Steven F. Hill
About Steven
Steven Hill is a results-oriented lawyer who seeks to solve complex environmental issues for clients. Whether it is cleaning up a contaminated site or recovering insurance proceeds to pay for an environmental issue, Steve brings more than 30 years of environmental-related experience to each matter.
Steve concentrates his practice in environmental and natural resources law and insurance recovery and leads the firm’s Southwest Washington environmental and natural resources practice area. Steve represents landowners and developers in responding to wetland and other natural resource issues affecting the development and use of real property in Oregon and Southwest Washington and has assisted clients in obtaining permits for some of the larger development projects in the area. He represents clients in negotiating with state and federal agencies regarding investigation and cleanup plans and natural resource damages claims at contaminated sites, including federal Superfund sites. Steve has successfully resolved a number of insurance coverage disputes on behalf of policyholders and obtained insurance proceeds to pay for the investigation and cleanup of contaminated property. He has defended multiple citizen suits involving alleged violations of state stormwater permits.
Steve also advises vessel owners, operators, and charters in maritime law and has provided local correspondent services for multiple international P&I Clubs and handled numerous vessel-related issues involving collisions, allisions, pollution claims, crew and longshore injuries, and cargo damage claims.
Before beginning his legal practice, Steve worked in the port industry, including six years as special projects and environmental affairs manager for the Port of Vancouver, Washington.
Representative Experience
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Environmental Plus
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Negotiated with federal and state agencies regarding the scope and extent of the remedial investigation, feasibility, and cleanup at numerous contaminated sites, including sites with contaminated sediments and military munitions.
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Negotiated on behalf of multiple clients with federal and state agencies and other potentially responsible parties regarding Superfund liability, including contribution and cost-recovery claims, and the scope and extent of the investigation and cleanup of contamination at federal Superfund sites. Worked with clients at the Portland Harbor and Lower Duwamish Superfund sites.
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Defends clients against allegations of permit or environmental violations and negotiates settlements to allow continued operations and/or completion of important economic development projects.
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Challenged overzealous application of ESA prohibitions by federal resource agencies and provided advice concerning reasonable and appropriate permit conditions to protect and promote the survival of all threatened and endangered species.
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Evaluated and defended NRD claims brought by federal, state, and tribal trustees and negotiated financial and restoration-based settlements with NRD trustees. Worked on NRD claims at the Portland Harbor and Lower Duwamish Superfund sites.
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Aggressively pursues available insurance coverage for the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites and assessment and remediation of Natural Resource Damages under historical comprehensive general liability or excess liability policies, as well as environmental impairment liability policies.
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Defends against citizen suits or threatened citizen suits alleging liability for violation of state-issued industrial stormwater permits and other violations of federal environmental statutes.
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Client Collaborations
Activities
- Clark County Bar Association, Member
- Northwest Environmental Business Council, Member, 2024-present
- Washington Public Ports Association, Associate Member
- Washington State Bar Association
- Environmental and Land Use Section, Member
- Oregon State Bar
- Environmental and Natural Resources Section, Member
- Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools Board, past president
Insights from Steven
- “The Endangered Species Act Moves Out of the Forest and Into the Urban Environment,” Vancouver Business Journal (Mar. 2015)
- “Is It Jurisdictional or Not? Does New Corps Guidance Expand Clean Water Act Jurisdiction?” Miller Nash, GroundBreaking News (Sept. 2011)
- “Never Too Early to Prepare for Economic Recovery in Southwest Washington,” Vancouver Business Journal (Dec. 2010)
- “Panel Citizen Suits Under the Clean Water Act,” Washington Public Ports Association, 2023 Spring Meeting, Legal Committee Meeting, panelist (May 2023)
Outside the Office
Steve grew up in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Lincoln High School. He attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he was captain of the swimming team his senior year. He currently lives in Clackamas, Oregon with his wife and enjoys traveling, golf, bicycling, and swimming.