Source: https://www.modrall.com/practice/energy-environment-and-natural-resources/water-rights-and-water-quality/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 10:16:14+00:00

Document:
Modrall Sperling’s environmental and water lawyers partner with developers, natural resources companies, including those in oil, gas, and mining, ranching and agriculture, and manufacturers, as well as wind and solar developers. Because use and management of water rights often implicates concerns regarding water quality, our water lawyers are adept with regard to the interplay of water resource protection as well as water quality implications and concerns. Modrall Sperling has the broad experience necessary to acquire and protect water rights and to assist with the full range of water rights and water quality issues, including navigating the complex statutory and regulatory schemes governing permitting, on-going compliance, and litigation where necessary. We have experience with federal water quality statutes and regulations, as well as environmental regulations and ordinances promulgated by Native American tribes, states, and local bodies.
Our water rights and water quality practice also involves the representation of developers, banks, and lenders, among other kinds of clients, in evaluating and contractually protecting against risks of environmental liabilities arising from commercial and private real estate transactions. In this representation, we coordinate with environmental consultants on Phase I, II and III environmental evaluations and Transaction Screens as may be prudent or required, and drafting indemnification provisions and other similar risk allocation devices, as well as handling insurance coverage issues.
Our lawyers’ opinions are widely sought, as they have written articles and presented papers on topics including the Environmental Protection Agency’s assessment of the potential for hydraulic fracturing to impact drinking water sources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdictional determinations. These lawyers also play key roles in various national and local industry groups, including the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, New Mexico Mining Association and the State Bar of New Mexico’s Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law.
Native American water rights are a significant component of our water resources practice. We have represented tribes, non-Indian water users and states in adjudications and settlements involving substantial Indian water rights claims. In the San Juan stream adjudication in New Mexico, we represent Arizona Public Service Company and Public Service Company of New Mexico and prior to that, BHP Navajo Coal Company with regard to the claims of the Navajo Nation, working with the State of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation to ensure that settlement of the Nation’s claims and necessary Congressional approval recognized existing state water rights, afforded sufficient protections for those rights and allowed for appropriate state administration. We currently represent the State of Oklahoma in litigation and ongoing settlement negotiations regarding the water rights of two tribes, the Chickasaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. We represent the Pueblo of Pojoaque in the long-running Aamodt adjudication of water rights in northern New Mexico.
Our water rights attorneys assist local, national, and multinational businesses in acquiring and protecting the water rights needed for their industries. We have worked on transactional components, administrative approvals, and litigation in connection with acquisitions of water supply for oil and gas operations and processing, coal, garnet, copper, and other mines, and coal- and gas-fired generating stations. We represent numerous renewable solar and wind projects in New Mexico on water and siting issues including negotiation of water supply agreements for the first utility scale solar project in New Mexico.
Modrall Sperling’s water practice includes representing clients on interstate rivers. Our lawyers address interstate water compact issues, interstate allocation issues, and jurisdictional issues. Currently, our representation of El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 as the downstream beneficiary in the Rio Grande Project, a federal interstate reclamation project, includes lawsuits in state and federal courts and the United States Supreme Court relating to the Rio Grande Project and the Rio Grande Compact. On behalf of the City of Carlsbad, we have negotiated an agreement between the City and New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission regarding storage of interstate waters under the Pecos River Compact.
Our water lawyers have the expertise to assist with ensuring an adequate water supply exists for governmental and business purposes. We have analyzed water resource and environmental issues related to the feasibility and construction of inter-basin water supply pipelines. Working with municipalities and utilities with existing or developing infrastructure, our lawyers assist in obtaining adequate water supply. We have worked on transactional components and administrative approvals in connection with the acquisition of water supply for the Abo Canyon double track rail construction project on behalf of a railroad.
Represented an energy company with regard to all of its water supply matters in the San Juan River Basin and issues relating to the supply of that water to coal mines and two coal-fired generating stations.
New Mexico, ex rel. State Eng’r v. Aamodt, CIV 66-06639-MV, United States District Court for the District Court of New Mexico. Represented the Pueblo of Pojoaque in a federal court stream adjudication to determine all the water rights in the Nambe-Tesuque-Pojoaque Basin as among several thousand non-Indian water users, four Native American Tribes, the County of Santa Fe, the State of New Mexico, and the United States. A six-year negotiation culminated in a settlement agreement with Congressional approval as part of the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. Our continued representation of the Pueblo on settlement implementation efforts include construction of a regional water system which will provide out of basin water to Indian and non-Indian water users.
New Mexico, ex rel. State Engineer and Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District v. L.T. Lewis, et al., v. Hagerman Canal Co., 20294 and 22600 (Consolidated), Fifth Judicial District Court, State of New Mexico. Represented the City of Carlsbad in state court adjudication to determine all the rights in the Pecos River Basin. Issues in the adjudication have included resolution of claims within a federal reclamation project.
New Mexico, ex rel. State Engineer v. Elephant Butte Irrigation District, No. CV-96-888, Third Judicial District Court, State of New Mexico. Represented the El Paso Improvement District No. 1 (EPCWID), a political subdivision of the State of Texas, in state court adjudication in the Lower Rio Grande to adjudicate the water rights in the Lower Rio Grande, New Mexico including the rights of the United States in the Rio Grande Project. EPCWID is one of two irrigation districts which are beneficiaries to the Rio Grande Project, an interstate federal reclamation project providing several hundred thousand acre-feet per year of irrigation and municipal water in New Mexico and Texas.
New Mexico, ex rel. State Engineer v. Kerr McGee Corp., Nos. CB-83-190-CV and CB-83-220-CV (Consolidated), Thirteenth Judicial District Court, State of New Mexico. Represented resource developers in adjudication involving irrigation districts, three Native American tribes, municipalities and hundreds of domestic well owners. Issues include legal issues relating to quantification of Native American claims and challenges to quantification of individual domestic rights.
New Mexico ex rel. State Engineer v. John Abbott, et al., 68cv07488 and 70cv08650 (Consolidated), United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. Represented the Pueblo of Pojoaque in federal court adjudication involving determination of water rights in the Rio Truchas/Rio Santa Cruz basins, tributaries to the Rio Grande. Adjudication includes necessary resolution of a multitude of Native American claims, municipal claims and irrigation claims.
Protection of water quality, wise use and the ability to treat, recycle and reuse water resources are paramount concerns for businesses and regulators in the arid Southwest. As water resources and water quality issues become more complicated, a growing range of stakeholders throughout the West are turning to Modrall Sperling’s experience.
Provide counsel regarding the Clean Water Act (CWA), including Section 402 National Pollution Detection and Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, Section 404 Dredge and Fill permitting, storm water permits, citizen suits, compliance and enforcement, wetlands, and jurisdictional waters of the U.S.
Representing a national laboratory in appealing an adverse permitting decision arising under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). At the initial appeal level the permitting decision was reversed, and the matter is ongoing.
Represented a mining exploration company in connection with a drilling project that would intersect groundwater. Local residents and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) groups feared the drilling would jeopardize groundwater, a nearby stream, and an endangered snail species.

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