Marc C. Bryson

Biography

Marc Bryson concentrates his practice in environmental law and is the leader of Steptoe & Johnson’s Environmental Team. He regularly advises industrial, chemical, municipal, coal and oil and gas clients on matters involving permitting and regulatory requirements for water and wastewater, stormwater, hazardous waste, air emissions, and other environmental and regulatory matters. He has appeared before a wide range of administrative boards, state and federal courts and represented clients in state and federal environmental enforcement actions. He has experience in RCRA citizen suits, Clean Water Act citizen suits, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Lead and Copper Rule, third-party permit challenges, NPDES permit appeals, and other environmental proceedings before state and federal agencies.

Representative Experience

  • Represented a mid-sized drinking water utility in Federal and State enforcement proceedings related to lead in drinking water
  • Represented international pulp & paper company in RCRA citizen suit and multi-state environmental enforcement action
  • Represented numerous industrial and municipal clients before state administrative boards including the West Virginia Environmental Quality Board, the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board, the West Virginia Air Quality Board, the West Virginia Shallow Gas Well Review Board, and the West Virginia Coalbed Methane Review Board
  • Regularly negotiate terms and conditions of NPDES permits with state agencies for both large industrial discharges and publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities
  • Assisted an international chemical company with regard to complex hazardous and solid waste issues associated with a facility closure
  • Provided guidance and drafted comments on behalf of large manufacturing and chemical companies with regard to West Virginia’s Aboveground Storage Tank Act and Rules
  • Defended several public utilities in third-party challenges to their NPDES permits before the West Virginia Environmental Quality Board
  • Represented client in waste load allocation and NPDES permit process over objections of local citizens and industry competitors
  • Assisted municipal client in drafting a stormwater ordinance to comply with a statewide general permit for municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4)
  • Regularly counsel clients regarding permitting, compliance, and enforcement matters associated with RCRA hazardous and solid waste
  • Worked with state agencies to modify public service district’s upgrade plans and maintain compliance with a WVDEP grant order
  • Negotiated surface damage agreements on behalf of oil and gas operators
  • Assisted international steel company in the review and examination of oil and gas assets in northern West Virginia
  • Represented Fortune 500 energy client before regulatory agencies and provided key guidance in developing the process to establish pooling units for the largest active coalbed methane production program in the state

Licensed In

  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia

Education

  • J.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • B.A. (Geology) College of Wooster
  • Certificate of Advanced Study, Environmental Law, Science and Policy, University of Pittsburgh

Memberships

  • National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Member
  • West Virginia Water Environment Association, Past President
  • Water Environment Federation Previously served as West Virginia National Representative
  • American Bar Association
  • West Virginia State Bar
  • Topics Editor, Pittsburgh Journal of Environmental and Public Health Law

Achievements

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law (2022-Present), Litigation – Environmental (2024-Present)
  • Super Lawyers Rising Star®, Environmental Law, Charleston, WV (2013-2022)
  • Leadership West Virginia, 2012

Related Services

Related News & Resources

Press Release
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is pleased to announce that 135 of the firm’...
Press Release
Bridgeport, WV – Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is excited to share that 123 of the firm’s atto...
Speaker Event | Sponsored Event
Join us March 8-10 in Columbus for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association’s 76th Annual Meeting...

Stay informed. Sign up for our mailing lists.

Stay Informed

All of our news and resources are shared electronically. Select your preferred list(s) below.(Required)