Elizabeth
Knauer
Principal
Elizabeth
Knauer
Principal
Elizabeth’s practice has included most facets of environmental law under federal and New York State law, and views every matter through a multidimensional lens. Her experience in both litigation and project development provides a seasoned perspective on avoiding and managing risk.
Elizabeth has litigated various matters relating to environmental contamination and claims for recovery of associated costs involving the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the New York Navigation Law, and other statutes; toxic tort claims; the Clean Water Act; environmental permitting standards; administrative law; and contractual provisions. She has litigated at the trial court and appellate level in both state and federal courts for nearly two decades and is familiar with complex litigation involving large numbers of defendants. Much of her recent work has involved litigation concerning groundwater contamination affecting public water supplies, including by emerging contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane and PFAS. Elizabeth also regularly litigates administrative law cases, defending decision making of federal, state and municipal agencies when legal challenges are filed on environmental grounds.
Elizabeth’s practice also focuses on environmental impact assessment under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). She has advised both governmental and private clients on the environmental assessment of, and other environmental issues related to, projects ranging from major transportation projects to small affordable housing developments requiring federal or state approvals or undergoing the New York City Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). This work has included advice and litigation related to parkland alienation and federal and State historic resources consultation processes.
Elizabeth advises clients with respect to environmental permitting and enforcement actions, and negotiates on their behalf with governmental agencies. She has helped secure federal and state permits for waterfront work for a variety of development projects as well as industrial operators. She also advises with respect to management and remediation of environmental contamination to minimize exposure to liability.
Elizabeth has been an appointed citizen member of the New York City Environmental Control Board for over a decade.
Queens West Development Corporation
New Hope Power Company
City Point
Victoria Theatre Redevelopment
2800 Hylan Blvd., LLC v. Motiva Enterprises
Prince’s Point
SPR represented Muss Development Corporation with respect to a proposed large-scale residential development on Prince's Point, which borders Staten Island. Shortly after Muss purchased the property, it was discovered to be seriously contaminated with hazardous wastes from historic uses, resulting in its listing as an Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site under the State Superfund Program. SPR provided legal advice pertaining to the remediation of the site, which took many years to complete, and successfully sued the prior owner for response costs under CERCLA. SPR also provided representation concerning State Tidal and Freshwater Wetlands permitting and associated environmental issues. SPR subsequently advised the purchaser of the property in complying with overlapping requirements of permits and consent orders governing development.
Hudson River Park
From its inception, SPR has served as environmental and litigation counsel to the Hudson River Park Trust on major proposed projects in Hudson River Park, most recently Little Island, Pier 57, and Gansevoort Peninsula. Little Island is a distinctive pier offering world-class recreation and performing arts events, with the support of a donation from the Diller/von Furstenberg Family Foundation – the largest gift to a public park in the history of New York State. Little Island was the subject of litigation in state and federal court for over two years, during which SPR successfully overcame a challenge to the Trust’s environmental review and a challenge to the permit issued by the DEC (as co-counsel with the State).
SPR also helped the Trust obtain new permits after the donor terminated and then restarted the Project. Pier 57 was transformed from its original maritime use to an indoor/outdoor public space and food hall. SPR advised the Trust with respect to the preparation of an environmental impact statement for Pier 57 as well as obtaining environmental permits. The Gansevoort Peninsula is a public beach and passive recreation space that replaces a former sanitation facility. SPR advised on environmental permitting and represented the Trust in litigation challenging the Gansevoort Peninsula project.
Yankee Stadium
SPR represented the New York Yankees in connection with the development of the new Yankee stadium in the Bronx. The project also included the construction of additional parking facilities, and the creation of new parkland and recreational facilities at and in the immediate vicinity of the existing stadium, as well as along the Harlem River waterfront. The firm successfully defended the New York Yankees in the lawsuit that challenged the environmental review and parkland aspect of this project.
Bayonne Bridge Navigational Clearance Program
Willets Point Development Project
MTA Congestion Pricing
PFAS Multi-District Litigation
Silvercup West Studios
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center
Brooklyn Developmental Center
Port Authority of NY & New Jersey – Bus Terminal
“Navigating PFAS Regulations and Superfund Designations”
For: PW Grosser Consulting's Environmental Echo Podcast
“Wetlands Regulations: Considerations for Project Developers”
For: Lexis Practice Advisor Practice Note
“Environmental Impact Review in New York”
For: Michael Gerrard, ed.; Matthew Bender, pub, Chapter 8A
“Soil Vapor Intrusion in the Workplace”
For: New York Law Journal
“Defending Citizen Suits”
For: 47 Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter 708;
“Defense Perspectives on Environmental Citizen Suits”
For: X Widener L. Rev. 395
“Litigating the Administrative Law Case”
For: 22 EPA Admin. L. Reporter 175
“Views Vary on Environmental Justice – Communities Try to Use Federal Laws to Keep Out Polluting Facilities”
For: New York Law Journal
PFAS Environmental Regulatory Developments (So Far) in 2024
CERCLA
On April 19, 2024, the EPA issued a Read MoreChallenge to Rye City Planning Commission Approval of Wainwright House’s Special Permit Dismissed
Recent Developments in PFAS Regulation
Waters in Flux: EPA and Army Corps Revise the Definition of “Waters of the United States”
Challenge to Landmarks Preservation Commission Approval of Brooklyn Development Dismissed
PFAS Litigation Update: Court Denies Summary Judgment to AFFF Manufacturers
Harvard Law School, J.D., 1999, Cum Laude
Fordham University, B.A., 1996, Summa Cum Laude
New York, 2000
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
New York City Environmental Control Board Water Specialist, 2011-present