Clients turn to Aimee to resolve environmental and energy issues with precision, deliberately assess risks and focus resources on sustainable growth for the future.
Overview
Co-chair of the firm's Environmental & Natural Resources practice group, Aimee is uniquely adept at helping industrial clients and local governments resolve issues with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and state resource agencies.
Her clients range from water, wastewater and electric utilities, chemical manufacturers, primary aluminum producers, groundwater management districts and renewable energy transmission companies.
Aimee has over 20 years of experience resolving disputes the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act as well as state water rights and prior appropriation laws. She understands the importance of water resource planning as well as changing policy surrounding wetlands, waters of the United States and groundwater. This allows her to effectively assist clients finding and managing constituents within their systems (including PFAS, coal combustion residuals and others), tracing root causes, and creating long-term solutions. Her clients range from water, wastewater and electric utilities, chemical manufacturers, primary aluminum producers, groundwater management districts and renewable energy transmission companies.
Prior to joining Stinson, Aimee served as deputy general counsel to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, advising the department in governance, contract, environmental and employment law matters. She also served as counsel for the Missouri Public Service Commission, advising commissioners and administrative law judges in rate, tariff and complaint cases.
In addition to co-chairing the firm's Environmental & Natural Resources practice group, Aimee is a member of Stinson's Infrastructure Task Force. Outside of her environmental and energy law practice, Aimee enjoys keeping in touch with her family from Guam, staying active with her daughters and husband, and supporting the arts and building equity within her community.
Experience
Aimee's recent environmental/energy experience includes:
Representing a large groundwater management district in the Midwest to protect irrigation water rights from curtailment by interested state and federal agencies and third-party non-governmental organizations, with the goal of finding a long-term resolution involving augmentation and water rights transfer and retirement initiatives.
Representing a global industrial client in appeals before the state resource agency to protect the company’s groundwater usage from curtailment at multiple facilities and to develop feasible conservation measures consistent with state's groundwater code.
Representing a national employer in a water rights appeal related to the state's regional groundwater management plan.
Assisting a North American rail company in resolution of state and federal natural resource damages claims under the Oil Pollution Act and CWA.
Representing a major groundwater district in resolution of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, Administrative Procedure Act, and violations and state law claims brought by federal resource agency and non-governmental organization.
Representing private sewer and water companies in obtaining certificates of need and necessity.
Other
Assisting major airline company in obtaining general conformity determination from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for NEPA review.
Assisting large developer and airport sponsor in obtaining categorical exclusion under NEPA from the FAA.
Assisting large Midwestern employer to resolve injunctive relief and penalty claims brought by state environmental agency under Clean Air Act.
Assisting large Midwestern employer to develop SIP Nonattainment Plan for submittal to state agency and Environmental Protection Agency.
Assisting several Midwestern utilities through NPDES permit negotiations to resolve issues related to tightening limits and coal ash ponds.
Defended large utility against state and federal claims involving territorial encroachment brought by adjoining local government. Achieved successful result for large utility in United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
Negotiating agency state and federal consent decrees, settlement agreements and administrative orders, permits and licenses.
Counseling organizations with respect to the day-to-day implementation of state and federal environmental requirements.
Assisting clients with environmental assessments and environmental impact statements under NEPA.
Appealing claims under applicable administrative statutes where agency decisions are not consistent with state or federal law.
Advising boards, councils and commissions on issues regarding state open records law, rate impacts and implications from new regulations.
Assisting public and private clients in drafting and negotiating territorial agreements for the funding and sale of infrastructure.
Assisting local governments in detachment proceedings and inter-local agreements with neighboring utility providers where service boundaries are at issue.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Aimee serves as an educational presenter on environmental issues for trade groups and nonprofit organizations and within higher education curricula.
"Managing PFAS Contamination," American Public Power Association, Pasadena, CA April 2023
"National Environmental Policy Act Developments," REGFORM Virtual Environmental Conference, April 2023
"What to Expect When Expanding," Missouri Public Utility Alliance Water Seminar, Columbia, MO April 2023
"PFAS; Scratching the Surface," Missouri Water Seminar, Columbia, MO September 2021
"Top Ten Clean Water Act Issues," Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference, April 2021
“Waters of the United States,” Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference, April 2019
"Regional Water Panel: Operating in a New and Uncertain Regulatory Climate," Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference, April 2018
"Municipality Survival Kit," 2017 Missouri Water Seminar, Columbia, MO September 2017
"Waters of the United States," Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association Annual Conference, July 2016
"Clean Water Rule Developments," REGFORM Annual Water Seminar, September 2016
"Water Law Update," REGFORM Annual Water Seminar, September 2015
"Water Quality Regulation," Environmental Conference, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, July 2015
"Do You Speak Agency-Ese," REGFORM Water Seminar, September 2014
"Water Quality Standards – Past, Present and Future," Environmental Conference, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, July 31, 2014
"Leveraging Your Network," University of Missouri Women’s Leadership Conference, March 2014
Publications
Co-Author, "Water Pollution," Chapter 8 in Missouri Environmental Law, 2nd ed., The Missouri Bar
Recognitions
Recognitions
Environmental and Energy Law "POWER List," Missouri Lawyers Media, 2022, 2023
Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Environment, 2021-2023
Selected among the Best Lawyers in America®, 2012 - 2024
Selected for Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers© Rising Stars, 2012 - 2016
Selected for Columbia Business Times "20 Under 40," 2014
Selected among Missouri Lawyers Weekly's Up & Coming, 2013
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Heart of Missouri United Way, Past President, Inclusion, Diversity and Past-Chair, Board of Directors
Mid-Missouri Woman's Law Association
Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center, Board of Directors
The Missouri Bar, Environmental & Energy Law Committee, Past Chair and Vice-Chair
Boone County Bar
Vidwest Community Media Center, Board of Directors
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Education
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, J.D., 2001
Stephens College, B.A., 1998
