Walter G Wright Jr

Practice Areas

Walter Wright has more than 30 years of experience in environmental, energy (petroleum marketing), and water law. His expertise includes counseling clients on issues involving environmental permits, compliance strategies, enforcement defense, property redevelopment issues, environmental impact statements, and procurement/management of water rights. He routinely advises developers, lenders, petroleum marketers, and others about effective strategies for structuring real estate and corporate transactions to address environmental financial risks. A unique part of his practice has been drafting and the negotiation of a variety of specialized agreements involving the sale or consignment of motor fuels along with the ancillary agreements associated with the upstream segment of the petroleum industry. Since 1989, he has served as an adjunct professor of Environmental Law and Hazardous Substances Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law. He is the author of the Arkansas Environmental, Energy and Water Law blog.

-Represents industrial and commercial companies at various state and federal Superfund sites.

-Advises biofuel and renewable energy facilities in regards to various issues.

-Manages soil and/or groundwater contamination cases including retention and oversight of environmental consultants.

-Serves as General Counsel and provides legislative representation to the Arkansas Oil Marketers Association, Arkansas Recyclers Association (scrap facilities) and Arkansas Manufactured Housing Association.

-Advises clients in regards to Clean Water Act wetland and 404 issues including delineation and permit matters.

-Defends companies served with administrative enforcement actions including demands for investigation/remediation.

-Provides advice and advocacy regarding ensuring the marketability of recyclables such as steel slag, cement kiln dust, fly ash, scrap and other materials.

-Assists clients in negotiating environmental agency voluntary and involuntary orders related to site investigations and remediation conducted under state and federal law.

-Counsels companies on environmental audit issues including issues involving disclosure and confidentiality issues.

-Advises companies considering use of Arkansas and federal voluntary or self-disclosure programs.

-Negotiates and drafts various petroleum marketing agreements involving sale or consignment of petroleum products.

Professional Memberships

-Air and Regulated Waste Committees, Arkansas Environmental Federation

-Arkansas Bar Association

-Environment Committee, Arkansas Oil Marketers Association

-Environmental Law Institute

Education