Overview
With an emphasis on surface and ground water quality, Scott advises clients on regulatory compliance, administrative proceedings, enforcement, and legislative matters. He represents clients in obtaining and complying with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) permits, Section 404 dredge and fill permits, and Arizona Aquifer Protection Permits (APP).
Scott’s experience also includes impaired water issues, solid and hazardous waste regulation, Safe Drinking Water Act matters, environmental due diligence, NEPA compliance, the Endangered Species Act compliance, environmental auditing, cleanups under Arizona’s voluntary remediation program, and TRI/EPCRA reporting and compliance.
Scott has represented many of his clients for decades, a testament to the trusted counsel he provides, and has been consistently recognized in Best Lawyers in America®.
Experience
Representative Work
- Secured formal determinations from the Corps of Engineers that no jurisdictional waters under the Clean Water Act existed in the area of proposed mine expansions, allowing those expansions to proceed without the need for federal permits. *
- Oversaw multiple cycles of a comprehensive environmental audit program for a company with sites in Arizona and Texas. *
- Assisted numerous mining, industrial and real estate clients in securing necessary permits for facility construction and/or expansion. Examples include several large master-planned communities in the Phoenix area and construction or expansion of numerous mining operations throughout the State. *
- Negotiated consent judgments or consent orders with the State of Arizona in numerous cases where regulated entities were alleged to have violated state law. In other cases, assisted clients alleged to have violated environmental laws to resolve those allegations without any penalty. *
- Provided due diligence on water quality issues and permitting issues for potential buyers analyzing acquisitions of large mining and electrical generating facilities in Arizona and Nevada. *
* Experience occurred prior to joining Dorsey.
News & Resources
News & Press Mentions
- Co-Author, “EPA and Army Corps Finalize Latest Rule Attempting to Define “Waters of the United States” Under the Clean Water Act,” Fennemore Client Alert, 2022
- Speaker, “Environmental Law Update,” State Bar of Arizona 2018 Annual Convention, June 27, 2018
- Speaker, “2017 Environmental Law Update,” 2017 State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention, June 14, 2017
- Speaker, State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention, 2013-2019
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- Vice-Chair, Arizona Mining Association Environment Committee, 2014-present
- Member, Executive Council, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, State Bar of Arizona, 2007-2013
- Chair, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, State Bar of Arizona, 2011-2012
- Member, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Review Committee, Governor’s Office, 2010
- Past Vice-Chair for Publications, American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
Accolades
- Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, Mining Law, 2016-2026
- Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Mining Law, Phoenix, 2026
- Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Environmental Law, Phoenix, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Natural Resources Law, Phoenix, 2023
