Cynthia L. Taub is of counsel at Steptoe, where she is a member of the Litigation and Regulatory & Industry Affairs Departments. Since joining Steptoe in 1994, Ms. Taub’s practice has encompassed a wide range of environmental regulatory issues, with an emphasis on pesticide and hazardous chemical regulation and the National Environmental Policy Act.

National Environmental Policy Act
Ms. Taub has been actively involved in the development of NEPA compliance strategies for clients, including working with consultants and agencies in the preparation of environmental impact statements. She has helped counsel clients on the integration of the NEPA review process with other statutory requirements, including the ESA, Clean Water Act Section 404 permits, and the National Historical Preservation Act. In addition, Ms. Taub has been involved in the litigation of several NEPA cases, both at the district court and appellate levels.

Endangered Species Act
Ms. Taub assists clients with ESA compliance for development projects, including the preparation of biological assessments and habitat conservation plans. She handles Section 7 consultations for clients, and well as Section 10 incidental take permits. She also assists clients with related statutes, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Ms. Taub has also litigated several ESA cases.

Appellate Litigation
Ms. Taub's experience in appellate litigation includes an appeal of a ground-breaking CERCLA case in the Second Circuit, challenging federal regulations and other agency actions in the DC Circuit, multiple NEPA and ESA appeals, and drafting amicus briefs and certiorari petitions for the US Supreme Court.

Pesticide & Hazardous Chemical Regulation
In the area of pesticide regulation, Ms. Taub's practice includes compliance counseling, regulatory development, judicial challenges to EPA decisions, and handling administrative and enforcement actions. Ms. Taub’s pesticide practice involves frequent interaction with the US EPA and state agencies, particularly with regard to antimicrobial pesticides. She also advises on and has handled data compensation disputes. In the area of hazardous chemical regulation, Ms. Taub counsels clients on TSCA, RCRA, CERCLA, and DOT HazMat compliance. She has successfully petitioned DOT for HazMat exemptions and EPA and state agencies for other types of waivers and variances. She also handles commenting on hazardous chemical regulations for clients, and has successfully challenged regulations in federal court.