Justin Curtis

Vice President

Justin joined AquaLaw in 2013, bringing expertise assisting clients in a wide array of environmental matters including permitting, regulatory compliance, litigation, and enforcement defense.  Prior to joining AquaLaw, Justin practiced in the environmental group of a national law firm in Washington, D.C. Before that, Justin served for two years as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Since joining AquaLaw, Justin has successfully represented clients on a range of matters relating to water supply, water quality, and water infrastructure development. Recent representative matters include:

  • Guiding a regional municipal water authority through federal and state permitting processes for new surface water intake and transmission main.
  • Obtaining groundwater withdrawal permit from heavily regulated aquifer for another regional municipal water authority.
  • Challenging U.S. EPA disapproval of state water quality standard on behalf of municipal wastewater utility.
  • Assisting client develop technical and legal analysis of the effects of sedimentation on sensitive aquatic species from utility infrastructure.
  • Negotiating agreement with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other interested parties to mitigate historic resource impacts from new pump station.
  • Working with municipal water utility to develop legal strategy to protect water quality in reservoir serving as city’s water supply.
  • Representing a city before state public utility commission in water and wastewater ratemaking case.
  • Defending utility against federal citizen suit for sanitary sewer overflows.
  • Defending two localities against inverse condemnation claims related to flooding attributed to storm sewers.
  • Representing a locality in a contested FERC dam license proceeding.
  • Advising parties on environmental compliance and permitting for over 50 solar, wind, and energy storage projects.

Education

J.D., University of Richmond, 2008, magna cum laude
Law Review: University of Richmond Law Review, Allen Chair Editor
John Marshall Scholar
McNeill Law Honor Society

B.A., Pennsylvania State University, 2002

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association, Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources, Committee on Environmental Enforcement and Crimes Committee, Vice Chair 2012-2013

Admitted

Virginia
District of Columbia
Various Federal Courts

 

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