Adam Stolorow - Sive Paget Riesel

Adam is an experienced litigator specializing in environmental, land use, regulatory and municipal law. He represents private parties, municipalities and government agencies in a wide range of issues including the environmental review of development projects under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), compliance and resolution of environmental enforcement matters before federal, state, and local agencies, zoning challenges, redevelopment of brownfield properties and site remediation. His work on Superfund cases includes the representation of a multi-national corporation at a complex contaminated sediment site and the representation of a Native American nation as trustee for natural resource damages claims.

As a founding Board member of the NYC Climate Action Alliance, Adam is committed to finding environmental solutions that help the City achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent and offsetting remaining emissions to achieve a carbon-neutral NYC by 2050.

Prior to joining SPR in 2011, Adam served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Environmental Law Division of the New York City Law Department, where he defended the City’s initiative to “green” its yellow taxi fleet against claims of preemption under the Clean Air Act, brought litigation to defend the City’s watershed, and defended City infrastructure projects in cases involving SEQRA and the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), the use of City parkland, and eminent domain. Before attending law school, Adam served as the statewide volunteer coordinator and aide to then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama, and as a communications officer in the United States Army Signal Corps.

Chambers and Partners USA, Ranked “Up and Coming” Environmental Lawyer

City Point

Location: Brooklyn, NY

On behalf of project developers, SPR obtained dismissal of claims in New York County Supreme Court brought under the State Environmental Quality Review Act to challenge the mixed-use City Point project in Downtown Brooklyn by community group and labor unions on statute of limitations and standing grounds. SPR also advised the developer with respect to subsequent environmental review of project modifications.

The Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge

Location: Westchester County, NY

Sive, Paget & Riesel represented the New York State Thruway Authority, which together with the Metro North Railroad, a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, undertook the Tappan Zee Bridge/I287 Corridor environmental review. This process addressed the possible replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The Firm advised the Project Sponsors with regard to the environmental review of the proposal pursuant to both NEPA and SEQRA, as well as to environmental permitting and related requirements.

Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival

Location: Garrison, NY

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF), a critically acclaimed nonprofit theater organization, has proposed to build a new permanent theater overlooking the Hudson River in Garrison, New York. The project is designed to be the first purpose-built LEED Platinum certified theater in the United States. In 2023 HVSF was awarded a $10 million grant from the New York State Council of the Arts to help build their new theater. SPR is guiding the project through the process of environmental impact review, local land use approvals, a proposed zoning amendment, and review of construction contracts.

Indian Hill Park Conservancy

Location: Bedford, NY

SPR successfully opposed a proposal to construct a new cellular tower in Indian Hill Park that would have required the construction of a half-mile access road through pristine forested parkland and the potential destruction of Native American ceremonial stone landscapes.

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.

Village of Mamaroneck – Ethics Code

Location: Mamaroneck, NY

SPR served as special counsel to the Mayor of the Village of Mamaroneck during a disciplinary hearing to determine whether a member of the Village Planning Board who had been found to have violated the Village Code of Ethics should be removed from her appointed position. Subsequently, SPR successfully defended the Village Board of Trustees in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the provisions of the Village Code of Ethics that were at issue in the disciplinary hearing.

Tuscarora Nation – Buffalo River NRD

Location: Buffalo, NY

SPR represented the Tuscarora Nation, who served as a trustee alongside the State of New York and the federal government, in long-running negotiations with companies responsible for the contamination of the Buffalo River. The historical contamination of the river had for many decades prevented the Tuscarora people from using the river for traditional cultural activities. Along with land and funds for restoration projects along the river, the CERCLA natural resource damages (NRD) settlement included funds to support the Tuscarora Nation in efforts to preserve its language and promote ecological initiatives to reconnect Tuscarora people with the land.

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.

“The CERCLA Consent Order/Decree Templates Are Not Designed to Address Adaptive Management, So Do They Restrict Creativity?”

