Environmental Law Group LLP

Environmental Law Firm in San Diego

S. Wayne Rosenbaum

Contact Info

Phone: (619) 525-2580
Fax: (619) 231-5853
Email: swr@envirolawyer.com

Highlights

  • 2019 Best Lawyers Recipient
  • California Western School of Law, J.D., 1994
  • Rutgers University, M.Ed., 1976
  • B.A., Mathematics/Chemistry, 1972

S. Wayne Rosenbaum is a partner of the firm practicing in the areas of environment, land use and natural resources, with an emphasis on water quality and land use laws affecting infrastructure and renewable energy projects. He develops compliance strategies for clients regulated under the storm water provisions of the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the California Environmental Quality Act and other state and federal resources statutes. Relying on his broad experience with environmental permits and environmental management systems, Wayne helps clients develop and implement solutions to environmental regulations that are both legally defensible and economically sustainable. Wayne also assists his clients in defending their regulatory compliance programs against challenges by regulatory agencies and environmental groups.

Prior to joining Environmental Law Group LLP, formerly known as Opper & Varco LLP, Wayne was a partner at Stoel Rives LLP and, previous to that, with Foley & Lardner LLP. Before entering private practice, Wayne served with the Department of the Navy, Office of General Counsel, where he concentrated on the transfers of contaminated properties under the Base Realignment and Closing Act, environmental audits, waste minimization plans, regulation of storm water discharges at federal facilities and interagency funding of environmental projects.

Before working with the Navy, Wayne spent 18 years as an executive in the environmental services industry. At Recontek, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer, where he led a team of environmental professionals who successfully obtained RCRA Part B permits in seven states. Before that, he served as assistant vice president for Eticam, where he was responsible for environmental permitting of new facilities.

 

Full Resume

Representative Work*

  • Represented a project developer in obtaining and defending land use and environmental permits for a 97.5 MW wind energy facility in California.
  • Represented a project developer in obtaining land use and environmental permits for a 160 MW wind energy facility on a Native American reservation in San Diego County; handled CEQA/NEPA natural resources requirements and entitlements.
  • Represented a property owner in negotiating land use entitlements and agreements with the developer of a 20 MW solar project in Palm Springs.
  • General counsel for an airport fixed-base operator, including advice on project refinancing.
  • General counsel for a $1 billion airport redevelopment project, providing all forms of regulatory, land use, transactional and corporate legal services.
  • Advised and defended numerous clients on business and environmental regulations including compliance with California Proposition 65, California False Advertising laws, Consumer Products Safety Commission and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
  • Provided water rights and water quality counseling to a client facing an enforcement action by the Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding Lake San Marcos.
  • Assisted client with regulatory and entitlement issues related to the construction of a 10,000 acre-foot water recycling facility designed to reclaim drain water from Central Valley farms.
  • Represented a client in addressing regulatory compliance and registration issues with the California Department of Health Services.
  • Represented a national homebuilder in construction storm water disputes.

*This work was performed prior to joining Stoel Rives LLP.

 

Professional Honors and Activities

  • Registered Environmental Assessor, State of California
  • Instructor, ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Certification
  • Professor, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, water rights and land use planning courses, 2004-2012
  • Member, Advisory Council, Regional Environmental Business Resource and Assistance Center
  • Member, San Diego Building Industry Association, water and legal committees
  • Member, Association of Environmental Professionals, San Diego Chapter
  • Member, California Stormwater Quality Association
  • Member, CleanTECH San Diego

Presentations

  • Panelist, “State Water Resources Control Board – New Permit,” Engineering & General Contractors Association of San Diego, Oct. 12, 2011
  • Keynote Speaker, “What Happens in California Can Spread: The General Industrial Permit and Qualified SWPP Law,” National Registry of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Oct. 4, 2011
  • Presenter, “Understanding the Sampling, Monitoring, and Reporting Requirements of the New Permit,” California Draft Industrial Storm Water Permit Webinar Series, Sept. 27, 2011
  • Presenter, “Properly Preparing a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan,” California Draft Industrial Storm Water Permit Webinar Series, July 28, 2011
  • Presenter, “The Impacts to Industry and the Environment,” California Draft Industrial Storm Water Permit Webinar Series, May 25, 2011
  • Presenter, “Understanding the Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS),” California’s Construction General Permit Web Conference Series: Session V, Apr. 28, 2010
  • Presenter, “New Regulations of the Rain Event Action Plan (REAP),” California’s Construction General Permit Web Conference Series: Session IV, Jan. 27, 2010
  • Presenter, “Post-Construction Best Management Practices, Hydromodification, and Regulatory Strategies,” California’s Construction General Permit Web Conference Series: Session III, Nov. 18, 2009
  • Presenter, “Navigating the Newly Adopted Regulations,” California’s Construction General Permit Web Conference Series: Session II, Oct. 1, 2009
  • Presenter, “Overcoming Implementation Issues,” California’s Construction General Permit Web Conference Series: Session I, Aug. 5, 2009
  • Presenter, “New General Construction Storm Water Permit for California – Status Update,” San Diego, Aug. 14, 2008

Publications

  • Panelist, “State Water Resources Control Board – New Permit,” Engineering & General Contractors Association of San Diego, Oct. 12, 2011
  • Keynote Speaker, “What Happens in California Can Spread: The General Industrial Permit and Qualified SWPP Law,” National Registry of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Oct. 4, 2011
  • Presenter, “Understanding the Sampling, Monitoring, and Reporting Requirements of the New Permit,” California Draft Industrial Storm Water Permit Webinar Series, Sept. 27, 2011
  • Presenter, “Properly Preparing a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan,” California Draft Industrial Storm Water Permit Webinar Series, July 28, 2011
  • Presenter, “The Impacts to Industry and the Environment,” California Draft Industrial Storm Water Permit Webinar Series, May 25, 2011
  • Presenter, “Understanding the Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS),” California’s Construction General Permit Web Conference Series: Session V, Apr. 28, 2010
  • Presenter, “New Regulations of the Rain Event Action Plan (REAP),” California’s Construction General Permit Web Conference Series: Session IV, Jan. 27, 2010

Awards and Honors

  • Recipient of the San Diego Building Industry Association 2012 Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Service and Contributions to the Industry in the field of Storm Water Management.