Jeff C. Miller
About Jeff
Jeff Miller focuses on environmental law, with a particular emphasis on hazardous waste cleanup, enforcement, and Clean Water Act permitting issues. A significant portion of this work involves large multi-party Superfund sites such as Portland Harbor and Lower Duwamish Waterway. In conjunction with these matters, Jeff represents clients in private allocation processes, reviewing technical documents, analyzing client liability and defenses, and preparing effective advocacy. His Clean Water Act work often involves defending permit holders against threatened citizen suits and resolving related permitting and enforcement issues. Jeff also assists clients with resolving Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permitting and enforcement issues.
Jeff is a frequent contributor to Miller Nash’s real estate, construction, and environmental law blog, From the Ground Up.
Representative Experience
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Environmental Plus
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Represented a transportation services company in response to Washington State Department of Ecology demands that it obtain an industrial stormwater general permit. This also included negotiating reasonable improvements at the facility to obtain a no-exposure certification.
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Represented a company who found hazardous materials in its production process and faced agency enforcement. Successfully negotiated a reasonable resolution of the issues and settlement with the agency.
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Assisting several clients at the Portland Harbor and Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund sites to resolve alleged liabilities in private allocation processes.
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As part of a collaborative effort with other attorneys and their clients, successfully negotiated with the EPA to resolve its original demand to perform remedial design over a large and complex portion of a Superfund site.
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Regularly assisting clients with evaluating environmental conditions and the effects on real property transactions.
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As part of a team of attorneys, obtained a favorable result in an environmental claim in a bankruptcy proceeding. Expert preparation proved instrumental in obtaining the favorable outcome.
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Consumer Products & Services Plus
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Counseled producer of automotive accessories regarding competitive aspects of distribution agreements.
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Activities
- Clark County Bar Association, Member
- Washington State Bar Association, Member
- Oregon State Bar Association, Member
- Coos Bay Oregon Law Center/Central Oregon Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO), Miller Nash Expungement Clinic Pro Bono Attorney, 2022-present
- Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, Board Member
Recognition
Selected for inclusion as a Washington Super Lawyer, 2014, 2016-2018
Insights from Jeff
Jeff frequently writes on various topics. Following is a listing of publications since 2015. A complete list is available upon request.
- “Prospective Purchaser Agreements: Lessees and Subsequent Owners and Operators,” Miller Nash, From the Ground Up (Apr. 2024)
- “Prospective Purchaser Agreements: The Importance of PPAs When Purchasing Contaminated Oregon Properties” Miller Nash, From the Ground Up (Mar. 2023)
- “Oregon Signs Statement of Intent to Accelerate Transition to Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, From the Ground Up (Dec. 2019)
- “Oregon’s 2019 Cap and Invest Legislation,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, From the Ground Up (Jan. 2019)
- “How Should Businesses Respond to a Notice of Intent Letter?” Vancouver Business Journal (Aug. 2018)
- “Environmental Groups Seek to Kill “Zombie Permits,’” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, From The Ground Up (Apr. 2017)
- “Washington Federal Court Confirms That EPA General Notice Letters Trigger the Duty to Defend,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, The Northwest Policyholder, coauthor (Feb. 2017)
- “Washington State Sets Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction Requirements for Major Sources,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, From the Ground Up (Sept. 2016)
- “Smelter Not Liable Under CERCLA as an Arranger for Disposal,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, From the Ground Up (July 2016)
- “Supreme Court Puts Clean Power Plan on Hold,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, From the Ground Up (Feb. 2016)
- “EPA Adopts Clean Power Plan,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, From the Ground Up (Aug. 2015)
Outside the Office
Jeff enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, genealogy research, and fixing up old cars.