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Andrew L.Kolesar

PartnerPractice Group Leader, Environmentalmoc.eniHnospmohT@raseloK.werdnA
Cincinnati

O 513.352.6545

Andrew L.Kolesar

Partner
Practice Group Leader, Environmentalmoc.eniHnospmohT@raseloK.werdnA
Cincinnati

O 513.352.6545

Focus Areas

Regulatory

  • Advising a waste company with application for Class VI underground injection control well for carbon dioxide sequestration.
  • Advised waste company regarding corporate disclosures required for acquisition of hazardous waste facility including obtaining Ohio EPA order for exemption from 180-day notice and filing requirements.
  • Assisted numerous clients in Ohio and other states with compliance with Title V permitting requirements, including applicability assessments, completing applications and negotiating terms and conditions.
  • Assisting construction and demolition debris (“C&DD”) processing company with closure of alleged disposal site under consent order.
  • Represented a company in successfully obtaining permits and approvals to construct co-generation power plant in Rhode Island involving PSD permit hearing and two week hearing to obtain Coastal Resources Management Act approval, which included two appeals to Rhode Island Supreme Court.
  • Counsels clients on hazardous and solid waste compliance issues.
  • Advised a manufacturing company on carbon management program, including carbon footprinting protocols.
  • Advised a client concerning liability stemming from NRC-licensed operations, including liabilities relating to low level radioactive waste, and NRC and applicable state requirements for handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials.
  • Advised clients on risk management issues relating to transportation and disposal of low-level radioactive materials and transportation and processing of enriched uranium.
  • Advised a company concerning neighbor complaints about solvent odors from painting operations.
  • Advising client on construction and demolition debris (“C&DD”) processing facility compliance issues.
  • Assisted a client in obtaining air permits to install within thirty days for a significant plant modification to a major air emissions source pursuant to Rhode Island’s expedited permitting program.
  • Counsels business entities regarding permitting and compliance requirements under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and analogous state programs.
  • Advising a manufacturer of diesel fire pump engines on compliance with emission standards in the California Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) for Stationary Compression Ignition Engines that threatened to halt sales into California.
  • Advising manufacturing client on compliance with U.S. EPA emission standards, labeling, record-keeping and certification requirements applicable to engines for handheld and non-handheld hydraulic tools.
  • Drafting comments on behalf of fire pump engine manufacturer on proposed New Source Performance Standard for New Compression-Ignited Stationary Internal Combustion Engines.
  • Negotiating CARB approval for emission estimates for direct-drive fire pump engines in lieu of testing.
  • Advises engine manufacturers on compliance issues relating to the Clean Air Act mobile source requirements, including labeling, production line testing, and use of equipment manufacturer flexibility program.
  • Advises clients concerning compliance with the Federal Endangered Species Act, including Indiana Bat issues affecting development projects in Ohio and Kentucky and a California development project affecting several protected species.
  • Assisted a client concerning environmental aspects of initial public offering related to Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plants.
  • Assists companies in evaluating and developing environmental management systems and corporate compliance programs.
  • Assists companies in establishing and implementing EH&S compliance auditing programs.
  • Represented numerous clients in preparation of environmental impact statements and proposed findings of no significant impact under NEPA and analogous state programs including energy and development projects.

Site Remediation and Brownfields Redevelopment

  • Represents clients in numerous cleanup projects across the U.S. under state mandatory and voluntary programs, including: cleanups under Ohio Voluntary Action Program; significant cleanups of manufacturing properties in New Jersey under the Industrial Sites Recovery Act; an extensive investigation and cleanup initially under the voluntary provisions of the Connecticut Transfer Act and later under the mandatory provisions of the Act; a cleanup of contaminated groundwater at our client’s formerly owned property in Florida with oversight by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; a cleanup of PCB contaminated soil at our client’s formerly owned property in Michigan under the Michigan Part 201 cleanup program; and cleanup of contaminated property in Massachusetts involving a fixed price contract with the remediation contractor backed up by cost cap insurance policy.
  • Represented a company in RCRA closure and corrective action in Michigan under consent agreement with U.S. EPA and negotiated settlement with former owner of the property requiring former owner to take back title to property, assume responsibility for closure and corrective action, and reimburse past costs.
  • Represented an Ohio municipality in the purchase and redevelopment of abandoned brownfield properties.
  • Assisted private and governmental clients with obtaining grants under the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund.
  • Serves as partner legal adviser to an international manufacturing company in connection with consolidation of U.S. facilities resulting in investigation and cleanup of closed facilities across the country under mandatory and voluntary programs and provides assistance on environmental aspects of sale or gifting of such properties.

