Steven E. Chester

Steve has extensive public and private sector experience in administering and overseeing state and federal environmental programs, and providing environmental litigation assistance and legal counsel to corporate and municipal clients.

• Served as co-environmental counsel for the purchaser of the RACER Willow Run "Arsenal of Democracy" site located in Ypsilanti Township, providing environmental expertise in the review and drafting environmental covenants and easements, obtaining a federal prospective purchaser agreement, and assessing buyer's environmental liability, due diligence and due care obligations.

• Advises clients on compliance and regulatory matters associated with a broad range of federal and state environmental laws, including air, water, wetlands, critical dunes, inland lakes and streams requirements, among others. 

• Provides advice and counsel on environmental due diligence and transactions involving the purchase and sale of contaminated properties and brownfield sites.

• Represented an automotive parts manufacturer in obtaining a written determination from the state environmental agency that its test facility for recalled air bag inflators did not require a hazardous waste treatment license.

• Provided transaction support to a Chinese-based client in the multi-million dollar purchase of a large float glass manufacturing facility, including retaining a consultant, reviewing reports, assessing environmental risks, and performing environmental due diligence for the site that included Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments and a Compliance Review of Environmental Permits. 

• Served as EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator providing policy and management oversight of EPA's compliance and enforcement programs, including the water (including wetlands), federal facility, NEPA, chemical, and criminal enforcement programs, and EPA's compliance, data collection and state oversight programs.

• Provided leadership and supervisory support in implementation of the EPA Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Framework promoting the use of green infrastructure for the management of wastewater and stormwater.

• Represented corporate and municipal clients before federal and state regulators to resolve environmental regulatory, compliance, and remediation disputes, including representation of automotive, automotive supply, paper and food production facilities.

• Served as Director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Cabinet Member responsible for the oversight and management of Michigan's air quality, water and wetland resources, solid and hazardous waste, oil and gas, land management, and remediation and redevelopment programs.

• Chaired the 35-member Michigan Climate Action Council in the development of a climate action plan to mitigate the adverse impacts of greenhouse gases on Michigan's residents and resources.

• Co-chaired a multi-stakeholder initiative on energy efficiency and clean technology development to diversify and grow Michigan's economy, reduce energy costs, and improve environmental quality.

• Secured greater protection of Michigan's water resources and the Great Lakes by advocating for water withdrawal and invasive species legislation, and preventing open water disposal of sediments.

• Represented clients in environmental litigation, including Detroit Public Schools as co-counsel in a federal lawsuit involving the remediation and construction of Beard Elementary School.

• Supervised development of legal and investigative policy guidance on national environmental crimes enforcement matters, and served as liaison to the Department of Justice and United States Attorneys’ Offices, while Deputy Director of EPA's Office of Criminal Enforcement.

• Represented the State of Michigan in state and federal litigation to enforce both federal and state environmental laws, and as appellate advocate before the Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Served as assistant prosecuting attorney representing the Wayne County Air Pollution Control Division on air pollution regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters.