George Mannina has more than three decades of experience with environmental litigation and government relations. He has demonstrated expertise in oceans, fisheries and wildlife law, including issues arising under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; the multiple environmental issues associated with dam removal; endangered species conservation, including listing species and Endangered Species Act consultations; Clean Water Act permits and jurisdictional issues; marine mammal conservation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act; hazardous waste cleanup and management, including natural resource damages; and environmental impact analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. Mr. Mannina has represented Fortune 50 companies, industry organizations, and state and national governments, developing successful strategies to solve client issues through litigation, regulatory actions, government relations, or a blend of each.
Mr. Mannina has successfully litigated cases arising under various environmental statutes and the Administrative Procedure Act at the district court, appellate court, and Supreme Court levels. He has also represented clients in regulatory proceedings before various federal agencies. When necessary, Mr. Mannina has represented clients before the Congress in meetings with individual Congressmen and Senators and Committee staff, and in testimony before Congressional Committees. On several occasions, Mr. Mannina has been asked to testify as an independent expert. He has also represented clients before the Departments of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, and Energy, as well as before the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Council on Environmental Quality.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Mannina served for 14 years on Capitol Hill, including eight years as Counsel to the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation, and the Environment and two years as the Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the Minority Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Representative Work
Dam Removal. Served as the lead counsel in preparing detailed comments on the draft environmental impact statement on the proposed removal of four Klamath River dams. The comments examined every environmental issue associated with the proposed removal including impacts on all affected fish and wildlife (including endangered species), water quality (including sediment releases and nutrient loading), energy production and usage, flooding, roads and bridges affected by the carriage of dam debris, local landfill capacity, and local taxes.
Clean Water Act. Served as counsel to the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County in the landmark Supreme Court ruling, Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 531 U.S. 159 (2001), which redefined the jurisdictional boundaries of the Clean Water Act. The Court's decision removed certain waters from the permitting requirements of the Clean Water Act in ways favorable to the client.
Endangered Species Act. Litigated cases on compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Successfully represented clients in securing permits and agency approvals under the Endangered Species Act.
National Environmental Policy Act. Represented clients in developing new agency procedures and regulations governing implementation of, and compliance with, the National Environmental Policy Act. Represented clients on issues involving compliance with NEPA, including the preparation of environmental impact statements and environmental assessments.
Legislation. Served as an informal advisor to various Congressional authorizing and appropriations Committees regarding legislation on environmental and natural resources issues.
Marine Mammal Protection Act. Successfully represented clients in securing major revisions to the Marine Mammal Protection Act and in securing permits under the Act.
Superfund. Representing Fortune 50 companies in legislative initiatives to amend Superfund's Natural Resource Damages program.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Assisted client in identifying and complying with applicable RCRA standards.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Successfully represented clients before the regulatory agency and in court regarding fisheries management issues.
Transportation. Represented clients on funding, programmatic standards, and environmental issues relating to surface transportation legislation.
National, State, and Local Governments. Represented several national governments on maritime and natural resource issues, including the Government of Iceland and the Government of Israel on maritime issues and the State of Alaska on natural resource matters before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies. Also represented county governments on environmental issues.
Congressional Testimony. Frequently presents testimony to Senate and House committees – at the request of Members of Congress and clients – on oceans and fisheries conservation as well as Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act issues.
Witness at Hearings
United States Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works hearing on What Waters Are Jurisdictional Under the Clean Water Act, Washington, DC, December 13, 2007.
United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries hearing on The Effects of Hurricane Katrina, Washington, DC, December 15, 2005.
United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans hearing on Data Collection Programs For Ocean Resource Management, Washington, DC, June 16, 2004.
United States Senate Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries hearing on The Reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Washington, DC, September 2003.
United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans hearing on The Implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Washington, DC, October 11, 2001.
United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans hearing on Salmon Management and Implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, Washington, DC, May 18, 2000.