Litigation and Enforcement Defense

  • Represented a manufacturing company in enforcement action brought by Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for alleged solid waste disposal violations on client’s property, which were resolved in consent agreement.
  • Represent a potentially responsible party in state and federal action to clean up the Lower Passaic River in Newark, New Jersey and to recover natural resources damages.
  • Represented a construction and demolition debris (“C&DD”) processing company in enforcement case brought by State of Ohio resulting in consent order.
  • Representing transportation company in citizen suit under RCRA open dumping provisions relating to diesel fuel spill and in defense of related complaints filed by the U.S. and State of Ohio.
  • Represented an Ohio city in U.S. EPA RCRA enforcement action, which was settled for $123,000 after $3.2 million initial penalty demand.
  • Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturing company in U.S. EPA RCRA enforcement action in which U.S. EPA sought damages of $250,000 and costly injunctive relief; U.S. EPA dismissed three of six counts and all injunctive relief and settled for $20,900 after neutral ALJ ruled in client’s favor in non-binding arbitration.
  • Represent a defendant in claim by homeowners and homebuilder on former skeet shooting range property.
  • Represented one of two defendants in White River (Indiana) fish kill case involving federal, state and class action claims seeking civil damages and penalties exceeding $50 million and federal criminal prosecution under the Clean Water Act.
  • Federal court judge granted summary judgment in favor of our client on enforceability of limit of liability and indemnification provisions (protecting our client) in consulting services agreement.
  • Represented a manufacturing company in enforcement action brought by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for alleged air permit violations over a ten-year period, which were resolved in consent agreement.
  • Represented a food processing company in enforcement action by a publicly owned treatment works in Illinois for alleged wastewater permit violations resulting in settlement after show cause hearing.
  • Represented a client in arbitration concerning industry claim for breach of representations and warranties concerning wastewater discharges from purchased facility.
  • Liaison counsel for CERCLA defendants in United States v. Erie Coatings, et al., U.S. District Court, E.D. Michigan and represents clients in numerous other Superfund matters.
  • Represented the plaintiff in a CERCLA cost recovery and contribution action against contractors, transporters and generators responsible for illegal dumping on the plaintiff’s property.

Transactions

  • Conducted extensive due diligence on state permitting and regulatory issues, including endangered species, stream crossings, noise and shadow flicker impacts, and other OPSB requirements for tax equity investment in 66-megawatt wind farm developed in Northern Ohio.
  • Represents clients in the environmental aspects of corporate and real estate transactions, financings and other transactions, including due diligence and contract negotiations. Representative experience includes purchase of company with six steel mini-mills and 19 fabricating facilities in the southeast; hostile takeover of a multibillion dollar electronics company; asset purchase of 13 shoe manufacturing facilities in the midwest; proposed $13 billion merger of two telecommunications companies involving due diligence of more than 100 properties in a short timeframe; asset purchase of printing operations across the United States; privatization and IPO of chemical company in Israel; and represented underwriters in IPO of various REITs, including portfolios of shopping centers, mobile home parks, golf courses and manufacturing facilities.
  • Assisted numerous companies during property transfers and plant closings in all aspects of compliance with the country’s most burdensome transfer act laws, the New Jersey Industrial Sites Recovery Act (ISRA) and the Connecticut Transfer Act, including applicability determinations, and completing required investigations and cleanups. Also assisted clients during transactions with compliance with Michigan Part 201 program, including baseline environmental assessments, Section 7(f) “due care” reports, investigations and cleanups. Assisted clients in compliance with Ohio’s Cessation of Regulated Operations law.
  • Assisted port authority with negotiations of environmental provisions in agreement for sale/leaseback transaction.
  • “EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Announce Proposed Updates to Definition of ‘Waters of the United States,’” Thompson Hine Environmental Update, December 2021
  • “U.S. Supreme Court Holds CERCLA Does Not Bar State Law Claims but Requires U.S. EPA Approval of Cleanups,” Thompson Hine Environmental Update, May 2020
  • “U.S. EPA and Army Corps Publish Final WOTUS Rule,” Thompson Hine Environmental Update, April 2020
  • “U.S. EPA Issues Guidance for Temporary Enforcement Discretion During COVID-19 Pandemic,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, March 2020
  • “Ohio’s Stay-at-Home Order: Considerations for Regulated Operations,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, March 2020
  • “Brownfields Development on the Rise – But There’s Good Reason for Caution,” Ohio State Bar Association, April 2014
  • “Environmental Insurance Policies Are Worth a Look,” Ohio State Bar Association, April 2014
  • “International Environmental Law Review – U.S. Perspective,” Intercontinental Finance, September 2010
  • “Tracking the Footprint: Preparing Businesses to Cope with Carbon Regulations,” Cincinnati Bar Association Report, July 2009
  • “Multidisciplinary Approach Needed to Manage Climate Change Opportunities,” Cincinnati Bar Association Report, September 2008
  • Contributing author, Environmental Law Client Strategies: Leading Lawyers on Strategizing for Litigation, Negotiating Settlements, and Adding the Most Value for Your Client, published by Aspatore Books, 2007
  • “Air Pollution Amendments Let Companies Breathe Easier,” Cincinnati Business Courier, October 2006
  • “New Standards for Environmental Due Diligence,” Counsel to Counsel Environmental and Mass Tort Alert, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, April 2006
  • “Brownfield Development on the Rise, But There’s Reason for Caution,” Daily Reporter, June 2005
  • “[U.S. Supreme Court] Ruling Could Discourage Voluntary Site Cleanups,” Cincinnati Business Courier, March 2005
  • “Brownfields Clean-Up Tax Exemption Not Limited to Increase in Value Attributable to Environmental Remediation,” The Interpreter, GT Environmental, Inc., July 2004
  • “Reinterpreting Routine Maintenance, Repair and Replacement – Is EPA’s New Rule Savior of Sacrilege,” The Environmental Manager’s Compliance Advisor, November 2003
  • “Managing Mold Liability Risks for Home Builders,” COLUMNS, February/March 2003
  • “Get a Grip on Liabilities For Contaminated Sites – Cleanup Costs Can Haunt Failed Businesses,” Cincinnati Business Courier, July 2001
  • “Buying and Selling Brownfield Properties: A Practical Guide for Successful Transactions,” Northern Kentucky Law Review, 2000
  • “Implementing an Environmental Management System Could be Best Defense [in Criminal Prosecution],” Cincinnati Business Courier, 2000
  • “Superfund Liability Net Expands,” Butler-Warren Business Journal, 1999
  • “Internal Investigations of Potential Criminal Misconduct Under Environmental Laws,” Environment Reporter, 1995
  • “Proposed Rule Regarding Post-Closure Care at RCRA Interim Status Facilities: A Step in the Right Direction,” EPA Administrative Law Reporter, 1995
  • “EPA Lender Liability Rule Vacated, But Its ‘Spirit’ May Have Lingering Influence,” Environmental Compliance & Litigation Strategy, 1994
  • “Can State and Local Tax Incentives and Other Contributions Stimulate Economic Development?”, The Tax Lawyer, 1990
  • “Criminal Procedures Project – Right to Counsel,” Georgetown Law Journal, 1988 to 1989
  • “Construction Grants Program: Capital Budgeting,” Journal of Environmental Engineering, 1987
  • “PFAS and Environmental Justice Update,” Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), SW OH, December 2022
  • “New Due Diligence Considerations for ESG, Environmental Justice and PFAs,” Ohio Chapter A&WMA Annual Meeting, October 14, 2022
  • “Best Practices to Avoid Environmental Enforcement & Effectively Defend Enforcement Actions,” 31st Annual Business & Industry’s Sustainability and Environmental Health & safety Symposium, March 29, 2022
  • “Top 5 Most-cited RCRA Violations Based on Compliance Audits of Large Manufacturing Companies and Implementing an Effective Compliance Audit Program,” CICI Annual RCRA Training Seminar, March 24, 2022
  • “Integrating EHS Compliance and 3rd Party Audits during Mergers and Acquisitions,” Annual Business & Industry’s Sustainability & Environmental, Health and Safety Symposium, March 27, 2019
  • “Practical Strategies to Manage Emerging Contaminants (PFAS),” Annual Business & Industry’s Sustainability & Environmental, Health and Safety Symposium, March 26, 2019
  • Panelist, “Building Lasting Connections: The “Slippery” Slope: Emerging EHS Concerns and Challenges that Managers Face in Mergers & Acquisitions,” May 2, 2018
  • “Environmental Law Regulations,” Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), Governance & Compliance Issues Faced by Public & Private Companies Seminar, April 2017
  • “Advances in Environmental Due Diligence – Beyond a Basic Phase I ESA,” 26th Annual Business & Industry’s Sustainability and Environmental Health & Safety Symposium, March 2017
  • “Developing Effective EHS Management Systems,” EHS Committee of the Flexible Packaging Association, March 2017
  • “Environmental Law in the Americas: What’s new in the U.S., Brazil & Ecuador,” Gowling WLG Seminar, March 2017
  • “USEPA’s Next Generation Enforcement Initiative and Minimizing Enforcement Risks,” Cincinnati Bar Association Environmental Law Practice Group Environmental Law Update Conference, October 2016
  • “Buying and Selling Former Industrial Properties,” Thompson Hine Seminar, September 2015
  • “Developing Effective EH&S Management Systems,” OSBA Annual Ohio Environment, Energy and Resources Law Seminar, April 2015
  • “Workshop I – Managing Risks Through Effective EHS Management Systems & Using Audits to Achieve Compliance,” 24th Annual Business & Industry’s Sustainability and Environmental Health & Safety Symposium, March 2015
  • “Best Practices for Environmental Due Diligence in U.S. EPA’s New All Appropriate Inquiries Rule & Revised ASTM Phase I Standard,” 23rd Annual Business & Industry’s Sustainability and Environmental, Health & Safety Symposium, March 2014
  • “Developing Effective Corporate EHS Auditing Programs,” 20th and 21st Annual Business & Industry’s Sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety Symposiums, March 2011 and March 2012
  • “Environmental Strategies for Successful Closure & Sale of Former Manufacturing Properties,” Real Property Law Institute Annual Conference, December 2010
  • “U.S. Climate Change Legislative and Regulatory Developments,” Environmental Law for Business Seminar, The Gowlings Firm (Toronto), April 2010
  • “Strategies for Successful Closure, Cleanup, and Sale of Former Manufacturing Properties,” Bureau of National Affairs Webinar, October 2009
  • “Climate Change Update and Carbon Management Programs,” Cincinnati Bar Association Annual Environmental Law Seminar, October 2009
  • “Buying and Selling Distressed Properties,” 18th Annual Business and Industry’s EH&S Symposium, March 2009
  • “Climate Change – Best Practices that Corporations are Taking to Prepare for Anticipated Legislation,” 18th Annual Business and Industry’s EH&S Symposium, March 2009
  • AV® Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for more than 20 years for Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Natural Resources Law; named the Best Lawyers® 2017 Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Cincinnati
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal USA: Environment
  • Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers list, 2004 to 2024; included in list of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Cincinnati
  • Selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business since 2005; currently in Band 1
  • Listed in The International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers
  • Listed in Guide to the World’s Leading Environmental Lawyers, published by Euromoney Institutional Investor
  • Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society

