Maia D. Bellon
PARTNER
Olympia
Direct Line: (360) 528-3028
[email protected]
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Maia advises Tribal government, municipal, and private clients on a wide array of complex environmental matters, including climate and energy policy, air quality, water resources, toxics cleanup, water quality, and Tribal law.
Prior to joining Cascadia, Maia was Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology where she managed a staff of 1,700 employees and a biennial budget of $2.3 billion. Maia previously served as the Deputy and Program Manager of Ecology’s Water Resources Program regulating the state’s freshwater resources and overseeing Ecology’s Dam Safety Office and Well Construction and Licensing Program. Maia also served as an Assistant Attorney General for 15 years representing Ecology before the Pollution Control Hearings Board, Shorelines Hearings Board, Growth Management Hearings Board, and Washington superior and appellate courts.
Professional Experience
Represent clients in preparing and defending State Environmental Policy Act Environmental Impact Statements on complex projects.
Advise public and private clients on transactional negotiations relating to toxic cleanup sites and voluntary cleanup actions.
Counsel clients on Clean Water Act Section 401 Certifications and water quality compliance, including permittees operating under Washington’s Construction Stormwater General Permit.
Advise clients on state and federal Clean Air Act requirements, including Title V Air Quality Operating Permit compliance.
Represent clients on water resources regulatory compliance, water rights transactions, and instream flow regulations.
Provide advice on Federal Indian law matters, including exercise of treaty reserved rights and environmental transactions involving Tribes.
Counsel clients on carbon- and climate-related environmental review and planning.
Advise clients on energy regulations, policies, and project development.
As a pro bono matter represented the non-governmental organization Front & Centered to support passage of the 2021 Healthy Environment for All Act (HEAL Act) Environmental Justice Law, Senate Bill 5141.
Maia also works as a consultant for Cascadia Policy Solutions.
Honors
Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers – Lawdragon (2021-2022)
Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law - Lawdragon (2023)
Outstanding Water Resources Professional Award, Washington Section of the American Water Resources Association (2020)
25 Year Public Service Recognition, State of Washington (2019)
Certificate of Appreciation, Goal Council Lead, Sustainable Energy and Clean Environment Goal Council, Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State (2018)
Partner of the Year Award, Palouse Watershed Regional Conservation Partnership Program (2018)
Leadership Award for Oakland Bay Conservation and Restoration, Capitol Land Trust (2015)
Joseph Albert Dear Distinguished Alumni Award, The Evergreen State College (2015)
Conservation Game Changer Award, Teanaway River Valley Conservation and Management, Forterra (2014)
Sustainability Award, Washington Refuse and Recycling Association (2014)
Director’s Choice Award, Washington State Department of Ecology (2013)
Excellence Award, Washington State Attorney General’s Office (2009)
Super Lawyers® Rising Star, Washington Law and Politics Magazine (2004-2008)
Outstanding Team Award, Water Resources Appeals Team, Washington State Attorney General’s Office (1996)
Bar and Civic Activities
Trustee, Washington Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (2020 – present)
Member, Nisqually River Foundation Board (2021 – present)
Advisory Council Member, World Resources Institute Electric School Bus Initiative (2022 - present)
Member, Southern Resident Orca Taskforce, appointed by Governor Jay Inslee pursuant to Executive Order 18-02 (2018-2019)
Chair, Cross Media Committee (Toxics), Environmental Council of the States (2017-2019)
Vice-Chair, Cross Media Committee (Toxics), Environmental Council of the States (2015-2016)
Goal Council Lead, Sustainable Energy and Clean Environment, Results Washington (2013-2018)
Member, Executive Committee, Environmental & Land Use Law Section, Washington State Bar Association (2005-2010)
Chair, Executive Committee, Environmental & Land Use Law Section, Washington State Bar Association (2009)
Past Member of the Board of Governors, The Evergreen State College Foundation
Past Real Estate Committee Member, Washington State Attorney General’s Office
Past Board of Trustee Member, Indian Law Section, Washington State Bar Association
Past Officer, Washington Women Lawyers, Capitol Chapter, Olympia, Washington
Recent Presentations
Panelist, “Intersectional Climate Action,” Climate Justice Solutions Panel, Return to Evergreen Event, The Evergreen State College (October 17, 2020)
Keynote, Water Workshop, Washington Public Utility District Association (September 29, 2020)
Presenter, “Hot Topics in Environmental Law,” Environmental and Land Use Law Midyear Conference (July 30, 2020)
Co-Chair and Presenter, “Water Law in Washington,” Law Seminars International CLE (June 25-26, 2020)
Presenter and Lecturer at numerous CLEs, seminars, conferences, trainings, and forums on topics ranging from water resources management and water quality policy to implementation of the Model Toxics Control Act and environmental regulation at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation site.
Education
J.D., Arizona State University, College of Law, 1994 — Dean’s Award, Arizona State University, College of Law (1994)
B.A., The Evergreen State College, 1991
Bar Admissions
Washington
