Ward and Smith and Attorneys Shine in 2026 Chambers USA Rankings
June 4, 2026
Ward and Smith has once again been recognized as one of North Carolina’s leading law firms in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA. The…
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WOTUS 2025/2026: The Regulatory Pendulum Swings Again as Agencies Propose New Definitions
February 27, 2026
The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) (together, “Agencies”) have returned with yet another iteration of the definition…
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Navigating Wetlands in Coastal North Carolina Real Estate Development
April 25, 2025
The landscape of coastal real estate development in North Carolina has undergone a seismic shift following major regulatory changes over the last few years.…
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Ward and Smith Attorneys Honored as 2025 Business North Carolina Legal Elites
January 6, 2025
Ward and Smith is proud to announce that 38 of its attorneys have been named to Business North Carolina’s 2025 Legal Elite, a testament to…
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A Year in Review: Ward and Smith’s Most Read Legal Insights in 2024
December 23, 2024
As we prepare to close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the articles that captured the attention of our readers this…
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Ward and Smith Ranked by Best Law Firms® in 2025
November 11, 2024
Ward and Smith has been honored in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. The firm has made its mark in the legal field by being ranked…
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Amy Wang to Moderate Wetlands Panel at the 2024 NC Coastal Conference
October 31, 2024
Environmental law attorney Amy Wang will bring her insights to the North Carolina Sea Grant’s 2024 Coastal Conference on November 13-14 at the Riverfront Convention…
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Due Diligence Demystified: A Must-Attend Panel Discussion Featuring Amy Wang
September 27, 2024
Environmental due diligence doesn’t have to be a daunting task. For those seeking insights and practical advice on navigating environmental risks, join us on Tuesday, October…
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North Carolina Agritourism and Liability Waivers
August 30, 2024
Strengthening the bond between farm and table, agritourism flourishes in North Carolina as both the agribusiness and agriculture sectors buoy the state’s economy with…
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67 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in America for 2025
August 15, 2024
Ward and Smith is pleased to announce that 67 attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers®. Fifty-four attorneys were chosen for inclusion in…
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Our July Focus: Legal Rights, Responsibilies, and Regulations
July 26, 2024
The July theme of Legal Rights, Responsibilities, and Regulations promotes awareness of legal rights, ethical responsibilities, and the regulations that govern our businesses. Defamation…
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From Emerging Compounds to Forever Chemicals – Navigating Evolving Regulation of and Responsibility for PFAS in the Environment
July 19, 2024
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a focal point of regulatory scrutiny nationwide due to their persistent environmental presence and potential health risks.…
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WOTUS Whiplash 4.3: The Revision to the Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”
November 10, 2023
The third major development of 2023 for defining “Waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”) has arrived. First, in early 2023, the United States…
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Ward and Smith Ranked in 2024 “Best Law Firms”
November 2, 2023
Ward and Smith has been ranked in the Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 27 practice areas. Firms included in the 2024 “Best Law Firms”…
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Trespassers? How to Protect Your Farm Against Unwelcome Strangers
October 11, 2023
Discovering unauthorized persons on your farm is a growing problem. Such unauthorized entry could include media news teams filming farm operations, environmental activists seeking…
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52 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for 2024
August 17, 2023
Ward and Smith proudly celebrates an incredible achievement—over half of our esteemed attorneys have gained recognition from one of the nation’s most respected legal…
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Biden Administration Revitalizes and Advances the Federal Government’s Commitment to Environmental Justice
June 16, 2023
On April 21, 2023, the eve of Earth Day, President Biden continued his Administration’s spotlight on environmental justice issues by signing Executive Order 14096,…
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WOTUS Whiplash 4.0: The Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”
April 14, 2023
It’s that song in your head that you can’t stop hearing. On March 20, 2023, the 500-plus page final Revised Definition of “Waters of…
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Final(ly) Adoption by the US EPA of Revised Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries
January 25, 2023
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) adopted an updated standard of practice for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments on December 15, 2022. The…
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Ward and Smith Celebrated in 2023 Edition of Best Law Firms
November 3, 2022
Ward and Smith shines bright in the 2023 edition of “Best Law Firms.” U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® released their annual rankings that recognize…
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Stormwater Permits: Preventing Your Owners Association From Getting Stuck with Unnecessary and Potentially Large Expenses
September 14, 2022
Developers in North Carolina must obtain numerous permits from various governmental agencies before constructing a planned community or developing condominiums. Most construction permits end…
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Media Mention: Amy Wang Reflects on Leadership as Outgoing NCBA Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section Chair
July 7, 2022
Environmental attorney Amy Wang recently wrapped up her one-year term as Chair of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law Section of the North…
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Installation and Use of Solar Power Systems in North Carolina
July 6, 2022
Approximately twenty-five percent of North Carolinians live in a planned community where the restrictive covenants are administered by a homeowners association (“HOA”). If you…
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Environmental Justice 101: Leveling the Playing Field in the Permitting Process
March 2, 2022
The concept of “environmental justice” (or “EJ” among environmental practitioners) is not new. It developed in response to the inordinate number of industrial facilities…
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WOTUS Whiplash
September 22, 2021
