ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND PERMITTING

From offices in Boston, the law firm of Buchanan & Associates offers highly focused representation in environmental permitting and land use matters, including waterfront development and permitting. Attorney Jamy Buchanan Madeja has considerable experience in a broad range of environmental issues. Before establishing her own practice, she worked as General Counsel of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, appointed by Governor William F. Weld. In that role, she managed the legal, enforcement and regulatory affairs of five state environmental agencies.

Waterfront Permitting

Buchanan & Associates focuses its waterfront development and permitting practice on:

• Chapter 91 licensing matters - The firm handles all licensing and permit issues under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 91, which protects the public's interest in the state's waterways, as well as a waterfront property owner's right of access to the property. This includes working with the Army Corps of Engineers, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration), and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
• Municipal harbor plans - Attorney Madeja provides counsel to entities that seek to develop property in state-approved municipal harbor planning districts.
• Designated port areas - The firm advises clients who seek to determine compliance with designated port area requirements and has successfully helped remove the designated port area restrictions from land owned by its clients.

Wetlands Projects

If you seek to develop property that may include protected wetlands, the firm can analyze the environmental, engineering and legal issues involved and perform all legal work required to obtain necessary permits. Buchanan & Associates can also subcontract and oversee any engineering assessment required for the project.

Actions under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)

Attorney Madeja advises clients throughout the MEPA land use planning process, working toward the timely and successful completion of all requirements. She carefully coordinates the work involved to obtain state environmental permits to meet each client's individual needs.

The firm represents a broad spectrum of clients in environmental law matters, from small neighborhood groups and municipal entities to trade associations and corporations. The firm's clients include environmental advocacy groups as well as commercial enterprises, for-profits companies as well as not-for-profit organizations.

To learn more about the range of services the firm provides, please view the page on additional client matters.