Peter D. Van Oot

Peter Van Oot advises commercial clients, utilities and institutions on significant policy issues, permits and transactions that require a range of expertise in corporate, environmental and regulatory law. With a practice concentrated in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, Peter provides strategic advice and serves as outside general counsel to a number of corporations and institutions. He also co-chairs DRM’s Regulated Entities Group, which includes the Energy & Telecommunications, Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental Law, Government & Public Affairs and Health Law Groups. The energy, environmental, land use & zoning, real estate and government relations practices were all ranked in the top tier for Vermont law firms in US News & World Report's inaugural ranking of Best Law Firms 2012.

As a trained and experienced environmental lawyer, Peter has served as lead counsel on significant development projects, negotiated numerous environmental settlements with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice, state regulatory agencies and third parties. He served on the National Commission on Superfund Reform, provides strategic counsel to clients, speaks to the regulated community and testifies before legislative committees on regulatory and environmental issues.

As corporate counsel, Peter serves as outside general counsel to for-profit corporations, non-profit organizations and educational institutions, with a focus on transactional, governance, environmental and regulatory matters.

Representative Development/Transactional Projects:
 

Lead permitting counsel for proposd 25-30 megawatt renewable biomass electric generating facility, North Springfield, Vermont

Lead permitting counsel for Mt. Snow Ski Area Act 250 Master Permit, West Dover, Vermont 

Lead permitting counsel for Burke Mountain Ski Area Act 250 Master Permit, Burke, Vermont

Lead permitting counsel for Commonwealth Dairy LLC, 37,500 sq.ft. Yogurt Manufacturing Facility, Brattleboro, Vermont

Lead permitting counsel for Grafton Village Cheese Company Cheese Manufacturing Project, Brattleboro, Vermont

Lead permitting counsel for Rocking Stone Farm, 13-Lot Subdivision Project, Manchester, Vermont

Lead permitting counsel for High Point Estates, 29-Lot Subdivision Project, Brattleboro, Vermont

Lead permitting counsel for $55 million Brattleboro Union High School Project

Seller’s and permitting counsel for sale of Retreat Farm, Brattleboro, Vermont

 

Representative Corporate Counsel Engagements:
 

Harpoon Brewery, Boston, Massachusetts and Windsor, Vermont

Commonwealth Dairy LLC, Brattleboro, Vermont

The Windham Foundation/Grafton Village Cheese Co., Grafton and Brattleboro, Vermont

Sonnax Industries, Rockingham, Vermont

The Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro, Vermont

Marlboro College. Marlboro and Brattleboro, Vermont

Vermont Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing d/b/a The Austine School

Cheshire Oil Company, Keene, Hew Hampshire

 

Representative Superfund Settlement Counsel Matters:
 

Lead counsel at Darling Hill Superfund Site, Lyndon, Vermont

Lead counsel at Parker Landfill Site, Lyndon, Vermont

Lead counsel at Pine Street Canal Superfund Site in Burlington, Vermont

Lead counsel at Bennington Landfill Superfund Site in Bennington, Vermont

Lead counsel at the Pownal Tannery Superfund Site in Pownal, Vermont

Lead counsel at the Elizabeth Mines Superfund Site in Stratford, Vermont

Lead counsel at Solvent Recovery Service of New England, Inc. Superfund Site in Southington, Connecticut

Lead counsel at Wells G&H Superfund Site in Woburn, Massachusetts

 

Representative Enforcement Settlement Counsel Matters:
 

US EPA Lead Abatement/Clean Air Act enforcement matter

US EPA SPCC/Clean Water Act enforcement matter

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources solid waste enforcement matter

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Stormwater/Clean Water Act enforcement matter

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Land Use (Act 250) enforcement matter

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources air quality enforcement matter

Peter is a charter fellow of the American College of Environmental Attorneys; a member of the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources of the American Bar Association; a member of the Environmental Law Committees of the Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bar Associations; and a member of the Environmental Law Committee of Lex Mundi, a global association/alliance of premier independent law firms in 99 countries.

Peter was named Volunteer of the Year 2011 in the eleven Northeast States by the Northeast Vermont Development Association.

In August 2011, Pete was appointed to serve a two-year term on the Professional Responsibility Board of the Vermont Supreme Court.

Peter serves on the Brownfields Advisory Committee to the Vermont Legislature and is on the advisory board of Vermont Law School's Land Use Institute. Previously, he served as a member of Vermont Governor Howard Dean's Council of Environmental Advisors and as a board member and chair of the Vermont Land Trust. He is a past visiting professor of environmental law at Williams College (1999-2003) and was a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Patrick J. Leahy (1980-1985).

Peter was selected for inclusion in Chambers USA 2012: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, based on in-depth interviews with clients and peers. He is also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 for land use and zoning and environmental law. Peter received the AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for environmental law, and he is listed in New England Super Lawyers 2012 for his work in the areas of environmental, corporate governance and compliance, and real estate. 

Peter chaired the Judicial Nominating Commission, which vetted candidates to replace a retiring judge on Vermont's U.S. District Court. The Commission recommended a slate of candidates from which Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders selected a nominee who was subsequently appointed by President Obama.

Peter serves on the boards of directors of the Vermont State Chamber of Commerce, the Upper Valley Corporate Council and the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation. He has served as a director of Chittenden Bank, on the advisory board of the Chittenden Socially Responsible Banking Board and on the executive committee and as president of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation. He is a member of the Vermont Community Foundation. Previously, he served on Vermont Governor Jim Douglas's Job Cabinet, as chair of the United Way of Windham County and as a member of the board of World Learning, Inc.