Aaron S. Mapes

Aaron S. Mapes is a Principal in the Firm's Environmental Practice Group. He counsels clients on a wide variety of environmental matters, including environmental diligence for real estate transactions and energy infrastructure projects, brownfields redevelopment, compliance with environmental laws, environmental permitting, and litigation of complex environmental lawsuits and administrative appeals. Mr. Mapes’ clients include real estate private equity funds, local municipalities, and companies in the energy distribution and industrial sectors.

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• Served as environmental counsel on a successful acquisition of over 100 manufactured housing communities across the United States. Managed the retention and selection of the environmental consultant and the review, production, and timely delivery of the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and Property Condition Assessment (PCA) reports for each community.  Worked with government-backed lenders to ensure the Phase I ESA and PCA reports complied with lender protocols. Evaluated portfolio-wide environmental risks and liabilities and assisted with follow-up assessments where necessary.
• Worked on a multi-disciplinary team to evaluate environmental risks in connection with a proposed wind energy project. Analyzed and evaluated risks associated with wetland impacts, threatened and endangered species impacts, cultural and historical resource impacts, and visual impacts, among others. 
• Defended a third-party administrative appeal challenging the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s issuance of Chapter 105 and Chapter 102 permits for a linear pipeline project. The Appellants alleged, among other things, that wetlands were not properly delineated and classified and that the permittee did not conduct a sufficient Alternatives Analysis.
• Served as environmental counsel on a successful acquisition of 18 commercial/industrial properties across the United Kingdom. Worked with client to develop cost-effective strategy for conducting environmental diligence and additional post-acquisition environmental assessments.  Reviewed environmental reports prepared for each property and evaluated potential environmental risks and liabilities.  
• Filed and pursued an administrative appeal with the Environmental Hearing Board challenging a NPDES construction stormwater permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Appeal resulted in a favorable settlement and significant modifications to the developer’s stormwater management plan.
• Served as environmental counsel on the acquisition of a mixed-use redevelopment property in California with various known and potential environmental issues. Managed the retention and selection of an environmental consultant to perform a detailed Phase I ESA report for submission to environmental insurance carrier.  Negotiated with Seller to allow a pre-acquisition Phase II environmental investigation. Reviewed and commented on Phase I and Phase II reports and evaluated potential environmental risks and liabilities.
• Worked on multi-disciplinary team to pursue environmental insurance claim to recover costs incurred addressing environmental issues during redevelopment. Coordinated with redevelopment team and environmental insurance consultants to organize and document pollution conditions and cleanup costs. Negotiated with claims adjuster to obtain broadest possible coverage for claim. 
• Counseled client regarding laws and proper protocols applicable to demolition and disposal of building materials containing lead-based paint in connection with a redevelopment project in California.
• Served as defense counsel in federal lawsuit alleging adverse impacts to wetlands, where the presence of wetlands was disputed. Legal defense led to dismissal of the allegation on Summary Judgment.  
• Served on a litigation team that successfully defended a request for preliminary injunction brought in federal court. The plaintiff alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Clean Water Act (CWA) stemming from the emergence of oil in a privately-owned ravine. 
• Served as defense counsel in a lawsuit filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas alleging exposure to asbestos-containing products. Legal defense led to dismissal of the claim on summary judgment.     

• Co-Author, "Will Volkswagen Executives Be the Yates Memo’s First Casualties?," Bloomberg BNA's Daily Environmental Report (January 4, 2016)
• Co-Author, "Stigma Damages and Diminution of Property Claims in Environmental Class Actions", Environmental Claims Journal, Volume 24, Issue 3 (2012)