Christopher A. Walker advises and represents a diverse range of clients, including multinational corporations, governmental and civic organizations, small businesses, farms, and individuals, on matters of environmental law. He assists clients by prosecuting and defending lawsuits, negotiating permits and cleanup orders, advising on issues of environmental compliance and liability avoidance, and providing guidance and due diligence services in business and real estate transactions. Chris also advises and represents landowners, local governments, and community organizations in environment-related land use matters, including brownfield redevelopment, federal facilities cleanups and environmental impact statements. He has advised parties in the sale or donation of conservation easements resulting in the permanent protection of over 1,500 acres of farmland and open space in western and central Ohio.

The following are some examples of representative recent matters in which Chris has been involved:

• Chris represents the City of Miamisburg, Ohio, and the Miamisburg Mound Community Improvement Corporation (MMCIC) with respect to the cleanup of the Miamisburg Mound Plant, a U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons facility included on the CERCLA National Priorities List. The Mound cleanup represents a landmark effort to convert a former nuclear weapons facility to application as a private-sector industrial technology park.
• Chris has represented a steel manufacturing facility in an administrative permit appeal pertaining to mercury air emission limitations, and regularly advises and represents clients on issues of air pollution control, including major source issues.
• Chris represents Community-Mercy Health Partners (CMHP), in cooperation with the City of Springfield, Ohio, in the redevelopment of numerous inner-city properties for a new hospital in Springfield, Ohio.  In 2004, Chris advised and assisted CMHP, in cooperation with the City of Springfield, in redevelopment of downtown brownfield property for the new Springfield Regional Cancer Center. This collaborative effort led to the issuance of the first Ohio EPA Covenant Not to Sue under the “Memorandum of Agreement track” of the Ohio Voluntary Action Program.
• Chris advises numerous agricultural interests with regard to wetland regulation, drainage improvements, and spill prevention and reporting.
• Chris has successfully represented a township government in curtailing nuisance conditions and water discharge violations associated with a quarry operating within the township limits.
• Chris represents the owner of an industrial facility faced with public concern over groundwater contamination in close proximity to municipal drinking water wells.

Chris began his career in 1988 as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General in the Environmental Enforcement Section, where he served as lead counsel on numerous environmental enforcement matters relating to air and water pollution, hazardous waste, and public drinking water. From 1995-99, he was a member of the environmental practice group of Thompson, Hine & Flory.

Chris also serves as a mediator and facilitator in connection with environmental and public policy matters. For example, he facilitated a successful round-table discussion on drainage policy and water quality in northwestern Ohio involving county and township elected officials and staff, academic researchers, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, OSU Extension, and representatives from agricultural and environmental groups.

Chris has been active in legislative and lobbying efforts relating to environmental regulation and land use, and has provided testimony before House and Senate committees of the Ohio General Assembly.

Government Service:

• Assistant Attorney General, Environmental Enforcement Section, Office of the Attorney General, State of Ohio, 1988-90, 1993-95.

Education:

• Vanderbilt School of Law, Nashville, TN J.D. 1988
• University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
  B.A. magna cum laude, English, 1985

Honors and Leadership:

• Past Chairman, Ohio State Bar Association Environmental Law Committee
• Past Chairman, Dayton Bar Association Environmental Committee
• Appointed to The Ohio State University School of Agriculture’s Advisory Council on Rural-Urban Policy Research and Education, 2002-04.
• Awarded the 2001 “Friend of Township Government Award” by the Madison County Township Trustees’ Association for assistance of local interests in connection with the controversial Darby National Wildlife Refuge proposal.
• AV (highest) rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
• Selected as an Ohio Super Lawyer.
• Listed among 70 Dayton area lawyers as “Best of the Bar” by the Dayton Business Journal, 2004 - 2006.

Recent Lectures and Presentations:

• Areawide Water Quality Planning, Ohio Sanitary Engineers Association (June 2, 2009)
• Wetlands and Water Quality: Implications for Agriculture, Ohio Agricultural Law Symposium, Columbus, Ohio (September 19, 2008)
• Wetlands on Agricultural Lands: Navigating the Regulatory Swamp, Water Management Association of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio (June 26, 2008)
• Mitigating Environmental Risk in Real Estate and Business Transactions, Ohio State Bar Association Annual Convention, Columbus, Ohio (May 15, 2008)
• Cutting Edge Air Issues: Climate Change, 23rd Annual Ohio Environment, Energy and Resources Law Seminar, Mount Sterling, Ohio (April 25, 2008)
• Lead Paint in Residences, Clark County Bar Association, Springfield, Ohio (November 2006)
• Wetlands, Dayton Bar Association Real Property Committee, Dayton, Ohio (April 2006)
• Law of Easements, Lorman Education Services, Columbus, Ohio (March 2006)
• Introduction to Federal and State Air Permitting Programs, Manufacturers' Education Council, Environmental Permitting in Ohio, Columbus, Ohio (July 2005)
• Use and Enforcement of Institutional Controls, Conservation Easements and Other Property Restrictions for Environmental Protection, OSBA Annual Convention (May 13, 2005)
• Regulation of Air Pollution, Dayton Bar Association (December 17, 2004)
• Road Tripping - Technology for the Mobile Lawyer, Ohio State Bar Association Law Firm Management & Technology Conference (December 9, 2004)
• Wetlands on Agricultural Lands, National Business Institutes (December 2, 2004)
• Conservation Easements, National Business Institutes (December 2, 2004)
• Legal Considerations in Title V Compliance Certification, Honda Suppliers Environmental Conference (August 24, 2004)
• Introduction to Federal and State Air Permitting Programs, Manufacturer’s Education Council Permitting Symposium (July 28, 2004)
• Wetlands on Agricultural Lands, Ohio State Bar Association Annual Convention (May 11, 2004)
• Federal New Source Review Litigation and Rulemaking Developments, Ohio State Bar Association Environmental Law Seminar (April 29, 2004)
• Water Rights Allocation and Resource Management, Lorman Educational Services (February 20, 2004)
• Regulation of Air Pollution, Lorman Educational Services (August 26, 2003)
• Environmental Regulation of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), OSBA Annual Convention (May 8, 2003)
• Pollution Prevention, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Environmental Bootcamp (February 18, 2003)
• OEPA's Proposal for Combined Permit to Operate/Permit to Install, Dayton Chamber of Commerce (December 10, 2002)
• Regulation of Construction and Demolition Debris Disposal, Air & Waste Management Association Southwest Ohio Chapter (October 2002)
• Air Permitting in an Age of Uncertainty, Manufacturer’s Education Council Environmental Symposium (March 2001)