Pennsylvania Environmental Rights Amendment
April 17, 2018
Speaking Engagements
Four attorneys from McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC will be presenting two seminars in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs. Jon Andrews, Jamie Strong, Steve Matzura and Esch McCombie will be discussing Environmental Rights Amendment at the Central Hotel & Conference Center in Harrisburg on April 17th and at the Doubletree by Hilton in Monroeville, Pa. on April 19th. These sessions will cover the ever-evolving law surrounding Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment.
Jon Andrews is co-chair of the Real Estate Group, and practices in the Eminent Domain, Oil & Natural Gas and Pipeline & Oil/Gas Infrastructure Groups. He practices in the area of land use law, working on a variety of zoning and land development matters. He represents commercial and residential developers, members of the energy, telecommunications, and gaming industries, institutions of higher education, and other landowners in a variety of matters before municipal planning commissions, governing bodies and zoning hearing boards. Jon’s work includes all forms of zoning relief, including special exceptions and conditional uses. Jon also advises clients on requests for zoning amendments and challenges to existing ordinances. He also works on storm water management and transportation matters that arise during the land development approval process. Jon’s practice includes a focus on local regulation of natural gas development and the energy industry in Pennsylvania. Jon is a regular speaker and presenter on this topic.
As a member of the Eminent Domain Group, Jon counsels both condemning authorities and property owners on eminent domain matters. He provides assistance on land use issues that impact challenges to condemnations and the determination of just compensation. Jon also is a certified instructor for the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute. In that role, he instructs planning commission members, zoning officers, and other municipal officials on zoning matters.
Jamie Strong practices in the Real Estate Group. He concentrates his practice on representing wireless telecommunications providers and tower companies in all land use and leasing matters. Jamie represents clients in zoning and land use proceedings before municipal planning commissions, governing bodies and zoning hearing boards throughout the Commonwealth. He also represents clients in the acquisition, sale, development and leasing of real estate.
Steve Matzura advises industrial, commercial, and municipal clients on a broad range of environmental, health, and safety (“EHS”) issues, including water quality, stormwater, water use, wastewater, waste, hazardous materials and safety, and air quality. He works with clients in various industry sectors, such as energy, oil and gas (including pipelines), manufacturing, food and beverage, metals, construction and land development, auto dealerships, education, and healthcare. Steve helps clients with EHS compliance, permitting, auditing, self-disclosures, and enforcement actions, including addressing issues with environmental agencies, river basin commissions, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”). He also advises clients on the environmental implications of business and real estate transactions and litigates environmental matters before courts and administrative hearing boards, including the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board.
Esch McCombie is a member of the Firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, Oil & Natural Gas Group and the Pipeline & Oil/Gas Infrastructure Group. He focuses his practice on land use matters and permit approvals at the municipal, county and state level. His work includes reaching favorable zoning and land development outcomes by way of variances or waivers, special exceptions or conditional uses, zoning amendments and challenges to ordinances, and negotiations with municipalities and other government agencies throughout Pennsylvania. In addition, he works on storm water management and transportation issues that often arise with land use matters. On a national level, Esch conducts zoning and land use due diligence associated with mergers and acquisitions and the purchase or sale of properties and businesses. He has assisted commercial, industrial and residential developers, educational institutions, pipeline and other oil and gas related companies, telecommunication companies, and small business owners and start-ups. Esch has received favorable determinations, decisions and approvals for large warehouse and distribution centers, residential communities of all types, urban redevelopment projects, craft breweries and event venues, car dealerships, pipeline projects, and coal to natural gas conversion projects.
For more information on these seminars, please contact Theresa M Dickow, Assistant Director of Education at the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, tdickow@boroughs.org.
