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John Lormon John J. Lormon
Partner

Practice Areas
Admissions
Environmental
Clean Tech, Energy and Climate Change
Alaska
California
Massachusetts

Contact Information

530 B Street, 21st Floor San Diego, CA 92101 Direct Phone: 619.515.3217 Direct Fax: 619.744. 5417 Download Bio


Professional Summary

Mr. Lormon specializes in environmental, climate change, sustainability, and ecosystems law. He has experience working with local and state government and regulatory agencies on environmental permitting, entitlement and compliance matters. Mr. Lormon has handled project development, permitting, compliance, and enforcement issues.

Mr. Lormon has managed numerous Clean Air Act cases involving stationary and mobile sources. He has special expertise in air emission impacts to local communities. He has worked on carbon emission, diesel and soot projects in large projects in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor. He is experienced in water delivery, water treatment, desalination, and purification as well as wastewater and reuse matters.

Mr. Lormon has been active in politics and bond initiatives. He was team leader for Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich’s (now DLA Piper Rudnick) environmental practice group for eight years before joining Procopio. He was appointed by the Governor to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region 9 (1992 to 1996), and to the State Coastal Conservancy Board (1997 to 2004).

Representative Matters
  • Clean Air Act – Permitting, enforcement and citizen suit work with manufacturing, food processing, bulk loading, fumigation and other businesses and groups. Appearances before the South Coast AQMD, San Diego APCD, State ARB and U.S. EPA. Clean Air Act PM-10, ozone, hazardous pollutant and other permitting and compliance matters.
  • Water Resources – Permitting and consulting for desalination projects in U.S. and Mexico, water purification and delivery in California and Mexico.
  • Energy – Cogeneration project entitlement and purchase and sale; Geothermal incident investigation and contract work; oil company (FERC) rate of return and sale of excess electrical power; Gas turbine power plant purchase and sale, operational and compliance work.
  • Climate Sustainability and Climate Change – Advise on California and Federal climate case law and legislation.
  • Clean Water Act and the California Water Code - Sections 401 Certifications, 402 NPDES and Section 404 – Dredge and Fill of waters in the U.S., including wetlands and vernal pools, and state waste discharge requirements including those subject to the National and California Toxic Rules permits. Lead counsel to the University of California’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography in obtaining NPDES permit and an exception to the California Ocean Plan prohibition on discharges to ASBSs. Compliance orders, cleanup and abatement orders, administrative, citizen suits, and civil and criminal enforcement matters. Industrial, wastewater, construction, and municipal permitting, compliance, and enforcement.
  • Purchase and Sale Transactions – Legal counsel and sales agent for large parcel sale, coordinated all contact with prospective purchasers including developers, Native American tribes and environmental groups.

Education, Distinctions & Community Involvement

Mr. Lormon received his undergraduate and law degree from Boston College and is licensed to practice in California, Alaska and Massachusetts. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, he was selected for inclusion in the Southern California Super Lawyers® - San Diego lists in the Environmental category. Mr. Lormon is recognized as an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.

Currently Mr. Lormon is a member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Blue Ribbon Committee tasked to advise the Met on water supply, transfers, reliability, sustainability, environmental stewardship, energy, and climate issues for the next 50 years of the district’s operation. He is part of the Directors Cabinet for Scripps Institution of Oceanography and co-chair of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Climate Task Force. Mr. Lormon belongs to the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Energy and Water Committee and was appointed by the Mayor to the City of San Diego Solid Waste Hearing Panel. He is also a member of the Section on Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER) for the American Bar Association and Vice Chair of Membership for the Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Ecosystems Committee.

In joint sponsorship with the County of San Diego, the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department, and the San Diego Unified Port District, Mr. Lormon organizes the Environmental Breakfast Club as a firm event for distinguished speakers from state and federal regulatory agencies to discuss important environmental issues with a cross section of the community. Additionally, Mr. Lormon coordinates the Climate Club, which provides an opportunity for a cross-section of community leaders to discuss climate change issues at dinner events held in private homes.

News*, Publications & Events

Recent Articles/Publications
  • “Climate Change - Recent Climate Litigation,” California Environmental Law Treatise, Chapter 85:04, Matthew Bender, LexisNexis, March 2009
  • “Climate Change: Treaties, Legislation, Due Diligence and Litigation Update,” Appendix 1A-A to Chapter 1A – Climate Change and Global Warming, Treatise on Environmental Law, Professor Grad of Columbia Law School, LexisNexis, September 2008
  • “Going Green? How the legal community helps the environment,” San Diego Lawyer, July/August 2008

Recent Seminars and Speeches
  • Climate Change: From International Treaties to CEQA and Due Diligence, Continuing Legal Education, San Diego Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, January 2009
  • Climate Change: Legislation and Litigation Analysis, San Diego Environmental Professionals, January 2009
  • Climate Change: The Rising Sea Level, Webcast presentation to City Council, Del Mar, October 2008
  • Carbon Case Law Update, April 2008
  • Sustainability and Green Practices for Service Industries, Urban Land Institute, April 2008

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