Joe's practice focuses on environmental matters and government relations. He has over 12 years of environmental regulatory experience and has held the most senior positions at Ohio EPA, including director, assistant director and chief legal counsel. He uses his extensive experience to assist businesses in accomplishing their goals while complying with complex environmental laws and regulations. Joe has senior level experience in all facets of environmental law, including: air pollution, water pollution, solid waste, industrial waste, hazardous waste, and CERCLA. He has expertise in assisting clients in matters associated with permitting, enforcement, regulatory compliance, administrative hearings and real estate transactions. As part of his duties as Chief Legal Counsel, he was responsible for management of the enforcement program, which maintained an active case load of over 500 cases. He helped to negotiate some of the largest enforcement cases in Ohio, including cases involving air pollution, wetlands and combined animal feeding operations. Joe has strong subject matter expertise in the area of air pollution control and regulation. He was very active in a recent multi-state collaboration to develop strategies to meet the new federal air standards. He has provided consulting assistance to Greater Cleveland Partnership, helping in the development of strategies to assist Northeast Ohio to meet the federal ozone and fine particle standards. In 2006, he was the Governor's representative in legislative discussions regarding Senate Bill 265, which constituted the first major overhaul to Ohio's air pollution regulations in more than a decade. The changes instituted under this legislation will help businesses reduce unnecessary permitting, record keeping and reporting requirements. Joe also has extensive experience associated with the Great Lakes and Lake Erie. He served on the Lake Erie Commission and also served in a leadership role in the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration which was formed by Executive Order of President Bush. As part of his duties associated with the Collaboration, he co-chaired a subcommittee created to address contaminated sediment in the Great Lakes.