Bernadette M. Rappold

• Petitioned the EPA for approval of new renewable fuel and prepared petitions for new renewable electricity producers.
• Defended multinational manufacturer in Federal Communication Commission (FCC) enforcement action and assisted in the development of an FCC compliance plan.
• Advised clients responding to emergencies (including fires and accidents).
• Defended energy company in civil judicial enforcement action related to alleged stormwater violations.
• Advised manufacturing start-up on environmental and DOT issues related to product distribution.
• Defended client in complex state RCRA enforcement action and developed successful plan for federal intervention.
• Assisted data and cloud center clients with complex air permitting, compliance and enforcement issues related to need for uninterrupted sources of backup power.
• Defended multiple clients in mobile source enforcement actions under the Clean Air Act.
• Assisted multinational electronics manufacturer with CAA compliance audits to obtain full penalty mitigation under federal and state audit policies and programs.
• Performed environmental due diligence on large commercial real estate and M&A transactions.
• Counseled clients on imports compliance under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Clean Air Act.
• Assessed and described material regulatory risks for SEC filings.
• Advised multiple clients on strategic use of FOIA and the federal Information Quality Act.
• Advised large agribusiness on Clean Water Act compliance requirements for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
• Developed, drafted and submitted successful comments on a proposed rulemaking that resulted in the inclusion of agricultural wastes and manure as approved cellulosic feedstocks under the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.
• Petitioned the EPA on behalf of trade association for approval of sorghum oil-derived fuels as advanced biofuels under the RFS program.
• Advised large agribusiness on requirements for creation of first-in-class hog manure to energy plant.
• Defended large beverage manufacturer in Clean Air Act enforcement action for alleged NSR/PSD violations.
• Advised food and beverage industry companies on compliance with anhydrous ammonia and ODS requirements.
• Obtained applicability determination from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act for a client’s new renewable energy gasifier.°
• Defended municipal wastewater treatment plant in federal enforcement action under the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act.°
• Drafted client comments on proposed EPA rule that led to favorable changes in final rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard.°
• Defended clients in threatened and actual citizen suits under the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.°
• Assisted clients in performing environmental due diligence prior to purchase of contaminated property.°
• Broke through logjam and helped client obtain Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) registration for pesticidal device.°
• Obtained full penalty and liability mitigation for clients disclosing and correcting environmental violations under federal audit policy and state analogs.°
• Conducted internal investigation and successfully defended health care institution in Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigation of unfounded whistleblower claims.°
• Evaluated NEPA and other claims to assist client in obtaining secured bond financing for public transit project.°
• Represented whistleblower corporation in federal investigation of competitor engaged in criminal fraud under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
• Litigated toxic tort claims on behalf of persons exposed to excess radiation from nuclear weapons plants.°
• Counseled clients on environmental compliance under all federal environmental statutes.° 

°The above representations were handled by Ms. Rappold prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

• Director, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Special Litigation and Projects Division, 2008-2013
• Director, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Federal Facilities Enforcement Office, Site Remediation and Enforcement Staff, 2001-2008

• Team Member, a Law360 “Environmental Practice Group of the Year,” 2022
• Listed, The Legal 500 United States, 2017 
• Named, National Law Journal, “Energy and Environmental Trailblazer,” 2016