Matthew Cohen
Experience
Matthew Cohen is a partner of the firm practicing in the Environment, Land Use and
Natural Resources practice group. He represents industries, electric utilities and trade
associations in legislative, rulemaking, permitting and enforcement matters arising
under state and federal environmental laws. Since 1990, Matt has represented
industries and trade associations in the development of state rules to implement the
1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. He has served on Washington and Alaska advisory
committees created to guide state agencies in the development of air regulations,
currently including a Washington advisory committee established to draft greenhouse
gas reporting rules. He supports clients applying for NPDES permits, Title V air
operating permits and Prevention of Significant Deterioration permits for complex
industrial facilities and represents clients facing enforcement proceedings and citizen
suit litigation.
Partner
Matt also represents non-profit organizations and local governments seeking to
Seattle, WA
develop bicycle trails on inactive railroad rights-of-way. He represented the Rails-to-
(206) 386-7569 direct
Trails conservancy in Dave v. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 79 F.3d 940 (9th Cir. 1996),
(206) 386-7500 fax
a Fifth Amendment takings claim, and recently assisted King County, Washington, in
efforts to acquire a 47-mile railroad right-of-way in the east suburbs of Seattle.
matthew.cohen@stoel.com
Before joining Stoel Rives, Matt was an attorney with Heller Ehrman LLP (1983-2008),
Education
an attorney with Mundt, MacGregor, Happel, Falconer & Zulauf (1980-1983), and law

Yale Law School, J.D., 1979
clerk to Chief Justice Arno H. Denecke of the Oregon Supreme Court (1979-1980).

Amherst College, B.A. magna cum
laude, 1976
Representative Work

Counsel to industries and trade associations in legislative and rulemaking
Admissions
proceedings to implement Clean Air Act programs, including rulemaking to

implement the Title V operating permit program in Washington and Alaska,
development of greenhouse gas reporting rules in Washington and development
of a regional haze SIP in Washington and Alaska.

Negotiation and appeal of Clean Air Act new source permits for greenfield
projects and modifications to complex industrial facilities, including oil and gas
exploration projects, new independent power production facilities, and projects
at existing refineries, steel mills and cement plants.

Defense of citizen suit litigation, including challenges to the permitting of a
Puget Sound marine terminal and defense of Clean Water Act enforcement claims
against an Alaska zinc mine.

Negotiation and appeal of NPDES permits and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
limitations for Clean Water Act dischargers.
Washington
Matthew Cohen

Representation of clients in federal, state and citizen suit enforcement proceedings, including responding to Clean Air Act § 114
information requests, negotiation of civil penalties and defense of non-compliance allegations.
Professional Honors and Activities

Listed in Best Lawyers in America© (currently: Environmental Law, Litigation-Environmental), 2011-2016

Selected as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" (Washington) by Chambers USA (currently: Environment), 2009-2016

Listed in Washington Super Lawyers® (Environmental, Environmental Litigation, Energy & Natural Resources), 2006-2016

Listed in Who's Who in American Law, 2006-2008

Member, Washington State Bar Association

Member, Air and Waste Management Association

Member, Association of Washington Business

Special Achievement Award from King County Executive Ron Sims for pro bono efforts toward the creation of the East Lake
Sammamish Trail, 2006
Presentations

"Understanding and Preparing for GHG Regulations in the Pacific Northwest," Stoel Rives Environmental Compliance Workshop,
Feb. 2016

"Climate Change Through the Back Door," NWPPA Annual Meeting, 2008

"Key Decision Points in the Design of a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program," Regional Climate Change Forum, 2007

"Smoke and Mirrors: The Evolving Regional Haze Program in Washington State," NCALI West Coast Regional Meeting, 2006

"The East Lake Sammamish Trail: A Case Study in the Reconciliation of Railroad Easements, Federal Legislation and Local Land
Use Regulation," LSI Easements Workshop, 2006

"Strategies To Avoid and Defend Against Clean Air Act Citizen Suits," Air & Waste Management Assn. Citizen Suit Seminar, 2004
Publications

"Fading Federalism and Source-Specific SIP Limits," Natural Resources & Environment, Winter 2004

"Efficiency and Competition in the Electric Power Industry," 88 Yale Law Journal 1511, 1979
Civic Activities

Advocate for conversion of inactive railroad rights-of-way into recreational trails. Founding member of the Friends of the East
lake Sammamish Trail and other community groups working on trail development projects.