Cynthia L. Taub

Of Counsel

• ctaub@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Cynthia L. Taub is of counsel in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she is a member of the Litigation and Regulatory & Industry Affairs Departments.  Since joining Steptoe in 1994, Ms. Taub’s practice has encompassed a wide range of environmental regulatory issues, with an emphasis on pesticide and hazardous chemical regulation and the National Environmental Policy Act.

National Environmental Policy Act
Ms. Taub has been actively involved in the development of NEPA compliance strategies for clients, including working with consultants and agencies in the preparation of environmental assessments.  She has helped counsel clients on the integration of the NEPA review process with other statutory requirements, including the ESA and the National Historical Preservation Act.  In addition, Ms. Taub has been involved in the litigation of several NEPA cases, both at the district court and appellate levels.

Appellate Litigation
Ms. Taub's experience in appellate litigation includes an appeal of a ground-breaking CERCLA case in the Second Circuit, challenging federal regulations and other agency actions in the DC Circuit, a Ninth Circuit NEPA appeal, and drafting amicus briefs and certiorari petitions for the US Supreme Court.

Pesticide & Hazardous Chemical Regulation
In the area of pesticide regulation, Ms. Taub's practice includes compliance counseling, regulatory development, judicial challenges to EPA regulations, and handling administrative actions.  Ms. Taub’s pesticide practice involves frequent interaction with the US EPA and state agencies, particularly with regard to antimicrobial pesticides.  She also advises on and has handled data compensation disputes. In the area of hazardous chemical regulation, Ms. Taub counsels clients on TSCA, RCRA, CERCLA, and DOT HazMat compliance.  She has successfully petitioned DOT for HazMat exemptions and EPA and state agencies for other types of waivers and variances.  She also handles commenting on hazardous chemical regulations for clients, and has successfully challenged regulations in federal court.

Representative Matters

• Negotiated settlements of EPA enforcement matters under FIFRA, EPCRA, and TSCA, including under EPA’s self-report/audit policy.
• Petitioned DOT for HazMat exemptions, interpretations, and other regulatory action.
• Successful administrative appeal of a Corps wetlands determination.
• Successful federal court challenge for “unreasonable delay” on Interior’s processing of a tribal petition for federal acknowledgement. 
• Successful appeal of a complex tax matter before the New York Supreme Court.

Select News & Events

• Human Testing Case Victory

Professional Affiliations

• Pesticide Subcommittee, American Bar Association, Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environment