Local Government & Utilities

MD’s expansive service to public entities in many areas of environmental law has ingrained in our team the bedrock understanding that Ohio communities have faced significant financial challenges. Achieving success and, for some, survival in the 21st century requires prudent planning for practical, affordable approaches to environmental regulatory requirements. We provide sophisticated, cost-effective legal services to public entities.

Our work for these local governments and utilities includes client counseling and enforcement defense on a broad range of topics, including brownfields, land and resource management, traditional and alternative energy initiatives, sustainability counseling, consent decree negotiations, permitting under the CAA, SWA, and SDWA, Integrated Planning strategies, dredged material management, stormwater and wetlands permitting, cost recovery, waste management and reduction, landfill management, and stakeholder engagement.

We have worked with large cities, small towns, counties, municipalities, conservancy districts, waste management districts, water and sewer utilities and other regional authorities, such as port authorities. We are adept at providing advice as part of a broader team of professionals, which often includes in-house counsel, city and county attorneys, special outside bond and construction counsel, and numerous environmental and engineering professionals.

MD’s experience working with Ohio Conservancy Districts is unparalleled. Political subdivisions of the State of Ohio, formed under ORC Chapter 6101 in response to the massive flooding in the early 20th century, conservancy districts address a variety of conservation, recreation, and water management issues, including flood control.

MD attorneys have worked with conservancy districts to draft rules and regulations for individual conservancy districts, meet reporting requirements under the Conservancy Court, review and draft lease documents, and assist with district funding, including through maintenance and capital assessment mechanisms. The firm served as litigation counsel for a large conservancy district in a construction dispute.