led an industry group advocating for reform of the federal mining laws. Representing industry clients, Steve has worked together with nongovernmental organizations to secure federal legislation banning the export of mercury from the United States.

Steve has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal as one of the top environmental practitioners representing the mining industry. One client described him as “absolutely the best.” He speaks and publishes on environmental legal and policy topics.

On April 29, 2021, Administrator Michael Regan announced that EPA plans to add Natural Gas Processing (NGP) facilities to the list of industries subject to Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting
Continue Reading EPA Will Finalize Rule Imposing Toxics Release Inventory Reporting Requirements on Natural Gas Processing Facilities

Indicating its intention to move forward aggressively to address growing legacy chemical concerns, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in February took two steps towards regulating certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Continue Reading Biden EPA Moving Forward with National Drinking Water Regulations for PFOA and PFOS

On Jan. 9, 2020, the Trump administration’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposed rules that would update comprehensively the regulations promulgated under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the
Continue Reading Trump Administration Proposes Significant Streamlining of National Environmental Policy Act

On Dec. 11, the House of Representatives passed S. 1790, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. The Senate followed suit on Dec. 17, bringing an end
Continue Reading Congress Takes Initial Steps to Address PFAS in the National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report

PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been under scrutiny on both sides of the Capitol in recent months, and the Senate made significant headway in late June in reaching consensus
Continue Reading PFAS Solution Moving Through Congress on Must-Pass Defense Bill