Katy Franz’s practice focuses on environmental compliance counseling and risk management, with a concentrated focus on the Clean Air Act and evolving climate change regulations. Katy assists industrial and municipal clients with permitting, reporting and compliance strategies under a variety of environmental laws including the Clean Air Act, the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). She regularly advocates for client interests through state and federal rulemaking procedures, and has achieved significant victories in state National Ambient Air Quality Standards designations and the evolving Boiler MACT regulations.

Katy has assisted multiple clients with the defense and dismissal of multimillion-dollar CERCLA contribution and cost-recovery claims and state class action claims. She also assists clients with the defense of administrative enforcement actions and guides clients through all stages of the administrative process.

Katy is an active member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

Representative Experience

• Assisting clients in the steel, mining and public utility industries with state and federal environmental compliance issues and developing strategies to mitigate future risks.
• Successfully advocating for changes to state NAAQS designations and the Boiler MACT rule.
• Representing public and private sector clients facing New Source Review (NSR) and other Clean Air Act enforcement actions.
• Negotiating Title V and NSR permits with state regulators for the steel and public utilities industries.
• Participating on litigation teams successfully defending complex multiparty CERCLA litigation, toxic tort and state nuisance claims.