A leader in environmental law

Steve is a co-chair of the American College of Environmental Lawyers Board of Regents and former Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources.

A veteran of the EPA

Before entering private practice, Steve was an Assistant Regional Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III.

An "incredibly insightful and diligent expert"

Steve is ranked in the top tier of Chambers USA for Environmental Law, which notes that that his experience “covers the full spectrum of environmental issues.”

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Steven T. Miano has been exclusively practicing environmental law for more than 30 years. His practice includes all facets of environmental law and litigation, including federal and state cases arising under the  Clean Water Act, Superfund, brownfields redevelopment statutes, Hazardous Waste laws, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, toxic torts, and energy development.

His clients include large industrial corporations, commercial entities, municipalities, and not for profit organizations. Steve is a past Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, a bar association with more than 9,000 members nationwide and in numerous foreign countries. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

Before entering private practice, Steve was an Assistant Regional Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, Hazardous Waste Branch, where his practice focused on Superfund, hazardous waste laws and criminal enforcement. He has been an adjunct professor at Rutgers University Law School – Camden, where he taught courses for many years on environmental law. Steve is a frequent lecturer and has written about environmental legal issues for a variety of publications. He also regularly serves as a course planner for regional and national environmental law programs. An involved and dedicated attorney within the firm as well, Steve is an active member of the Strategic Planning and Associate Development Committees, and a former member of the Board of Directors. Steve is an active mentor to young lawyers both within the firm and around the country.

Honors & Awards

AWARD METHODOLOGIES

Ranked in Chambers USA Pennsylvania: Environment, 2004 – 2023

The Best Lawyers in America List for Environmental Law, 2006 – 2024

Named the “2020 Philadelphia Environmental Litigation Attorney of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America

Listed in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for Environmental and Environmental Litigation, 2004 – present

Who’s Who Thought Leaders – USA – Environment, 2023

Named a “Watershed Hero” by the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership for his longtime environmental advocacy, 2017

Who’s Who of Business Lawyers for Environmental Law, 2022

Support Center for Child Advocates, Distinguished Child Advocate, 1997

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Teaching, Lecturing & News

Quoted in “Wetlands Ruling Adds Urgency to Delaware River Program Renewal,” Bloomberg Law, September 27, 2023

Environmental Disasters that Led to Environmental Laws,” SUNY Conference for Master Teachers, August 4, 2023

PFAS Litigation—Like PFAS Itself—Is All Over the Place: Current State of Litigation,” The Legal Intelligencer, July 22, 2023 (with Peter Keays)

Quoted in “Chemours’ PFAS Challenge Affects Semiconductors, State Cleanups,” Bloomberg Law, May 22, 2023

Planning Committee Member, 2024 PA Brownfields Conference, State College, Pennsylvania, March 25-27, 2024

Quoted in “Murphy Administration Uses ‘Aggressive’ Litigation to Seek Environmental Redress,” NJ Spotlight News, April 14, 2023

Moderator, “Water Law Update,” Pennsylvania Bar Association Environmental and Energy Law Section’s Annual Environmental Law Forum, March 16, 2023

Presenter, “Dealing with Difficult Personalities,” ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Leadership Development Program class, February 2023

Chair, American College of Environmental Lawyers’ Annual Meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 2022

Moderator, “A Fifty-Year Journey into the Unknown: A Historical Review of the Clean Water Act’s Beginnings to Guide Future Policy,” ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources 30th Fall Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, September 2022

Co-presenter, “The Forever Changing Regulatory Landscape of Forever Chemicals,” Virtual panel, January 2022

 

 

“Pennsylvania Poised to Set Maximum Contaminant Levels for Two ‘Forever Chemicals,’” Hangley Aronchick Ampersand Alert, November 30, 2021 (with Peter Keays)

Chair, American College of Environmental Lawyers Virtual Annual Meeting, October 2021

Conference Planner, American Bar Association 50th Annual Spring Panel on Environmental Law, Denver, Colorado, April 27 – 30, 2021

Quoted in “Senate Democrats Fire Back Against Republican Lawsuit Seeking to Overturn Delaware River Basin Fracking Ban,” Bucks Local News, March 13, 2021

Quoted in “PA Dems Join Delaware River Fracking Fight After GOP Reps File Suit to Overturn Ban,” Bucks County Courier Times, March 13, 2021

Chair, American College of Environmental Lawyers Virtual Annual Meeting, October 2020

Peer reviewer for Environmental Aspects of Real Estate and Commercial Transactions, 5th Edition, August 2020

Steve was quoted in the article “Pa. Says Two Gas Drilling Companies Committed Environmental Crimes. Here’s Why Corporations, Not People, Are Usually Charged,” State Impact Pennsylvania, June 19, 2020

“Compliance with Environmental Obligations During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Hangley Aronchick Ampersand Alert, April 7, 2020 (with Peter Keays)

“Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board Extends Comment Period for Proposed PFAS Rulemaking,” Hangley Aronchick Ampersand Alert, March 30, 2020 (with Peter Keays)

“Brownfields 101,” Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference, State College, Pennsylvania, March 10, 2020

“Dealing with Difficult Personalities,” ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Leadership Development Program Class, March 3, 2020

Panelist, “Practicing Environmental Law,” Pace University Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, White Plains, New York, February 21, 2020

Panelist, “Water Update,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Pennsylvania Environmental Law Forum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, April 4, 2019

Moderator, “The Continuing Evolution of Clean Water Act Jurisdiction,” ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Spring Conference, Denver, Colorado, March 28, 2019

“Dealing with Difficult Personalities,” ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Leadership Development Program Webinar, March 12, 2019

Panelist, “SEER Essentials: Waters of the United States – New Rule, Old Problem,” ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Essentials Series Webinar, February 26, 2019

“Brownfields 101,” 2018 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, October 2, 2018

“Update on Vapor Intrusion Issues in Brownfields Development,” 2018 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, October 2, 2018

Steve was quoted in the article “Obama-Era Waters of U.S. Rule Reinstated in 26 States,” Bloomberg BNA Environment and Energy Report, August 17, 2018

Speaker, “Waters of the US – The Ever Changing Scope of Jurisdiction Under the Federal Clean Water Act,” Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP) – New Jersey Chapter Meeting, Edison, New Jersey, June 26, 2018

Co-author with Kelly Gable and Jessica O’Neill, “Total Maximum Daily Loads: Section 303(d),” The Clean Water Act Handbook, 4th. ed., May 2018

Panelist, “The Next Generation of Toxic Torts” (Vapor Intrusion presentation), ABA 47th Spring Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 20, 2018

“Vapor Intrusion as an Emerging Basis for Toxic Torts Lawsuits,” (with Robert Wiygul), prepared for the ABA 47th Spring Conference, April 20, 2018

Speaker and Moderator, Water Update Panel, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Environmental Law Forum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, April 12, 2018

Panelist, “When Sinkholes Become Legal Problems”, 15th National Sinkhole Conference, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, April 4, 2018

“When Sinkholes Become Legal Problems,” (with Peter Keays), prepared for the 15th National Sinkhole Conference, April 4, 2018

Speaker, “The Public Trust Doctrine in the 21st Century,” George Washington University Law School 2018 J.B. & Maurice C. Shapiro Environmental Law Symposium, Washington, District of Columbia, March 15, 2018

Panelist, “WOTUS: Clear As Mud,” ABA’s Shifting Policies for a Shifting Environment: Environmental Policy Symposium, University of Mississippi School of Law, March 8, 2018

Steve was quoted in the article “Trump Team May Not Have Time to Delay Water Rule,” Bloomberg BNA Environment and Energy Report, January 23, 2018

Steve was quoted in the article “Patchwork Water Pollution Rule Takes Effect After Supreme Court Ruling,” Bloomberg BNA Environment and Energy Report, January 22, 2018

 

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Memberships & Community

American Bar Association
Liaison to the Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress, 2016 – 2020

American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
Chair, 2014- 2015
Chair-Elect, 2013-14
Vice Chair, 2012
Chair, Strategic Planning Committee, 2019 – 2020
Mentor for Leadership Development Program, 2017 – 2020
Chair, Working Group, Waters of the US (WOTUS) and Reach of Clean Water Act Jurisdiction website, 2017 – Present
Executive Committee Member, 2010 – 2016
Publications Officer, 2010 – 2012
Co-Chair, Governance Committee, 2010 – 2011
Executive Committee Secretary, 2007 – 2009
Council Member, 2004 – 2007
Co-Chair, Water Quality and Wetlands Committee, 2001 – 2003
Editor-in-Chief, Trends, 1997 – 2001

American College of Environmental Lawyers, Fellow
Board of Regents, 2022 –present; co-chair, 2023
Chair, 2020 Annual Meeting
Co-chair, 2024 ACOEL Mid-Year Meeting

Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Arts & Business Council, Business on Board Program, Graduate

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Philadelphia Bar Association

Support Center for Child Advocates, Board Member and Vice President, 1998 – 2005

West Virginia Bar Association

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