Richard picture

Richard Campbell

Partner

Bay Area

t: (510) 337-2810

d: (510) 319-7288

e: rcampbell@awattorneys.com

VCard

Bio

Rich Campbell is a Partner at Aleshire & Wynder, LLP. Prior to joining the firm, Rich served for more than 22 years as an attorney for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, working on numerous high-profile administrative and judicial cases involving compliance with state and federal environmental laws. At the EPA, Rich also provided legal counsel on the issuance and defense of significant and complex permits under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Underground Injection Control program, including matters involving the Endangered Species Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Rich has substantial experience working in Indian Country. In 2024, he was recognized by the San Francisco Federal Executive Board as Employee of the Year in the Law Enforcement category for his environmental enforcement work with Indian Tribes.

Rich also served on the City of Pacifica’s Planning Commission for thirteen years, during which he served as Chair three times and participated in numerous public hearings on land use plans and conformance with CEQA and Coastal Zone requirements. Before joining the EPA, Rich worked in private practice in Arizona as a land use, water rights, and environmental attorney.

  • U.S. v. Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Case No. 3:24-cv-08006-MTL (D. Ariz. 2024) (served as lead EPA Region 9 counsel in partial consent decree negotiations to resolve CWA violations at three wastewater treatment facilities located on the Navajo Nation.
  • In re Hell’s Kitchen Geothermal, LLC, EPA Docket No. CWA-309(A)-25-001 (2024) (negotiated wetland restoration order on consent with lithium mine developer in Salton Sea, CA).
  • In re Pacific Seafood-Eureka, LLC, EPA Docket No. CWA-09-2020-0049 (RJO 2020) (served as lead EPA counsel in negotiating administrative consent agreement and final order for penalties and compliance at Eureka, CA, seafood processing facility for violations of CWA pretreatment standards.
  • In re Inventure Foods, Inc. EPA Docket No. CWA-09-2018-0012 (RJO 2018) (served as lead EPA counsel in negotiating administrative consent agreement and final order for penalties and compliance at Goodyear, AZ, food processing facility for violations of CWA pretreatment standards).
  • In re Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton South, EPA Docket No. PWS-AOC-2017-0003 (2017) (negotiated administrative compliance order successfully addressing SDWA violations at CA federal public water system).
  • In re Arvin Community Services District, EPA Docket No. PWS-AO-2008-0021 and Docket No. SDWA-9-2015-0001 (RJO 2015) (2008 administrative compliance order and 2015 consent agreement and final order for penalties and compliance to address SDWA violations at CA water system).
  • U.S. v Sims Metal Management, Case No. 3:14-cv-04209-SC (N.D. Cal. 2014) (served as lead EPA counsel in consent decree negotiations to resolve CWA violations at Defendant’s metal recycling facility at Port of Redwood City, CA. The Consent Decree required payment of civil judicial penalty and injunctive relief requiring sediment remediation and restoration.
  • U.S. and State of Hawaii v. Marisco, Ltd., Case No. 1:13-cv-00146-LEK-RLP (D. Hawaii 2013) (served as lead EPA counsel in consent decree negotiations to resolve CWA violations at Defendant’s dry dock and ship repair facility in Oahu, HI. The $710,000 civil penalty was the largest CWA penalty against a ship-repair facility at that time).
  • In re San Pedro Forklift, 15 E.A.D. 838 (2013) (finding U.S. Environmental Appeals Board that respondent violated California’s CWA NPDES stormwater permit requirements at CA shipping facility)
  • In re California Water Service Company, EPA Docket No. SDWA-9-2006 (RJO 2007) (negotiated administrative consent agreement and final order for penalties, compliance, and a Supplemental Environmental Project).

  • Planning Commissioner, City of Pacifica, 2007-2020

  • State Bar of California
  • State Bar of Arizona

  • State Housing Affordability Initiatives and Environmental Protection: Can They Work Together? State Housing Affordability Initiatives and Environmental Protection: Can They Work Together? ABA JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT, Vol. 35, No. 3 · Dec 1, 2021.
  •  "The Latest Piece in the Endangered Species Act “Puzzle”: Did the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Adequately Take into Consideration the “Lost Historical Range” of the Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard in its 2011 Withdrawal of the Proposed Rule to List the Lizard as Threatened?” ARIZONA RIPARIAN COUNCIL (2012).
  • “Will Renewed Operation of the Yuma Desalting Facility Result in Reduced Flows of Water to the Cienega de Santa Clara Wetlands?” 23 ARIZONA RIPARIAN COUNCIL Nos. 1-2 (2010).
  • “Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Pulls Clean Water Act Permit Authorization for 10,000-Acre Festival Ranch Project Along Hassayampa River in Buckeye, AZ,” 22 ARIZONA RIPARIAN COUNCIL No. 1-2 (June 2009).
  • “Pinto Creek and the Carlota Copper Mine,” 21 ARIZONA RIPARIAN COUNCIL No. 2 (June 2008).
  • Foreign Environmental and Human Rights Suits Against U.S. Corporations in U.S. Courts (with Prof. Armin Rosencranz), 18 STANFORD JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 145 Jun 1, 1999.

  • 2024 Federal Employee of the Year Award - Law Enforcement Category - Law Enforcement Category for enforcement in Indian Country - issued by San Francisco Federal Executive Board for Clean Water Act enforcement in Indian Country.
  • 2023 USEPA Large-Scale Exceptional Service Award - for Outstanding Work on the Red Hill Water Crisis Emergency Response in Oahu, Hawaii.
  • 2017 OECA Honor Award: Best Practices Award for Creative and Innovative Practices in the OECA Program - for ensuring critical maintenance and operation improvements to Camp Pendleton CA water system.
  • 2012 National Honor Award - Gold Medal for work on Indian Affairs Schools Settlement Team addressing SDWA violations at U.S. DOI schools in Indian Country serving 40,000 students.
  • 2008 National Honor Award – Bronze Medal issued by USEPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.“
  • 2005 USEPA Regional Administrator Award for outstanding leadership, initiative, and creativity in increasing awareness and compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act cesspool ban in Hawaii.

  • Presented on the "Federal Regulatory Scheme" at the Arizona State University/U.S.
  • Department of Energy Conference on "The Legal Landscape of Tribal Renewable Energy Development," November 21-22, 2013, Tempe, AZ.

  • University of CA, Los Angeles, BA, 1991

  • University of CA, School of Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), 1996