Professional Associations

  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Cincinnati Bar Association, past secretary, Environmental Law Committee
  • District of Columbia Bar Association

Professional Activities

  • Lexis Brownfields Law & Practice Manual, contributing author (Ohio chapter)
  • BNA’s Environmental Due Diligence Guide, Ohio representative, State Law Advisory Committee
  • Business & Industry’s EH&S Symposium, member of Planning Committee
  • Anderson’s Ohio Environmental Law Practice Manual, past general editor and contributing author
  • Greater Cincinnati Water Works, past member of Working Group
  • Cincinnati Energy, Economics and Environmental Summit, past member of Planning Committee
  • United States Law Firm Group, Environmental Committee, past chair

Community Activities

  • U.S. Army Reserves (1981-1991)
  • Greater Cincinnati YMCA, past board member, past chair of Governance Committee
  • April 2008 Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber trade mission to Amsterdam, delegate
  • Bridges for A Just Community, past participant in Christian, Jewish, Muslim Trialogue
  • Montessori Center Room, Cincinnati, past member of Board of Trustees
  • Talbert House, Cincinnati, past member of Advisory Board
  • Lindner YMCA, former basketball coach
  • Sands Montessori School, past member of Local School Decision Making Committee
  • Walnut Hills High School, Local School Decision Making Committee – past chair

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1990,
    cum laude
    ,

    Olin Fellowship; Georgetown Law Journal

  • The Ohio State University, M.S., 1983,

    University Fellowship

  • Virginia Military Institute, B.S., 1981,

    Distinguished Graduate; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio
  • District of Columbia
  • Kentucky

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky