overview

Peter Durning is a seasoned environmental attorney with a focus on water- and wetlands-related matters, including litigation, enforcement defense, land use, and permitting. He has extensive experience in adjudicatory appeals under the Wetlands Protection Act and Chapter 91; hearings before the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; zoning disputes; appellate work; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforcement actions; alternative dispute resolution; solid waste site assignment hearings; zoning cases; citizen suits regarding stormwater discharges; and business and transactional consulting, as well as local, state, and federal permit proceedings and appeals. Additionally, Peter performs environmental due diligence for real estate transactions, development contracts, and corporate transactions.

Public water suppliers are a core element of his client base in the environmental practice, and he also works with high-net-worth individuals, renewable energy facility investors, small businesses, and municipalities. No matter the client, Peter is committed to understanding their goals and translating scientific analysis into practical applications of the law to serve their interests.

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education

J.D., Boston College Law School

B.A., University of Notre Dame

admissions

Massachusetts

honors & awards

Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law (2023, 2024)

The Best Lawyers in America© Lawyer of the Year, Water Law (2024)

The Best Lawyers in America© Best Lawyer, Environmental Law & Water Law (2022-2024)

Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2015-2023)

Chambers USA, Band 3 Massachusetts Environmental Law

memberships

Boston Bar Association: Energy & Environmental Co-Chair (2016-2018); Environmental Litigation Committee Co-Chair (2012-2014)

Environmental Business Council: Member, Solid Waste Management Committee; Former Chair, Water Resources Committee

speaking engagements

“PFAS Litigation Update: Exploring the Range of Potential PFAS Claims in Massachusetts”, Speaker, Boston Bar Association Webinar, May 2023

“Regional and National Trends in the C&D Industry”, Panel Moderator, EBC 17th Annual Construction and Demolition Materials Management Summit, January 2023

“PFAS Series Part II – PFAS in Drinking Water and Wastewater”, Co-Chair and Moderator, EBC Water Resources Webinar, December 2022

“PFAS Series Part I – PFAS in Solid Waste”, Co-Chair and Moderator, Environmental Business Council Solid Waste Management Webinar, November 2022

“Environmental Due Diligence”, Speaker, Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association’s Revitalizing New England: Brownfields Summit, May 2022

Speaker, Environmental Business Council’s Environmental Justice Panel, October 2021

“PFAS in Drinking Water – Legal Liability Issues for Water Suppliers”, Speaker, EBC Emerging Contaminants Webinar: PFAS Legal Issues – What Do We Need to be Aware of?, May 2021

Co-Chair and Moderator, Annual Programs with the MassDEP Water Resources Leadership, 2020-2021

Co-Chair and Moderator, Annual Programs with the Massachusetts Solid Waste Section Chiefs, 2018-2021