The ongoing saga of how to define “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) continues. In this latest installment, we have, in effect, time-traveled back…
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State Stormwater Program Amendments Significant for Those Affected by Post Construction Stormwater Permits
September 16, 2021
Extensive changes to North Carolina’s stormwater runoff statute went into effect on September 16,2021 as part of Session Law 2021-158. The Stormwater Program amendments are embedded…
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Amy Wang Appointed Chair of NCBA’s Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Law Section
June 14, 2021
Environmental attorney Amy Wang has been appointed the Chair of the Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA). She was…
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NCCF Releases Innovative Nature-based Stormwater Strategy Report
March 5, 2021
The North Carolina Coastal Federation has released a new “Action Plan for Nature-based Stormwater Strategies” that will serve both as a blueprint for future…
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WOTUS Encore: The Fate of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and Implications for Groundwater
February 5, 2021
It seems like yesterday, but it was actually last summer when the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers published the…
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Congressman Mike McIntyre Joins Ward and Smith
September 21, 2020
With close to 40 years of legal and business experience and nearly 20 years as a public servant, Ward and Smith is honored to…
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41 Ward and Smith Attorneys Named to “Best Lawyers in America®” for 2021
August 20, 2020
Ward and Smith is proud to announce that nearly half of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by one of the most respected and trusted…
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Amy Wang Appointed Vice-Chair of NCBA’s Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource Law Section
July 2, 2020
Environmental attorney Amy Wang is taking on another leadership role in the North Carolina Bar Association’s Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Law Section. The…
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Replacing the Clean Water Rule – Is the Dance Really Over?
May 11, 2020
On April 21, 2020, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) completed step two of the two-step “repeal…
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Environmental Enforcement Discretion Guidance from U.S. EPA for COVID-19 Disruptions
March 31, 2020
On Thursday, March 26, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published guidance for how it will enforce environmental legal obligations during the COVID-19…
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EPA Can Help You Keep It Clean in a World with COVID-19
March 16, 2020
Virus-killing myths, like gargling salt water, are floating around as fast as toilet paper has flown off the grocery store shelves. When those shelves…
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The Longest Dance – The WOTUS Two-Step
October 23, 2019
We are on the eve of a new regulatory definition of “waters of the United States” for the Clean Water Act. The United States…
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Will the Supreme Court Plug the Holes in Conduit Theory to Draw Clean Water Act Away from Groundwater?
March 1, 2019
The United States Supreme Court will hear a case this term to decide whether provisions of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) impose liability on…
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Brownfields Redevelopment Receives Boost Under the BUILD Act
February 15, 2019
Redevelopment of environmentally-damaged property has seen steady growth in North Carolina and nationwide. The attraction to dense, urban communities offering work/live/play opportunities and away…
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New Coastal Stormwater Program Variances May Benefit Community Associations
October 19, 2018
In the latest version of what appears to be an annual exercise, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a regulatory reform bill over the…
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Special Bulletin: Gov. Cooper Signs Hurricane Relief Package into Law
October 17, 2018
On Monday, October 15, the North Carolina General Assembly voted during a Special Session to approve Senate Bill 3, which appropriated an unprecedented $794…
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Adam Beaudoin and Amy Wang to Speak at Alliance of Brunswick County POA Meeting
October 15, 2018
Community association attorney Adam Beaudoin and environmental attorney Amy Wang have been invited to speak at the Alliance of Brunswick County Property Owners Association…
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Hurricane Florence – Emergency CAMA Permits Available
October 1, 2018
It’s been two weeks since the full force of Hurricane Florence squarely hit the eastern North Carolina coast from New Bern to Wilmington and…
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The Reach of the Clean Water Act Takes a Dive into Groundwater
September 7, 2018
Can the law that protects the quality of the nation’s waters seep into groundwater below the surface? According to the United States Court of…
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Pre-Closing Due Diligence with Commercial Real Estate Helps Avoid Post-Closing Remorse
July 25, 2018
Your business has taken off, and you’ve been searching for that perfect 7,500 square foot building on an acre of land close to town,…
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Amy Wang to Moderate Panel at First Multi-State Environmental CLE
May 9, 2018
A big change is coming to this year’s Environment, Energy, & Natural Resources Law Section Annual Meeting and CLE Program in Asheville. It will…
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The 2018 North Carolina Chamber Environmental Compliance Conference
March 7, 2018
The North Carolina Chamber hosted its annual Environmental Compliance Conference on February 1, 2018, in Durham. North Carolina leaders were on hand to provide…
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Muddy Waters: Stormwater Permits Not Meant to Control Flooding or Flood Losses
January 17, 2018
Those living in communities subject to North Carolina Stormwater Permits or local stormwater management easement agreements are increasingly alarmed as rainy weather, even without…
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NC Oyster and Marine Aquaculture Makes a Splash
October 31, 2017
North Carolina is prioritizing the marine fisheries and oyster industries to provide growth opportunities for non-urban coastal communities. Activities in the North Carolina House…
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The Long Goodbye: General Assembly’s 2017 Long Session Ends, But Additional Fall Sessions Remain
July 10, 2017
In the early morning hours of June 30th, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned its 2017 Long Session after a lengthy night of debate,…
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“Waters of the United States” – Will Rewrite of the Clean Water Rule Bring Elusive Clarity and Predictability?
