Ahlia Bethea - Sive Paget Riesel

Ahlia’s practice focuses on environmental and land use litigation, renewable energy development, and DEC enforcement matters.

Ahlia has experience representing communities affected by PFAS water contamination and is deeply dedicated to the connection between human health and the environment. Ahlia’s general experience includes supporting renewable energy development projects through the permitting process, advising on environmental regulatory compliance, navigating environmental reviews under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), assisting in Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) litigation, and facilitating applications for environmental permits, including the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program.

In 2023, Ahlia received her J.D. and MPH from Columbia Law School and Columbia’s Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, respectively. At Columbia Law, Ahlia served as Managing Editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law, interned for the Environmental Law Clinic, served on the board of the Environmental Law Society, and was twice elected to the Student Senate.

Before joining SPR, Ahlia worked for a Michigan-based law firm to support plaintiffs in the Flint Water Class Action. She previously served as a summer clerk for Earthjustice, an environmental organizer for the Sierra Club, and a judicial intern for the Honorable Harold W. Fullilove, Jr. of the Superior Court of New Jersey.

Long Island Power Authority – Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center

Location: Jones Beach, NY

SPR successfully defended the construction of the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center in litigation challenging the environmental review and permitting of the project under SEQRA, NEPA, the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Act and other state and federal laws, and alleging violation of the public trust doctrine for alienation of state parkland. SPR secured decisions in Nassau County Supreme Court, the Eastern District of New York, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals dismissing all claims against LIPA and upholding the construction of the Energy & Nature Center.

New York City Housing Authority – PACT Conversion

Location: New York, NY

SPR advises small and large property managers and owners regarding compliance with federal and NYC lead-based paint (LBP) legal requirements. Our practice also includes advising parties on the regulatory and consent order requirements applicable to LBP in the context of conversions of NYCHA public housing developments to private owned housing under the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program.

PFAS Multi-District Litigation

Location: New Jersey and New York

SPR represents the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as a defendant in a multidistrict litigation concerning pollution resulting from use of aqueous film forming foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for fire suppression purposes at various sites, including military bases and airports, throughout the country. The Port Authority is a defendant in multiple cases in the Multi-District Litigation based on its operation of Stewart International Airport.

MTA Congestion Pricing

Location: New York, NY

The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), an affiliate of the MTA, along with the New York State and New York City Departments of Transportation (collectively, the Project Sponsors), have proposed the Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP) for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approval under the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP). This proposal is the first in this country for congestion pricing in a city to reduce congestion (and, in this case, also to raise funds for MTA capital projects). In June 2023, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the proposed CBDTP was issued by FHWA in coordination with the Project Sponsors. SPR has counseled the MTA/TBTA in the development of the EA, including outreach, interfacing with federal, state, local and regional agencies, and advising with respect to various legal issues, as well as with respect to the VPPP. SPR is also representing the MTA/TBTA in nine federal litigations challenging the FONSI, including one brought by the State of New Jersey. In one of those litigations, the Court for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued an Opinion and Order on June 20, 2024, affirming the validity of the EA and FONSI.

Thor Equities Industrial Logistics Development

Location: New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, and Florida

SPR represents Thor Equities as environmental counsel on multiple acquisitions of industrial logistics properties in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California and Florida. The firm also counsels Thor Equities on post acquisition environmental remediation and regulatory compliance issues in connection with redevelopment and management of its industrial logistics portfolio.

Indian Point Energy Center Relicensing/Decommissioning

Location: Cortlandt, NY

SPR represents the Town of Cortlandt, NY in ongoing state and federal administrative proceedings related to the relicensing of the Indian Point nuclear power plant. The state relicensing involves CWA Sections 316 (cooling water intakes) and 401 (water quality certification), and environmental impact review under SEQRA; the federal relicensing involves NEPA review and a technical analysis of nuclear safety issues posed by the plant. Most recently SPR has represented the Town in the process of decommissioning the power plant.

Nine Dot Energy – NY Green Bank

Location: New York

SPR represents a lender in connection with a $25 million revolving credit facility for NineDot Energy to finance interconnection deposits for battery energy storage projects.

GSI – NY Green Bank

Location: New York

SPR represents a lender in connection with $10,000,000 revolving credit facility for GSI to finance interconnection deposits for distributed solar generation or battery energy storage projects.

Sun Rocket Capital – Donato Solar (Decatur Brush)

Location: Illinois

SPR represents a lender in connection with $4.8 Million Construction to Term Loan Facility for a 2.850 MW ground-mounted solar project.

SunRocket Capital – Donato Solar (Decatur Brush 2)

Location: Illinois

SPR represents a lender in connection with $4.7 Million Construction to Term Loan Facility for a 2.850 MW ground-mounted solar project.

SunRocket Capital – WCP Financials

Location: Illinois

SPR represents a lender in connection with $1,400,000 Term Loan for a 3.029 kW roof-mounted solar project.

“The Ethics of Using Generative AI In Environmental Law”

For: Law360

August 2024 | Written by Ahlia Bethea and Pam Esterman

“Environmental Law: Developments in the Law of SEQRA”

For: Syracuse Law Review

2024 | Written by Mark Chertok, Amy Cassidy and Ahlia Bethea

“Issues in Environmental Justice: Systems, Strategies, and Diversity”

For: St. John's University School of Law

March 25, 2024 | Panelist Ahlia Bethea

“Environmental Law: Developments in the Law of SEQRA”

For: Syracuse Law Review Vol. 73, No. 717

Article Title: Developments in the Law of SEQRA

July 2023 | Written by Mark Chertok, Ahlia Bethea, Aaron Goldman (and Evan Preminger)

PFAS Environmental Regulatory Developments (So Far) in 2024

2024 has already been a banner year for the regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the federal level; unsurprisingly, these efforts are eliciting legal challenges from regulated entities.

CERCLA

On April 19, 2024, the EPA issued a Read More

NYSDEC Publishes Proposed Guidance Incorporating Environmental Justice Considerations into Existing Permit Processes

On September 27, 2023, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) published a draft policy aimed at implementing Section 7(3) of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act

Developments in Regulation of PFAS

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to emerge, so to speak, as a focus of regulatory attention on many levels: health, environmental remediation, and manufacturing. Below, we discuss some of the more recent developments affecting this ubiquitous class of chemicals. Nicknamed “forever chemicals,” PFAS are a family of chemical ...

SCOTUS Invokes Major Questions Doctrine to Restrict EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases

On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court restricted the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its 6-3 decision for West Virginia v. EPA. The majority for the Court held that ...

Ahlia
Bethea

Associate

Ahlia
Bethea

Associate

Long Island Power Authority – Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center

New York City Housing Authority – PACT Conversion

PFAS Multi-District Litigation

MTA Congestion Pricing

Thor Equities Industrial Logistics Development

Indian Point Energy Center Relicensing/Decommissioning

Nine Dot Energy – NY Green Bank

GSI – NY Green Bank

Sun Rocket Capital – Donato Solar (Decatur Brush)

SunRocket Capital – Donato Solar (Decatur Brush 2)

SunRocket Capital – WCP Financials

“The Ethics of Using Generative AI In Environmental Law”

“Environmental Law: Developments in the Law of SEQRA”

“Issues in Environmental Justice: Systems, Strategies, and Diversity”

“Environmental Law: Developments in the Law of SEQRA”

PFAS Environmental Regulatory Developments (So Far) in 2024

CERCLA

NYSDEC Publishes Proposed Guidance Incorporating Environmental Justice Considerations into Existing Permit Processes

Developments in Regulation of PFAS

SCOTUS Invokes Major Questions Doctrine to Restrict EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases

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