Service Areas
- Business
- Energy, Environmental + Regulatory
- Governments + Nonprofits
- Energy, Environmental + Regulatory
Education
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D.
- Michigan State University, B.S.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Paul M. Collins counsels clients in a variety of environmental and regulatory areas including permitting, compliance, enforcement, administrative proceedings, litigation, and citizen/third-party complaints.
During his previous experience with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Paul served as the primary author of many of Michigan's air permit regulations. While state liaison to EPA Region 5, he gained extensive knowledge and insight into Michigan's air quality construction and operating permitting programs, regulations, and staff.
Paul has represented electric utilities in proceedings before courts and administrative agencies involving emission trading credits and greenhouse gases. He also has assisted natural gas and electric utility clients in a variety of rate related proceedings before the Michigan Public Service Commission. Paul’s institutional knowledge of Michigan's environmental programs and experience with utility rate regulations allows him to provide unique insight into the cost recovery implications of environmental law and vice versa.
Experience
Emissions Trading
Helped a client obtain a favorable determination from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment regarding its implementation of a new emissions credit trading program and helped defend this determination in subsequent litigation.
Utility Ratemaking
Helped natural gas and electric utilities in a variety of proceedings before the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Representative Matters
- Manufacturing Company Compliance Counseling + Enforcement Negotiating
Helped a steel manufacturer assess the requirements of new federal standards for hazardous air pollutants and use the state’s air permit program to achieve a variance.
- Utility Company Compliance Counseling + Enforcement Negotiating
Created a strategy for a natural gas pipeline company to avoid Clean Air Act operating permit applicability while negotiating a favorable settlement with the state air pollution control agency.
- Utility Company Permitting
Helped an electric utility obtain a New Source Review construction permit for a $2 billion coal-fired power plan and defended the permit against citizen suits.
Professional Activities
- State Bar of Michigan
- Ingham Bar Association
- Air & Waste Management Association, East and West Michigan Chapters
Honors + Awards
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, summa cum laude; Law Review; Merit Scholarship; Raymond Burr Scholarship; Shane Joseph Scholarship; Phi Kappa Delta Award; Honor Roll & Dean's List; Student Bar Association Senator; Certificates of Merit in: Environmental Law, State Administrative Law, Taxation, Product Liability, Advanced Research & Writing, Advanced Writing, Secured Transactions, Intellectual Property, Federal Administrative Law, Torts I&II, Property I&II, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Professional Responsibility, Constitutional Law I&II, Evidence
- State of Michigan Licensed Professional Engineer
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- Michigan Manufacturers Association, Air Quality Committee
Seminars + Events
- International Climate Law and Policy Symposium
- The Future Is Now - Regulation of Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act
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