Biography
Edward “Skipp” Kropp was born and raised in central Indiana and, after having spent a number of years in Ohio and West Virginia, where he is also licensed, relocated to Indianapolis in 2010 to continue his practice. He represents a number of Indiana clients, including the largest wastewater treatment operator in the state. Skipp has deep and broad environmental experience in the areas of air, water, and waste. As the former Chief of the WV DEP Office of Air Quality and former Deputy Director of the WV DEP, Skipp is a respected and serious environmental lawyer, with a hands-on approach to helping clients. That approach involves significant time working hand in glove with a number of trade associations in Indiana and Ohio. Skipp organizes an annual meeting among US EPA Region V, the environmental agencies in both Indiana and Ohio, and trade associations to discuss issues facing the regulated communities in both states.
Skipp’s clients depend on him to help them navigate environmental regulatory changes and to understand the impact on their operations and bottom line. In the unfortunate situation when a client is on the wrong side of regulation, Skipp helps them propose solutions, negotiate penalties, and obtain compliance. He enjoys being a lawyer who can help his clients stay in harmony with ever-changing environmental regulations.
Representative Experience
- Regulatory enforcement counsel for operator of the wastewater treatment facility of a major metropolitan area
- Defense counsel for state Clean Air Act enforcement action involving major industrial facility
- Represented trade association in Clean Power Plan administrative proceedings and subsequent litigation
- Represented small materials handling company in developing Clean Air Act compliance program and defending multiple notices of violation in two states
- Provided guidance for state-wide stormwater association on national MS4 litigation
- Represented PCB disposal company in multi-year, multi-million dollar CERCLA litigation
- Defended PCB disposal company against EPA Toxic Subtances Control Act notices of violation
- Represented an electric company in an intervention in federal court in support of USEPA Affordable Clean Energy Rule
- Defended electric companies against petitions by various northeast states to impose pollution controls in the Midwest
- Represented coal-fired electric utility regarding waste management regulation and permitting
- Participated on the defense team defending carbon black company against several hundred plaintiff toxic tort action
- Participated on defense team defending large refinery against several thousand plaintiffs toxic tort action
- Participated in defense team defending coal company against several hundred plaintiff water contamination action
- Located and developed scientific expert witnesses for various toxic tort matters
- Represented chemical company in CERCLA cost recovery action for PCB contamination
- Represented trade association in appeal of EPA Mercury and Air Toxics Standard
- Represented trade association in appeal of EPA Clean Air Transport Rule
Licensed In
- Ohio
- Indiana
- West Virginia
Education
- J.D. Capital University Law School
- M.S. Purdue University
- B.S. Purdue University
Memberships
- Organizer of annual meeting among senior management of U.S. EPA Region V, senior management of Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and members of Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Manufacturers Association, Indiana Energy Association, and NW Forum
- Organizer of annual meeting among senior management of U.S. EPA Region V, senior management of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and members of Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Manufacturers Association, and Columbus Chamber of Commerce
- Barbershop Harmony Society Immediate Past President, 2019-2020
- Barbershop Harmony Society President, 2017-2018
- Director, Indiana Air & Waste Management Association, 2013-2024
- Board of Directors, Air & Waste Management Association, WV Chapter, 1997-2009
- Board of Directors, Barbershop Harmony Society, 2007-2009; 2014-2020
- Member, Indiana Chamber of Commerce Energy Policy Committee, 2014-2024
- Member, Indiana Chamber of Commerce Environmental Policy Committee, 2014-2024
- Member, Ohio Oil & Gas Association Environmental Committee, 2023-2024
Achievements
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law (2010-Present)
- Super Lawyers®, Environmental Law, Charleston, WV (2011)