Stephen A. Reynes

Attorney Photo

Senior Counsel

100 East State Street
P.O. Box 1309
Montpelier, Vermont 05601-1309
Phone: (802) 223-2102
Fax: (802) 223-2628
Email: sreynes@ppeclaw.com

Steve Reynes leads the firm’s Environmental and Land Use practice, including representation in all aspects of Act 250 proceedings and jurisdictional determinations, environmental permits administered by the Agency of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers. He works on behalf of companies and individuals to reach appropriate resolution of State environmental enforcement matters. Steve represents clients on a state-wide basis before District Environmental Commissions, zoning boards, the Agency of Natural Resources, the Environmental Court and the Vermont Supreme Court. Steve also represents municipalities involved in any land use permit process, often as special counsel working with the municipality's general counsel.

Steve obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Michael’s College in Vermont in 1967 and then served as an Air Force officer. He worked as a District Environmental Coordinator for three years, administering various Vermont environmental permit programs. Steve graduated from Vermont Law School in 1979, where he was an editor of the law review. While most of Steve’s 32 years as an attorney have been in private practice, he has also worked in several public service capacities. In the 1980’s he served in the Vermont House of Representatives, where he chaired the Natural Resources Committee, and later served on the Senate Natural Resources Committee. In those capacities he was active in the enactment of laws in multiple environmental areas, including solid waste, water quality, wetlands, groundwater, underground storage tanks, and land use planning. He was the Reporter for the Senate Natural Resources Committee of the legislation to create the Vermont Environmental Court, which has now been in operation on an expanding basis for 21 years. While In the Legislature Steve also served on the House Ways and Means Committee and later the Senate Finance Committee. Steve subsequently served as Chair of the Vermont Environmental Board, which adjudicated all Act 250 appeals, and as a member of the Water Resources Board.

Steve has also served as a former chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Vermont Bar Association and is presently serving on a panel exploring State land use and environmental permit reform. He is an occasional guest Lecturer in classes at Vermont Law School, including in effective legal writing and has been a presenter at many Continuing Legal Education programs sponsored by the Vermont Bar association in his areas of practice.

Areas of Practice:

  • Environmental and Land Use
  • Governmental Relations

Bar Admission:

  • Vermont

Court Admission:

  • United States District Court for the District of Vermont

Education:

  • Vermont Law School (J.D. 1979)
  • Notes Editor, Vermont Law Review (1978-1978)
  • St. Michael’s College (B.A. 1967)

Published works:

  • Case Note, Laaman v. Helgemoe: Degeneration, Recidivism, and the Eighth Amendment, 3 Vt. L. Rev. (1978)

Experience (Representative):

Act 250 Permitting

  • Representation of large association for Act 250 approval of proposed Master Plan and phased construction for proposed 93 mile rail-trail project, for 4-season use, in close cooperation with the Vermont Agency of Transportation
  • Representation of Foundation to obtain local and State approvals for replacement of dilapidated but historic closed Inn on summit of Mt. Equinox with new "green" Visitors Center
  • Representation of The Stratton Corporation in various environmental permit matters since 1996, including its successful Act 250 Resort Master Plan proceedings
  • Represent City of Barre in Act 250 application process for reconstruction of North Main Street
  • Obtain Act 250 permit for major gravel pit operation in the town of Newbury
  • Obtain Act 250 permit for major quarry expansion in the town of Bradford
  • Special Counsel for town on land use permit matters

State and Federal Agency Permitting

  • Representation of a hydro-utility in resolving significant dispute with the Agency of Natural Resources under Federal FERC license (Water Quality Certificate)

Resolution of Environmental Enforcement Cases

  • Coordinate settlement of Act 250 permit violations and obtain Act 250 permits for multiple gravel pits on a large farm
  • Resolution of environmental enforcement matter related to a large dairy farm for stream alteration and similar co-applicants and prospective purchaser to facilitate continued quarry operation

Zoning Disputes

  • Obtain local zoning permit for gravel pit
  • Resolution of multiple zoning appeals in the Environmental Court

Mediation

  • Mediated resolution of appeals of hydro facility appeal in Environmental Court
  • Mediated resolution of residential subdivision appeals in Environmental Court

Classes/Seminars

  • Adjunct Professor at Vermont Law School (semester course in State & Local Government, semester course in Legislation, and a summer land use course, early 1990s)
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Vermont School of Natural Resources (environmental policy, Lake Champlain, 1989, early 1990s)

Honors and Awards:

  • Best Lawyers in America Environmental Law
  • The Chambers USA Guide Leading Lawyers for Business (zoning and land use)

Professional Associations and Memberships:

  • Vermont Bar Association – Environmental Law Section
  • Washington County Bar Association

Pro bono activities:

  • Vice chair of the Development Review Board for the town of Calais
  • President of the Board of Trustees for the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont