Contact: J.R.
Direct: 916.379.7532
Main: 916.379.7530
520 Capitol Mall, Suite 750
Sacramento, CA  95814
 

Expertise


Environmental Litigation

Enforcement Defense

Contaminated Property Transactions

Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials

Regulatory Reporting

Water Quality

J.R. Parker

ATTORNEY

Overview

J. R. Parker is an experienced litigator who specializes in Land Use, Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental matters.

Mr. Parker represents a broad range of clients on local, state, and federal matters, including but not limited to the following: Land use, natural resources, energy, and environmental law; energy and natural resource project due diligence, finance, permitting, and entitlement; precious metal and construction aggregate mine permitting, entitlement, compliance, and reclamation; oil, gas, and mining leases and agreements; contaminated property transactions; hazardous waste and hazardous materials; county and city zoning code enforcement; state and federal administrative agency enforcement actions; federal lands; mineral rights; conservation easements and mitigation banking; and complex environmental litigation in state and federal courts.

His substantive expertise includes such areas as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Clean Water Act (CWA); the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Williamson Act; the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA); the Ralph M. Brown Act; the California Industrial General Permit (Cal. IGP); the California General Permit for the Discharge of Storm Water from Small Municipal Storm Water Systems (MS4); and the U.S. EPA Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP).

Prior to entering private practice, J. R. served on active duty as a Judge Advocate with the United States Navy. He continues to serve as a member of the Selective Reserves. Additionally, as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, he litigated more than 460 cases in federal district court. He lives in Granite Bay, California with his wife and three children.

Represented a multinational aggregate mining company facing potential federal litigation and/or U.S. EPA enforcement action for alleged Clean Water Act violations.

Represented a mining investor in relation to a dispute over access rights for the development of mining claims with an estimated value greater than 250 million dollars.

Represented a 30-Megawatt solar project developer in connection with project permitting and approval on land subject to California’s Williamson Act.

Represented numerous aggregate mining companies in connection with project permitting and approval for hard-rock quarry expansions.

Represented a multinational aggregate mining company in federal litigation brought by numerous environmental groups alleging federal and state violations of the Clean Water Act and California state equivalents.

Represented a multinational mining company in California state court litigation brought by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Represented a multinational mining company regarding compliance with California General Order for Waste Discharge Requirements/NPDES Permit for Limited Threat Discharges to Surface Waters.

Represented client in a multi-party dispute related to numerous overlapping mining claims on federal lands.

Represented numerous clients in relation to the acquisition, permitting, and entitlement of precious metal and aggregate mining projects on privately owned, state, and federal lands.

Represented numerous energy companies in a challenge to a countywide ballot initiative prohibiting well stimulation and the drilling of new wells and imposing a sunset date for the injection or impoundment of produced water.

Represented an energy company in an action brought under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) challenging the issuance of Conditional Use permits to drill exploratory oil and gas wells.

Represented a cannabis grower facing Regional Water Control Board civil penalties for alleged improper wastewater discharges.

Represented a building contractor facing millions of dollars in civil fines and penalties, based upon alleged violations of numerous environmental laws.

Represented a developer during the project approval phase of a 168-unit high-density farmworker housing development project.

Represented numerous clients with residential and utility easement issues.

Mitchell Chadwick LLP, Attorney

Johnson, Rovella, Retterer, Rosenthal & Gilles LLP, Attorney

U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Attorney (Judge Advocate)

The George Washington University School of Law, Washington, D.C. (Master of Laws (LLM), Energy and Environmental Law (2016))

University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, FL (J.D., 2010)

The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (B.A., 2005)

State Bar of California Litigation Section

State Bar of California Environmental Section

State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas, and Energy Section

State Bar of Texas Environmental and Natural Resources Section

State Bar of Texas Legislative and Campaign Law Section

State Bar of Texas Military and Veterans Law Section

Association of Environmental Professionals

Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation

National Environmental Banking Association

California

Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces