David R. Nelson

Special Counsel

• dnelson@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Phoenix Office

David  R. Nelson is special counsel in the Phoenix office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP.  His practice encompasses counseling both public and private entities in environmental, natural resources, toxic tort and water law litigation.  Formerly a geologist and Counsel to the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Nelson has a wide range of experience dealing with groundwater issues and related toxic tort and environmental litigation.

Environmental and Toxic Tort Litigation
Mr. Nelson has represented both private clients and municipalities (as both plaintiffs and defendants) in complex environmental and toxic tort litigation and assisting in civil and criminal matters at both the state and federal level.  In civil litigation, Mr. Nelson has represented electronics manufacturers, chemical manufacturers, municipal water companies and mining companies.  He has been involved in complex litigation to reduce liability and/or recover costs in CERCLA actions, and similar representation in Clean Water Act (CWA) settlements.  In RCRA hazardous waste and underground storage tank litigation, he frequently becomes involved in property transactions and litigation to resolve migrating contaminants, including petroleum constituents such as MTBE, and chlorinated solvents.  He has helped bring and defend against citizen suits pursuant to EPCRA, CERCLA, RCRA and the CWA.  With his past experience as a geologist, Mr. Nelson frequently works with expert witnesses and hydrologists to identify sources of migrating contamination and model future impacts.

In the criminal arena, Mr. Nelson has helped defend clients against charges for Clean Air Act and RCRA violations.  His experience includes criminal actions against manufacturers, as well as their environmental consultants.  Mr. Nelson authored "Preparing for a Clean Water Inspection," published in the Environmental Management Review, focusing on proactive steps companies can take to avoid criminal liability.  Mr. Nelson has also assisted clients in drafting corporate environmental policies, to reduce potential criminal liability in light of federal criminal sentencing guidelines.

With respect to toxic tort litigation, Mr. Nelson has represented municipalities in wrongful death cases involving municipal water supplies, as well as private entities seeking damages caused by municipal water systems.  As a member of the American Water Works Association, Mr. Nelson has utilized his experience to address issues related to the aging infrastructure of municipal water systems, and worked alongside a variety of consultants – engineers, corrosion experts, geotechnicians and water systems operators – to resolve such issues.  With respect to toxic tort claims, he has assisted chemical, petroleum, pesticide and electronics manufacturers in defending against personal injury, medical monitoring, and property devaluation claims related to environmental contamination.

Environmental Regulatory and Transactional Practice
Focusing on creative alternatives, Mr. Nelson has worked closely with environmental consultants to devise cleanup proposals for state and federal hazardous waste cleanup sites and perform due diligence prior to the purchase and sale of such properties. Mr. Nelson helped craft a voluntary cleanup proposal for oil and gas pipeline companies at a major petroleum tank farm.  He has represented clients on a number of RCRA and underground storage tank issues, and negotiated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on remedy selection and approval of natural attenuation and risk based solutions for soil and groundwater cleanups.

News, Seminars & Events

• Climate Change Changes Everything, February 8, 2008, What You Need to Know Regarding Emerging Regulatory & Litigation Issues Concerning Global Warming (A Steptoe-Sponsored Event)
• Current & Emerging Environmental Law Issues, December 7, 2006, (A Steptoe-Sponsored Event)

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Environmental Newsflash, Issue 14
  Recent Ninth Circuit Ruling Likely to Increase NEPA Climate Change Litigation
  June 27, 2008
• Environmental Newsflash, Issue 13
  Fish and Wildlife Service To Reconsider Endangered Species Act Listing of Mexican Garter Snake
  June 10, 2008
• Environmental Newsflash, Issue 12
  New Climate Change Tort Lawsuit Asserts Civil Conspiracy Claim
  March 10, 2008
• Framing the Debate: Global Climate Models
  February 25, 2008
• Climate Change Changes Everything
  PowerPoint Presentation
  February 8, 2008
• A Summary of the Kyoto Protocol and the Marrakesh Accords
  December 3, 2007
• Environmental Newsflash, Issue 10
  Court Dismisses Climate Change Toxic Tort Suit Brought by the State of California
  September 18, 2007
• Environmental Newsflash, Issue 9
  Rulings in Pair of Important Greenhouse Gas Cases
  September 13, 2007
• Water Law & Policy Symposium, University of Arizona, October 7, 2006

More Publications »

Professional Affiliations

• Arizona State Bar, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section
• America Water Works Association
• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation