Profile
Steven Barringer is a member of GT’s Environmental and Government Law and Policy practice groups. Steve has a unique practice that combines substantive environmental law knowledge with deep government law and policy experience. He began his career as an attorney-adviser and Special Assistant to the Solicitor at the Department of Interior. In private practice, Steve has represented industry clients in numerous EPA rulemakings, and defended clients in enforcement actions brought by EPA and states. He has advised companies regarding compliance with federal and state environmental laws. Steve has represented parties involved at major Superfund sites – including several of the largest Superfund sites in the United States – both in remediation settlement negotiations and cost-recovery actions. He has advised clients on international treaty obligations applicable to the transboundary movement of mercury and other hazardous wastes, and has managed local counsel examining environmental laws in Central America and Europe applicable to the transboundary movement of such wastes.
Steve’s broad experience representing environmental clients led to his work on government law and policy matters. He has interacted with federal and state regulators on numerous rule-makings and policy developments. He advises clients regarding federal legislative and agency strategy, including use of the appropriations process to achieve policy goals. Steve served on an EPA advisory committee examining federal hazardous waste regulations, and was selected by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to represent industry stakeholders in negotiations to develop consensus amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. He led an industry group advocating for reform of the federal mining laws. Representing industry clients, Steve has worked together with nongovernmental organizations to secure federal legislation banning the export of mercury from the United States.
Steve has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal as one of the top environmental practitioners representing the mining industry. One client described him as “absolutely the best.” He speaks and publishes on environmental legal and policy topics.
Concentrations
- Federal legislative and regulatory strategy
- Federal environmental policy
- Solid and hazardous waste management and disposal
- Environmental compliance and enforcement
- Climate change policy
- Toxics Release Inventory and other federal toxics reporting requirements
- The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
- Mercury use, export, treatment, and disposal
- Public lands and natural resources law
Capabilities
Experience
- Special Assistant to the Solicitor, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1985-1986
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Environment, 2024
- Team Member, a Law360 “Environmental Practice Group of the Year,” 2022
- Team Member, Best Lawyers in America, "Top Listed – Government Relations," 2018
- Listed, Who’s Who Legal: Mining, 2015-2017
Credentials
- J.D., Brigham Young University, 1983
- B.A., English, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1980
- District of Columbia
- Nevada
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada
