Phil Comella is a Partner in the Litigation Practice Group and concentrates his business in environmental and toxic tort law. Phil is Chambers-ranked as a leading lawyer in environmental law, and a member of the Leading Lawyers network. Phil’s practice spans both regulatory counseling and environmental-based litigation. With over three decades of experience in environmental law, and a focus on the solid and hazardous waste industry, he regularly counsels operators of landfills, treatment systems, recycling operations, transporters, and waste generators on compliance and permitting matters arising under the environmental laws and Department of Transportation regulations. Phil began his legal career by spending seven years as in-house counsel for a major waste management company, where he had responsibility for hazardous and solid waste issues arising across the country.

Solid and Hazardous Waste Industry

Phil has wide-ranging and deep experience in solid and hazardous waste matters arising under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), citizens suits, enforcement actions, permitting, and compliance. He has represented generators, transporters, and fixed facilities on a myriad of issues arising under this statute and state counterparts. Phil has also worked on numerous PCB matters over the last 30 years, including those involving disposal requirements, dilution, coordinated waste approvals, including solid waste, hazardous waste, and TENORM (technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials) and clean-up standards. With regard to the Comprehensive Environmental Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), he has worked on multiple facets of this statute, including rulemaking comments, negotiating amendments to Records of Decision, representing generators, transporters, and site owners in responding to information requests and clean-up orders, and heading up PRP groups. With a long history in both Superfund and Brownfields, he is also experienced in applying clean-up standards across regulatory fields and negotiating contract conditions and insurance provisions to reduce environmental liability.