Overview
Gage focuses primarily on natural resource, agricultural, and renewable energy development. He regularly assists oil & gas, mining, renewable energy, and agricultural clients with acquisition and divestiture, project development, permitting, and operating their projects.
Gage enjoys partnering with his clients from the onset of pre-project planning and design, through community outreach and land-use planning, to project development and permitting, and into end-of-life planning and divestiture. He regularly reviews project development plans, surveys, and title insurance commitments, and assists with local land-use planning and title review, due diligence, and curative. Gage assists in project development by helping clients navigate, among other issues, NHPA Section 106 consultations, BLM and USFS land access and approvals, and coordinating land use permitting with state and local agencies.
In addition, Gage maintains an active water law practice throughout the Intermountain West. He assists oil & gas, mining, agricultural, and renewable energy companies in due diligence, acquiring, permitting, and defending water assets. His varied water law practice includes permitting saltwater disposal wells, defending water rights through basin adjudications, and representing clients before state agencies in change of use applications. Gage also regularly assists client in acquiring and divesting of water assets through negotiating and drafting water supply agreements, municipal water contracts, water leases, options, and purchase and sale agreements.
Education & Admissions
Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D., 2014), magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Brigham Young University - Idaho (B.S., Economics, 2011), magna cum laude, Newel K. Whitney Scholar
Admissions
- Montana
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- Utah
Languages
- Spanish (conversational)
Experience
Client Achievements
Representative Experience
- Negotiated, permitted, and secured through option agreement over $40M of water supply for new pumped-storage hydro project in Nevada.
- Coordinated local, state, and federal permitting related to development of $2.2B pumped-storage hydro project in Nevada.
- Represented international agricultural conglomerate in negotiating 500 Mwh solar lease on over 7,500 acres in Texas.
- Represented international mining company in due diligence, acquisition, and permitting of over $50M of water supply for new copper mine in Nevada.
- Represented international mining company in due diligence, acquisition, and permitting of over $5M of water supply for ongoing gold mining operations in Nevada.
- Represented international mining company in divestiture of historic mining asset near Yellowstone National Park including formation of conservation easement, negotiating public access with USFS and BLM, and dedication of over $25M in water rights to environmental instream usage.
- Represented international mining company as lead water counsel in acquisition of $1B gold mining operations in Nevada.
- Represented international mining company in due diligence, curative, and permitting of water rights related to new $1B trona project in Wyoming.
- Represented major coal company in due diligence, transfer, and permitting of water rights related to their $1B acquisition of coal mining properties in Wyoming.
- Represented international agricultural conglomerate in coordinating permitting, water supply acquisition, and private access negotiation related to $50M expansion of feed yard in Kansas.
News & Resources
Articles
News & Press Mentions
Events & Speaking Engagements
Select Presentations
- Montana Tech’s Annual Mine Design, Operations & Closure Conference
- 2018 – CERCLA 108(b) Updates
- 2019 – NHPA Section 106 Consultations
- Seminar Group’s Annual Buying & Selling Ranches in Montana
- 3rd Annual (2018) – Chair, presented on Environmental Due Diligence
- 4th Annual (2019) – Chair, presented on Environmental Due Diligence
- 5th Annual (2020) – Chair, presented on Real Property & Title Due Diligence
- 6th Annual (2021) – Chair, presented on Real Property & Title Due Diligence
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
- 2017 Annual Institute – Oil & Gas Section presenting on Produced Water
- American Exploration and Mining Association Annual Institute
- 2017 - Developments in Federal CERCLA Liability for Historic Mining Properties
- 2019 – State and Local Mine Permitting and Bonding
Industries & Practices
Energy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnvironmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Energy & Natural Resources
- Environmental
- Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Indian & Alaska Native
- Mining
- Oil & Gas
- Real Estate & Land Use
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
- Scholarship Committee
- American Exploration & Mining Association
- Public Lands Committee
- Environmental Committee
- Montana Mining Association
- Legislative Committee
- Utah Mining Association
- Legislative Committee
- American Agricultural Law Association
- J. Reuben Clark Law Society
- MT Chapter – President (2016-2018)
- Montana State Bar Association; Water Law Section
- Utah State Bar Association; Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Section
Community Involvement
- American Exploration of Mining, Environmental / Mining / Public Lands Committee member
- (former) President – Eagle Mount Billings
- (former) President – J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Montana Chapter
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