Mathew T. Bain is an environmental and natural resources attorney representing clients in complex regulatory, permitting, administrative and litigation matters arising under federal and state environmental laws. His practice focuses on environmental compliance, project permitting, agency enforcement, administrative appeals and environmental litigation involving the mining, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and natural resources industries.
Mathew regularly advises clients on matters involving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); the Clean Water Act (CWA); the Atomic Energy Act (AEA); the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); and the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) as well as related federal and state regulatory programs. He assists clients in navigating complex permitting requirements, environmental reviews, agency investigations, compliance strategies, contaminated site issues, reclamation obligations and enforcement proceedings.
Clients benefit from the strength of Mathew’s litigation practice which includes defending agency decisions and project approvals in administrative and judicial review proceedings, representing clients in environmental citizen suits and advising clients facing federal and state enforcement actions. He works closely with technical consultants and agency personnel to develop practical legal strategies that advance project objectives while managing regulatory risk.
Mathew advises on complex projects throughout their lifecycle, from early permitting and environmental review through litigation and long-term compliance. Drawing on his background in environmental science, he understands the legal and technical dimensions of environmental disputes. He also advises clients on environmental due diligence, project development, environmental impact analysis, cumulative impacts, climate-related regulatory developments and emerging federal environmental policy affecting major industrial and natural resource projects.
Before joining Parsons Behle & Latimer, Mathew served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen in the District of Montana. He earned his J.D., graduating in the top 1% percent of his class, from the University of Oregon School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the Oregon Law Review and was a Fellow with the Energy and Natural Resources Law Center. He also externed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and interned for U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane in the District of Oregon. Prior to law school, Mathew earned a degree in environmental science with highest honors from Montana State University. His scientific training provides practical insight into the technical issues that often drive environmental permitting, compliance, remediation, and litigation.
Representative Areas of Practice:
- NEPA litigation and project permitting
- CERCLA cost recovery/contribution or cleanup matters
- TSCA reporting and compliance
- RCRA compliance and corrective action
- Clean Water Act permitting and enforcement
- AEA/UMTRCA regulatory counseling
- Environmental citizen suits
- Federal and state district court and appellate litigation
