Washington
1666 K Street, NW

TEL: (202) 370-3920

Jerome C. Muys Jr.

Partner

Jerome C. Muys Jr. is a partner and environmental litigator in the Environmental & Natural Resources Department of our Washington, D.C. office. He has represented clients in enforcement proceedings and Superfund cost recovery actions in over 30 states and has extensive experience in advising clients on and litigating issues related to the remediation of historical contamination resulting from manufactured gas plant operations. He has successfully handled state and federal enforcement actions involving the transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, leaking underground storage tanks, violations of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, unpermitted filling of wetlands and oil spills. His work under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) has included advising clients on compliance with corrective action permit obligations, regulatory requirements applicable to recycling activities, restrictions governing the land disposal of hazardous waste, and closure requirements for RCRA treatment and storage facilities. Mr. Muys also advises clients regarding environmental remediation, the environmental aspects of commercial transactions, compliance with environmental regulatory requirements and Superfund liabilities. Before joining the firm, Mr. Muys was a trial attorney with the Land & Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In that capacity, he handled civil litigation under a variety of federal environmental statutes. Before joining the DOJ, Mr. Muys served for four and a half years in the Office of Enforcement at EPA Headquarters, working primarily on hazardous waste matters. He has co-authored articles and taught courses on private claims and contributions rights under Superfund.

Representative Client Work

  • Assisted a major paint manufacturer and retailer in negotiating brownfields cleanup and redevelopment of rezoned real estate to be converted to residential use
  • Represented a major automotive parts manufacturer in environmental cleanup litigation in which the EPA forgave $12 million of a $20 million claim and agreed to permit passive remediation of groundwater
  • Represented a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in EPA CERCLA proceedings involving unique application of alleged Aceto theory of liability — negotiated a settlement with the EPA that reduced the client’s remedy cost from $120 million to $16 million and included the highest EPA mixed funding component to that point in time
  • Defended an administrative penalty action commenced by Pennsylvania municipality against a major paint manufacturer for alleged violation of POTW discharge regulations, with result that proposed penalty was reduced to nominal sum

Bar & Court Admissions

  • District of Columbia, 1979
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the United States

Publications

Awards & Honors

  • Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (2007, 2008)

Professional & Civic Activities

  • American Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association, Environmental and Natural Resources Section
  • Environmental Law Institute

Education

  • LL.M, The George Washington University Law School, 1985
  • J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 1979
  • B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1976
Practice Areas
News
Seminars & Presentations