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Maggie
Macdonald

Principal

Maggie
Macdonald

Principal

Maggie focuses her practice on environmental litigation, environmental impact review, and land use issues. Since joining the firm in 2011 she has worked on brownfields and (E) designation submissions for sites in New York City, storm water pollution prevention, and landlord-tenant disputes. Maggie’s work also involves enforcement under federal environmental laws including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Maggie has extensive E-discovery experience and has attended conferences on cutting edge technologies in the field of E-Discovery and electronic document review. In addition, Maggie works with recycler and consumer clients dealing with electronics recycling and she is engaged with the developing area of electronics recycling law and regulations in New York State.

Prior to joining the firm, Maggie interned at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Region 2, where she focused on tidal wetlands enforcement. Maggie also participated in the Natural Resources Defense Council clinical program, working on issues relating to water conservation. During law school she was an Executive Editor of the New York University Environmental Law Journal and Chair of the Environmental Law Society and Co-Chair of the Open Meditation and Yoga Society.

Chambers and Partners, Notable Associate for environmental litigation
New York Super Lawyers, Environmental, Environmental Litigation, Land Use/Zoning, Rising Star 2016-present
Development And Land Use
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Environmental Review
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Hazardous Waste Remediation
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Litigation

Queens West Development Corporation

Location: Long Island City, NY | Date: 2014

SPR represents Queens West Development Corporation (QWDC), a subsidiary of New York State's Empire State Development (ESD), in connection with New York's largest mixed use public-private development. During the early planning stages of this major initiative to redevelop a 74-acre area of the Long Island City waterfront, the firm provided environmental and land use counsel to the Urban Development Corporation (now d/b/a ESD) in connection with development of the General Project Plan and the environmental impact statement (EIS) process. It subsequently represented ESD in successfully defeating litigation challenging the adequacy of the EIS. The firm has handled all waterfront permitting issues for the development of parks and the waterfront esplanade, which involved obtaining permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies.

The firm represented QWDC over CERCLA action for response costs and settled. The firm assists in connection with all aspects of remediation of legacy contamination from the area's long and varied industrial uses, including remedies under auspices of either the State's Voluntary Cleanup Program or the Brownfield Cleanup Program, recently representing QWDC in a case over response costs. The litigation recently settled.

“Green Buildings: Law and Practices,” with Dan Chorost

For: Practical Law Journal

November 2014

“EPA proposes new technology rules for boilers and incinerators,” with Daniel Riesel

For: International Law Office

July 19, 2010

“State and Regional Carbon Reduction Markets in the United States,” with Jeffrey B. Gracer

For: Environmental Claims Journal

2007

NYC Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation Proposes New Enforcement Rules

In September 2022, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) Read More

Sixth Circuit rules in two cases that discharges to groundwater from coal ash ponds do not require a Clean Water Act Permit

The Sixth Circuit’s recent decisions in Kentucky Waterways Alliance et al v. Kentucky Utilities Co., (“Kentucky Utilities”) No. 18-5115 (6th Cir. Sept. 24, 2018), and Tennessee Clean Water Network v. Tennessee Valley Authority (“TVA”) No. 17-6155 (6th Cir. Sept. 24, 2018), have further widened an existing circuit split regarding ...

New York City Proposes First Stormwater Management Program Regulating Construction Runoff

For the first time, the City of New York has proposed a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to describe how the City will satisfy the requirements of its SPDES Read More

New York University School of Law, J.D., 2011

Harvard College, B.A., 2008, magna cum laude

New York, 2012

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

New York State Bar Association member

Bar Association of the City of New York member

Secretary of the International Environmental Law Committee at the City Bar Association

Graduate of the New York City Environmental Law Leadership Institute

Member, New York Road Runners

Attorney spotlight from 2014