Ronda Sandquist’s practice encompasses representation related to a wide range of environmental laws and regulations with a concentration on environmental counseling including regulatory compliance with laws pertaining to the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, wetlands, endangered species, underground storage tanks and hazardous waste and contamination, including Superfund (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act).

Ronda counsels clients on developing and revising water quality standards that will achieve environmental objectives and are also practicable and feasible to attain. She has developed and secured the approval of various state agencies and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for innovative approaches including market-based trading and offset programs, mitigation for existing and new sources, and adaptive management.

She counsels clients on procedural and substantive compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) including requirements for Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) or Environmental Assessments. She often assists regional clients with permitting, operations and compliance with evolving regulatory criteria. Ronda’s understanding of innovative national environmental trends and state requirements provides a framework for advising clients on long-term environmental strategies.

Although for internal administrative reasons Ronda is a member of Squire Sanders' Phoenix office, she resides in Denver, Colorado.

Ronda is frequently invited to speak and author articles on water quality; environmental protocols for international facilities, such as Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and ISO14001; environmental audits; determination of jurisdictional wetlands and compliance with Clean Water Act 404 requirements; and planning and zoning for multiple-use and energy projects.

Prior to entering private practice, she was a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Montana, Department of Natural Resources. In that capacity, Ronda represented Montana in siting of major power facilities and litigation pertaining to federal and state jurisdiction for energy projects. She also counseled Montana on the Yellowstone River Compact and served as an administrative judge for water rights issues.

Významné transakce

• Advising the subsidiary of a US-based coal mining company regarding EIS and permitting of an underground coal mine to be located on federal lands in Colorado.
• Overturning the California Regional Water Quality Board’s permits for discharges into the San Francisco Bay, on behalf of private industry, because the limits for mercury were not scientifically based and the Board had not established mercury controls to major nonpoint sources.
• Representing an Idaho municipality in developing and securing EPA approvals for the Boise River and Hills Canyon Dam water quality trading program.
• Advising clients on EIS, and 404 Permit (wetlands) requirements, and endangered species mitigation for expanded water storage project.
• Securing state and federal permits, including Migratory Bird Treaty Act compliance, for wind power project in Wyoming.
• Representing municipalities, private business and NGOs in water quality hearings, such as new standards for aluminum, phosphorus, nitrogen, mercury, TMDLs and Reclaimed Water.
• Obtaining federal approvals for land exchange, exchanging private holdings in wilderness area for developable land adjacent to resort community.
• Developing environmental strategies for produced water from oil and gas wells, recognizing the value of increased water flows in the arid west for wildlife and agriculture.
• Representing a major airline in cost recovery negotiations for the cleanup of a closed Denver commercial airport.
• Rezoning and planning for a 6,000-acre multiple-use project and permitting for necessary infrastructure to serve project.
• Advising an international company on air quality audits and air emission compliance for its US-based facilities in more than 20 states.