June 13, 2017
Sixteen months after the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit entered its Order halting application of the 2015 Clean Water Rule…
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New Stormwater Rules Effective January 1, 2017
January 23, 2017
Stormwater management is a concern across the country. The United States Environmental Protection Agency renewed municipal stormwater as one of its National Enforcement Initiatives. …
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Wet Weather Regulations Now More Expensive Under EPA’s Industrial Stormwater Settlement Penalty Policy
November 28, 2016
Heavy and consistent rainfall this summer, even before Tropical Storms Hermine and Julia and Hurricane Matthew, produced a tremendous amount of stormwater. Grass swales…
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Just Compensation for Contaminated Land
November 14, 2016
When a government agency or private party involuntarily takes your property (a proceeding called eminent domain or condemnation), you are entitled to receive “just compensation”…
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Hurricane Matthew – Emergency Permits After North Carolina State of Emergency
October 5, 2016
UPDATE 10/12/16 Coastal property owners who need to replace docks, piers, bulkheads, or similar structures damaged by Hurricane Matthew along sounds, rivers, and creeks…
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Municipalities, Farmers, and Manufacturers Targeted by EPA’s New Enforcement Initiatives
June 2, 2016
Municipalities and those involved in animal feeding and food manufacturing operations take heed: heightened EPA scrutiny is coming your way! Every three years, the…
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Stormwater Rules Get Another Facelift
April 15, 2016
On February 15, 2016, the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (“EMC”) published proposed changes to various stormwater rules. The public hearing process is currently…
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Clean Water Rule: All Washed Up for Now
October 9, 2015
On Friday, October 9, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an Order halting the application of the new…
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Is The New Clean Water Rule A Cleaner Way To Predict Federal Jurisdiction Over Property Or Does It Just Muddy The Waters?
September 14, 2015
Introduction On August 28, 2015, a new rule issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the Army Corps of Engineers (the…
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Fracking—One Step Closer To Reality In North Carolina
January 5, 2015
The North Carolina Rules Review Commission (“RRC”) recently approved 107 new rules proposed by the state’s Mining and Energy Commission, putting North Carolina one…
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Fracking Movement in North Carolina: What Landowners Need to Know about the Energy Modernization Act
June 11, 2014
On June 4, 2014, Governor Pat McCrory signed into law a bill that will allow permits to be issued in North Carolina for gas…
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More Appropriate Inquiries
January 22, 2014
A new standard practice for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments was adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency on December 30, 2013, adding more refined…
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Here Comes the Sun – And It’s Alright (As Long as You Have a Good Solar Lease)
January 30, 2013
The North Carolina General Assembly is requiring North Carolina utilities to purchase energy from renewable sources. The hot sun beating on you and your…
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SPECIAL BULLETIN: Complicating Issues Buffet North Carolina’s Wind Energy Projects
April 19, 2012
Just a few short years ago, the prospects for wind energy projects in North Carolina seemed extremely bright. With the strongest offshore wind resources…
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Transfer of Stormwater Permits from Developers to Community Associations: Why “Just Say No” No Longer Works
November 14, 2011
Special Bulletin For the past several years, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (“DENR”) has had a policy of transferring stormwater…
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Seeing Red in Green Building Issues
June 13, 2011
Green building, the use of construction processes that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout a building’s life cycle, has become a big business. …
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The Redevelopment of Environmentally Damaged Property — A Less Expensive Way to Relocate or Grow
August 17, 2010
As part of your plans to expand your growing commercial business, you have found an abandoned building that is perfect for your needs. However,…
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North Carolina Environmental Agency Agrees That Banks and Other Lenders Have No Liability for Underground Storage Tanks — But…!
February 16, 2010
Special Bulletin You are a bank or other lender (collectively referred to herein as “Banks”) and are contemplating foreclosing on a property containing underground…
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EPA’s New Construction Stormwater Regulations Impose National Monitoring Requirements
December 16, 2009
Special Bulletin On December 1, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published its new standards and regulations for stormwater discharges by the construction…
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It’s Good to be Green…and Silver, and Gold, and Platinum
June 23, 2009
Building “green” is the practice of using sustainable design and development techniques to create or renovate structures in an environmentally responsible manner by integrating…
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How “Green” Can You Go?
February 4, 2009
Socially-conscious and responsible companies such as those that inhabit the tech world are working hard to make certain that their manufacturing processes and buildings…
