Charles Haws concentrates his practice in environmental, real estate, municipal law and food & agribusiness. He provides environmental counseling services on a full range of environmental issues to the firm’s municipal, industrial, and real estate development clients. He assists municipal clients on environmental compliance and permitting matters, both as permittees and with respect to development within their jurisdiction. He works with real estate development clients in issues from due diligence through final land development approval.

Charles counsels clients on all aspects of mineral resource issues, including oil and gas leasing, coal, industrial minerals and bluestone mining, as well as alternative energy projects including wind energy and biofuels projects.  His regulatory background allows thorough representation from negotiation of agreements, permitting and compliance issues, and litigation at local, state, and federal level.

Food & Agribusiness

• He has represented a client in the acquisition of a food processing/residual waste processing facility, including the transfer of all necessary permits and authorizations.
• While at DEP, he handled enforcement actions involving improper storage and disposal of food processing waste.
• He has represented farming clients on enforcement actions and third party appeals involving E&S, NPDES and nutrient management issues.
• He represented farming clients on alternative energy projects including solar systems and biomass power generation.

Prior to joining Barley Snyder, he spent nine years with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Chief Counsel, where he provided litigation and regulatory counseling services to a broad range of programs. He worked closely with public water supply management, coal and industrial mineral mining, waste management, environmental cleanup, emergency response, water quality and laboratory accreditation. He provided counseling to these programs on permitting and regulatory compliance, negotiating compliance, penalty and permitting agreements. He also handled a wide range of appeals and enforcement actions with the Environmental Hearing Board, Commonwealth Court, Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Courts of Common Pleas throughout the state.