Philip (Chip) Ahrens has concentrated his practice on environmental matters almost exclusively since 1977 with extensive experience over the entire range of environmental law. Chip represents clients before state, federal and local agencies on a variety of environmental issues, concentrating primarily on counseling clients on significant permitting and enforcement matters before the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Land Use Regulation Commission. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in many of the most significant environmental licensing proceedings in Maine during the past 34 years. Chip also regularly represents clients before the Maine Legislature and its numerous committees, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Prior to joining Pierce Atwood as a partner in 1990, Chip spent twelve years in the Natural Resources Division of the Maine Attorney General's Office as Deputy Attorney General and Division Chief. While in the Attorney General's Office, he supervised the State's environmental enforcement efforts and litigated major cases in all areas of the State's environmental laws. He also provided legal advice and representation to the State's environmental agencies, the Governor's Office and the Legislature where he helped draft or review many of the State's environmental laws and regulations.
Recent Experience
- Representing a new major spring water bottling facility and numerous satellite spring water sources
- Representing several grid-scale wind energy projects
- A large development proposed in the unorganized portion of the State that will result in the creation of a conservation easement covering more than 380,000 acres
- Development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility
- Counseling clients regarding local, state and federal permitting requirements for a variety of developments in Maine
Honors & Distinctions
Chip is a member of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, having been invited to join its inaugural class. He has been listed in
The Best Lawyers in America every year since 1995 for both environmental law and natural resources law.
Chip continues to be recognized as a leader in environmental law in Maine in
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and has been named one of LawDragon 3000 leading lawyers in America. Chip has a long-standing AV® rating in
Martindale-Hubbell.
Professional Activities
Member, American Bar Association (Vice-Chair, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Committee on State and Regional Environmental Cooperation, 1993-2010
Member, Maine Bar Association (Chair, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Section, 1991-1996)
Publications
Maine Environmental and Land Use Statutes Deskbook, editor and co-author, 11th edition (2010) (editor and co-author of all editions beginning with the 1st edition in 1991)
Numerous publications on many topics on environmental law, including land use, wetlands, solid waste, environmental enforcement and water law
Civic Activities
Baxter State Park, Advisory Committee and/or Scientific Forestry Management Area Committee, 1991-present
Member, The Nature Conservancy (Maine Chapter) Corporate Conservation Council, 1995-present
Board of Trustees, Wolfe's Neck Farm Foundation, 2008-present
Board of Trustees, Yarmouth Historical Society, 2008-2010
Member, Transition Advisory Team to Governor Angus King, 1994