For: 2023 Sediment Workshop - EHS Support

October 2023 | Panelist Adam Stolorow

The No Interruptions Podcast – Climate Change Initiatives

For: Mike Gallagher Podcast

July 2023 | Podcast Guest Adam Stolorow

“Local Law 154 Pulls the Plug on Fossil Fuels in New Buildings: Is New York City Ready for Its All-Electric Future?”

For: 33 Environmental Law in New York 169

October 2022 | Written by Adam Stolorow (and Evan Preminger)

“Affordable Housing and Climate Mitigation in New York City: Compliance and Financing Options for Building Owners Under Local Laws 97 and 116″

For: 32 Environmental Law in New York 19

February 2021 | Written by Adam Stolorow and Alexis Saba

“Landlord & Tenant Cooperation for Energy Efficiency” (Local Law 97)

For: IFMA NYC and CoreNet Global NYC,

August 2020 | Panelist Adam Stolorow

“Environmental Racism and the Path to a Sustainable New York City”

For: Sick Empire Podcast Guest

June 2020 | Presented by Adam Stolorow

“OK, Climate Change: Generations Unite to Take Action”

For: CIRKLE

December 2019 | Moderator Adam Stolorow

“NYC Laws and Leases: What Can Be Done to Protect Tenants” (Local Law 97)

For: International Facility Management Association

November 2019 | Presented by Adam Stolorow

“She Blinded Me with Science: New Technology as a Tool in Environmental Cases”

For: CLE panel chair, NYSBA

September 2019 | Presented by Adam Stolorow

“Highlights of NYC’s Building Emissions Law”

For: Environmental Law Network Webinar

August 2019 | Presented by Adam Stolorow

“How NYC Building Owners Will Cash In on the New Environmental Standards”

For: Queens Chamber of Commerce panelist on NYC Local Law 97

July 2019 | Presented by Adam Stolorow

“SEQR: 2017 Proposed SEQR Amendments”

For: CLE Panelist, NYSBA

October 2017 | Panelist Adam Stolorow

“The Environmental Lawyer’s Role in an Environmental Crisis”

For: The New York Environmental Lawyer

Fall 2016 | Written by Adam Stolorow

“Greening the Yellow Taxi Fleet”

For: City University of New York

November 2010 | Presented by Adam Stolorow

“Federal Preemption of State and Local Environmental Initiatives: The Latest Battles”

For: ABA teleconference panelist

December 2009 | Panelist Adam Stolorow

NYC Department of Buildings Releases Proposed Local Law 97 Regulations

On October 6, 2022, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) issued proposed regulations to implement Local Law 97 of 2019 (LL97). LL97 requires most large buildings in NYC to meet increasingly stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions limits starting in 2024. The proposed ...

NYC’s Natural Gas Ban Intends to Speed Up Building Electrification

In the waning days of its 2021 legislative session, the New York City Council passed a new law limiting the use of carbon intensive fuels in future building construction. Passed by the City Council on December 15 and signed by outgoing Mayor Bill De Blasio on December 22, Read More

NYC Department of Buildings Issues New Guidance on Local Law 97 Adjustment Applications

On Friday April 9, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) issued its first Local Law 97 Adjustments Application Filing Guide. DOB began accepting adjustment applications on April 12, 2021 via its Read More

New York State Proposes Specific Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets for 2030 and 2050

The New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 (CLCPA) requires statewide reductions of greenhouse gas emissions of 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050, as compared to 1990 levels, in order to help slow the rate of global climate change. The CLCPA directed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) ...

U.S. Supreme Court’s Latest CERCLA Decision Could Mean a Tangle for Future Litigation

On April 20^th, 2020, the United States Supreme Court held in Atlantic Richfield Co. v. Christian that the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) does not prevent state courts from hearing state law ...

David Paget’s Life and Career Featured in Super Lawyers Article

Super Lawyers magazine’s October 2017 issue features an in-depth profile of SPR founding partner David Paget. The article traces David’s steps from his childhood days growing up in the Lillian Wald Houses on the Lower East Side, to ...

Adam
Stolorow

Principal