Penny represents clients on a broad range of environmental and administrative law issues arising under federal and state law, with emphasis on permitting and compliance with the Clean Air Act, water quality and stormwater regulatory development under the Clean Water Act, and reporting under CERCLA and EPCRA. Her clients include electric utilities, oil and natural gas pipeline companies, manufacturing companies and trade associations.

Penny has extensive experience with air permitting including federal and state appeals, drafting comments on administrative rulemakings, advising clients on compliance issues, and negotiating settlements with administrative agencies.

Penny has undertaken significant pro bono work assisting juvenile immigrants in obtaining immigration status.

Before becoming a lawyer, Penny worked as a chemical engineer and health physicist. She has over ten years of nuclear experience at a Department of Energy nuclear weapons facility and commercial nuclear power plant. She was responsible for various aspects of nuclear waste management and radiation protection of workers and the environment.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, The University of Texas School of Law, 2000

MS, Health Physics, Texas A&M University, 1987

BS, Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Tech University, 1986

• Counseled industrial clients in CAA permitting and compliance for coal and gas fired power plants, refineries, chemical processing, and metals processing.
• Counseled clients on EPCRA TRI and EPCRA/CERCLA spill reporting requirements.
• Represented industrial clients in CAA and CWA permit appeals.
• Advised clients on transactional due diligence involving all aspects of environmental liability and compliance.
• Counseled national industry groups on rulemaking and policies under the CWA.
• Represented industry groups in CWA rulemaking appeals. 
• Assisted clients in developing policy for on-site septic system industry in Virginia.

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Health Physics Society, National and Virginia Chapter
• Member, American Academy of Health Physics
• Diplomate, American Board of Health Physics (CHP)

• 2017 Chambers USA Environment Law Firm of the Year

• Outline of RCRA/CERCLA Enforcement Issues and Holdings, Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter, 26th edition