Steven M. Taber represents clients in civil and commercial litigation, including aviation and environmental matters, in State and Federal courts. Prior to joining Chevalier, Allen & Lichman, Mr. Taber was Assistant Regional Counsel with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Chicago. In that capacity, he was involved with many aspects of the requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and FAA enforcement actions. He also advised clients in environmental law matters arising under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Air Act, Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA), Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act. He has participated in the preparation, analysis and review of environmental documents. Mr. Taber also has extensive experience in all aspects of environmental law. He has handled everything from CERCLA Superfund litigation, to negotiation of RCRA Consent Decrees, from handling Title V Air Permits to NPDES permits. He successfully argued that the USEPA exceeded its authority in denying an extension of time to comply with the benzene NESHAP. This resulted in a multi-million dollar savings to the client. Monsanto Co. v. E.P.A., 19 F.3d 1201 (7th Cir. 1994). He successfully negotiated Consent Decrees for various steel companies in the defense of alleged violations of their NPDES Permits. In addition, as a result of the Petition for Review filed on behalf of his client, the USEPA agreed to review the standards set under the FIP for that industry. In a CERCLA cost recovery action, he successfully argued that “passive” disposal does not constitute disposal under CERCLA and that a corporation is not responsible for disposals of a predecessor sole proprietorship. This resulted in a favorable settlement to the client. U.S. v. Petersen Sand and Gravel, Inc., 806 F.Supp. 1346 (N.D. Ill., 1992). Finally, he represented a plaintiff in a private cost recovery action brought under CERCLA and RCRA in which he successfully defended a Motion to Dismiss, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client. Clorox Co. v. Chromium Corp., 158 F.R.D. 120 (N.D. Ill. 1994). Mr. Taber is admitted to practice in California, Illinois and Florida and in Federal courts for Northern and Central Districts of Illinois, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida, the Third, Seventh, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits. He has been active in the American Bar Association’s Section on Natural Resources, Environmental and Energy Law, and served as Chair for the Chicago Bar Association’s Environmental Law Committee. He is a frequent speaker on environmental topics and the author of several articles on environmental law. Mr. Taber graduated with honors from Michigan State University in 1981 with a degree in Political Philosophy. He received both his J.D. and his M.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 1986. In between college and law school, Mr. Taber spent two years in Morocco as a Peace Corps Volunteer.