Tyler L. Burgess | People | Arnold & Porter

Tyler Burgess focuses on navigating complex environmental disputes, including litigation in federal and state courts related to toxic torts, civil and criminal government enforcement actions, regulatory compliance issues, and challenges to rulemakings. With a robust scientific background, Tyler counsels on PFAS, emerging compounds, and other technical matters. Tyler has experience practicing under a range of federal statutes and state analogs, including the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Clean Air Act.

Before starting in private practice, Tyler was an honors trial attorney in the Natural Resources Section of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). At the DOJ, she defended federal agencies' decisions under NEPA as well as public lands, natural resources, and transportation funding laws. Tyler was twice awarded the Outstanding Performance Award for her work defending environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects.

Prior to law school, Tyler worked as an environmental consultant conducting wetland delineations and endangered species evaluations, designing mitigation plans, modeling climate change impacts, drafting NEPA documents, and securing environmental permits from federal, state, and local agencies. In addition, Tyler evaluated contaminated sites for potential inclusion on the National Priorities List under CERCLA.

Focus Areas

Experience

Honeywell International in actions seeking contribution from oil companies for natural resource damages and cleanup costs for the remediation of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York.
Chemours in toxic tort lawsuits brought by water utilities and homeowners alleging contamination of drinking water and a lawsuit by the state Attorney General alleging natural resource damages from perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) at the company's facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Renewable fuels manufacturer in petition for review of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Renewable Fuel Standard program rules.
Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority in dispute with Amtrak over rail corridor usage rights and property interests in the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak v. SEPTA, No. 1:19-cv-537 (D.D.C.).

Oil and gas exploration and production company on federal and state regulatory and permitting issues in response to oil spill off the coast of California.
Oil refinery in negotiating settlements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the Philadelphia Air Management Services to resolve alleged violations of environmental laws following an explosion at the facility.
Major energy company on Federal Railroad Administration's Part 213 track safety regulations for plant rail lines.
Oil and gas exploration and production company in negotiating a Consent Agreement and Final Order with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding alleged violations of the Clean Air Act relating to methane leaks and the company's leak detection and repair program.
Commercial real estate company in evaluating the effect of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act on extending the lease for a retail shopping center.

Tire distributor on starting a scrap tire recycling program in numerous states.
Metal and plastic container manufacturer in overseeing remediation of a contaminated manufacturing facility under a settlement agreement with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

Global private equity firm in analyzing environmental regulatory framework, California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program applicability, and Section 45Q tax incentives for investment in carbon sequestration hub and direct air capture company.
Battery manufacturing company in environmental due diligence review and securing air permit for construction of lithium-ion-battery plant for electric vehicle batteries.
Major energy company CEO in hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform addressing climate change and environmental justice issues.
Oil and gas companies in responding to inquiry from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology regarding methane leak detection and repair programs.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in challenge by environmental group to FTA's environmental impact statement and grant agreement for the 16‐mile Purple Line light rail project in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, Maryland. Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail v. FTA, Nos. 1:14‐cv‐1471 (D.D.C.) and 1:17‐cv‐1811 (D.D.C.).
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in fifteen cases in seven jurisdictions filed by industry, government, and environmental plaintiffs challenging the agencies' decisions implementing protections for the greater sage‐grouse. Otter v. Jewell, No. 1:15‐cv‐1566 (D.D.C.) and related cases.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Fifth Amendment takings challenge brought by developer for a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit denial when the proposed development did not constitute the Least Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA) due to impacts to mangroves and manatees. Lemon Bay Cove, LLC v. United States, No. 1:17-cv-436 (Fed. Cl.).
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in challenges by business owners and community members to FTA's authorization of a bus rapid transit project on Route 66 in downtown Albuquerque. Mew Mexico. Coalition to Make Art Smart v. FTA, No. 1:16‐cv‐252 (D.N.M.); Bautista v. FTA, No. 1:16‐cv‐354 (D.N.M.).
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in challenges by homeowner's associations and Tribe challenging FHWA's authorization of the South Mountain Freeway extension of Interstate 10 in Phoenix. Protecting Arizona's Resources and Children v. FHWA, No. 2:15-cv-893 (D. Ariz.); Gila River Indian Community v. FHWA, No. 2:15-cv-1219 (D. Ariz.).

U.S. Forest Service in challenge by environmental group to the agency's grant of a special use permit allowing for Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline to cross the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Cadillac, Michigan. Sierra Club v. USFS, No. 1:15-cv-10154 (E.D. Mich.).
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in challenge to the Smokey Fuels Project on the Mendocino National Forest regarding impacts on the Northern spotted owl, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Conservation Congress v. USFS, No. 2:13-cv-1977 (E.D. Cal.).
U.S. Surface Transportation Board in certified class action consisting of over 350 landowners adjacent to a rail corridor in King County, Washington alleging Fifth Amendment takings of rail corridor easements and other property rights for trail use under the National Trails System Act. Haggart v. United States, No. 1:09‐cv‐103 (Fed. Cl.).

Perspectives

February 14, 2025

Trump Administration, Federal Circuit Set to Jumpstart Investments in Nuclear Energy

Environmental Edge: Climate Change & Regulatory Insights

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 91 Arnold & Porter Lawyers, Names Three as "Lawyers of the Year" and 80 as "Ones to Watch"

December 14, 2023

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Implications of Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Qualification Certification Improvement Rule for Tribal Nations

Speaker, American Bar Association’s Community Conversation

October 5, 2023

Environmental, Social, Governance: The Professional's Guide to the Law and Practice of ESG

November 2, 2022

Clean Water Act

CCUS Projects & Environmental Law: The US Regulatory Landscape Affecting CCUS, EUCI

More

Recognition

Best Lawyers

"Ones to Watch" Environmental Law (Washington, D.C.) (2021-2025)

Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

(2019-2021, 2023)

North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society

(2019-2023)

Credentials

Education

J.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, with honors
M.S., Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University
B.S., Forest Resources, University of Washington

Admissions

District of Columbia
California
North Carolina

Government & Military Service

Honors Trial Attorney, Natural Resources Section, U.S. Department of Justice

Activities

Co-Chair, Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources, Water Quality and Wetlands Committee, American Bar Association (2024-2025)
Vice Chair, Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources, Water Quality and Wetlands Committee, American Bar Association (2022-2023)
White House Council on Environmental Quality Federal Interagency Working Group (2017-2018)