Tad Macfarlan is a partner in the firm's environment, land and natural resources practice group. Tad’s practice focuses on the environmental aspects of project development, transactional, litigation and government enforcement matters (both civil and criminal). His clients include developers and operators of utility-scale wind and solar projects; shale gas production, transmission, processing and electric generation facilities; water and wastewater utilities; non-coal mines; manufacturing and industrial facilities; and financial entities holding or acquiring an interest in such facilities. Tad has extensive experience with the regulatory regimes governing wetland and stream protection; wastewater and stormwater discharges; water withdrawals; hazardous wastes and materials; air emissions (including greenhouse gases); threatened and endangered species; cultural resources and historic properties; and local land use and zoning requirements. He is also a co-editor of the firm’s Carbon Quarterly publication.
Prior to joining K&L Gates, Tad was a law clerk for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III Office of Regional Counsel. He also worked as a legal intern for the National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Regional Center.
- The Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch” - Energy Law (2021-2022), Environmental Law (2022), and Land Use and Zoning Law (2021-2023)
- American Bar Association, Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources (Vice Chair of Constitutional Law Committee, 2017-2021)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Environmental and Energy Law Section
- Dauphin County Bar Association
- Agency Regulation After West Virginia v. EPA: Climate Change, Major Questions Doctrine, Future of Chevron, Strafford Webinars, 27 September 2022
- Crypto Mining Energy and Environmental Policy Developments, Bank of America Virtual Crypto Mining Conference, 29 September 2022
- Endangered Species Act Update, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), 22 June 2022
- Environmental Justice: What You Need to Know About Recent State and Federal Policy Updates, 2022 Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association (PAPA) Environmental Seminar, 13 April 2022
- Waters of the United States (WOTUS): Current Status and the Path Ahead, Strafford Webinars, 28 September 2021
- Preparing for Change: Federal and State Environmental Law, Policy and Enforcement, 2021 PAPA Environmental Webinar, 14 April 2021
- Hot Topics in Water Law and Regulation, 2020 Annual Environmental Conference, PA Chamber of Business and Industry, 28 October 2020
- EPA’s New Navigable Waters Protection Rule: Taking Advantage of a Reduced Federal Role, Strafford Webinars, 6 May 2020
- Current Issues Under the Clean Water Act, Halfmoon Education, Pennsylvania Water Laws and Regulations Seminar, 2 February 2020
- Environmental and Local Permitting Process for Energy Generation Projects, Halfmoon Education, Issues in Pennsylvania Energy and Electric Utility Regulation Seminar, 15 January 2020
- MS4s and Stormwater Fees: Emerging Challenges, 2019 Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) Annual Meeting, 14 November 2019
- Waters of the United States – Recent Actions and What’s Next, National Water Supply Alliance 2019 Annual Meeting, 3 October 2019
- Environmental Enforcement Actions and Company Response, 2019 PAPA Environmental Seminar, 9 April 2019
- Air Update: State and Federal Regulatory Developments Impacting the Oil and Gas Midstream Sector in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Pipeline & Midstream Update 2018, 7 November 2018
- Energy Production: Potential Water Supply and Quality Issues, Halfmoon Education Water Laws and Regulations Seminar, 20 February 2018
- Current Issues with the Clean Water Act, Halfmoon Education Water Laws and Regulations Seminar, 20 February 2018
- Water Issues Update, Environmental Compliance Issues Conference, PA Chamber of Business and Industry, 29 October 2015
- Waters of the U.S.: Key Issues and Implications, Law Seminars International, 11 June 2015
- "Vacatur Of Trump Water Rule Means More Uncertainty Ahead," Law360, 29 September 2021
- Pennsylvania Environmental Law and Practice, Ch. 6 (Wetlands) and Ch. 23 (A Practical Guide to Obtaining Wetland Permits), The Pennsylvania Bar Institute
- Pennsylvania Environmental Laws and Regulations, Ch. 5 (In Depth Guide to PA Water and Wastewater Issues), PA Chamber of Business and Industry
- “Noise Regulation of the Shale Oil & Gas Extraction and Production Industry,” 6th Law of Shale Plays Conference, Institute for Energy Law, Center for American & International Law, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, 10-11 September 2015
