Ryen Godwin

Experience

Superfund and Remediation

I have extensive experience representing large parties in complex superfund and remediation sites throughout the Pacific Northwest. I navigate alliances with other potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to develop a comprehensive strategy to responsibly and efficiently close sites for my clients.

• Represented PRP at Pasco Sanitary Landfill National Priorities List (NPL) Site in Pasco, Washington, including advising on regulatory compliance to implement a $70,000,000 site remedy and participation in litigation with other performing parties to recover over $20,000,000 in remediation costs from other PRPs.
• Represent PRP at Portland Harbor NPL “Mega Site” in Portland, Oregon, in confidential allocation process to allocate responsibility for cleanup costs exceeding $1,000,000,000 for complex sediment cleanup in the Willamette River.
• Represented PRP at Duwamish River NPL Site in Seattle, Washington, in confidential allocation process to allocate responsibility for costs exceeding $350,000,000 for complex sediment cleanup.
• Represented numerous property owners and operators at industrial, commercial, and residential properties on remediation process and pursued cost recovery litigation to recover cleanup costs.

Energy and Real Estate Development

I navigate complex permitting and regulatory schemes for clients throughout the western United States for such facilities as coal mines, power plants, fish processing facilities, chemical manufacturing plants, and other large natural resource projects. I strongly believe developing a sound technical, legal, and regulatory strategy at early stages of planning is the key to successful project implementation.

• Acted as environmental counsel representing tribally-owned corporation in acquisition of several of the largest coal mines in the Country, including negotiations for limited waivers of sovereign immunity with four separate jurisdictions.
• Counsel national energy company in permitting for numerous operations in multiple western states and reservations, including vast coal mine operations on federal land, state, and private land, manage regulatory compliance of complex waste streams and litigate permit-related appeals before state and federal agencies in jurisdictions throughout the western United States.
• Represent utility in the development of Advanced Nuclear Reactor. Navigating environmental and regulatory impacts of permitting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, state regulatory agencies, and Environmental Protection Agency.

Fisheries and Fish Processing

I am personally and professionally strongly connected to the commercial fishing industry, so I both counsel individual clients and advocate for the industry as a whole.

• Manage wastewater permitting for numerous fish processing facilities in Willapa Bay and the Columbia River, including permit-related appeals to state environmental review boards. Ryen provides regular advice to facilities processing salmon, halibut, crab, bottom fish, shellfish, and other Pacific Northwest species.
• Defended fish processing facilities in Clean Water Act enforcement proceedings initiated by EPA, state agencies, and citizen groups.
• Represented fishery industry groups in the Pacific Northwest challenging commercial fishing regulations and seasons for anadromous species of fish under state fish and wildlife regulations, the Magnuson Stevens Act, and the Endangered Species Act.
• Represented Northwest Treaty Tribe in fish allocation proceedings in S. v. Washington.