Experience

Ryan Steen is an associate practicing in the Resources, Development and Environment practice group. Ryan focuses his practice on environmental, natural resources, wildlife and water law, and he assists clients with permitting and counseling matters as well as litigation. He has worked with public and private entities on a variety of issues involving the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), water allocation and mitigation of impacts to fishery resources, and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest product certification.

Before starting his legal career, Ryan worked as a fisheries scientist at the University of Washington. In that position, he researched salmon ecology and advised the commercial fishing industry on the population dynamics and management of the Bristol Bay, Alaska sockeye salmon fishery.

Representative Work

• Advised Washington port regarding the federal, state and local environmental permitting requirements for potential development of a 500-acre port terminal and industrial facility. Project included preparation of a NEPA/SEPA Draft Environmental Impact Statement, ESA Section 7 consultation and CWA Section 404 permitting.
• Advised Washington port regarding the federal, state and local environmental permitting requirements for development of a rail alignment for commercial and industrial use. Project included preparation of a NEPA Documented Categorical Exclusion, SEPA compliance, ESA Section 7 consultation and CWA Section 404 permitting.
• Counseled Washington port regarding development and application of a SEPA lead agency program.
• Represented private cruise ship company's interests in a NEPA review process regarding the potential development of a light rail line and bridge over the Willamette River.
• Second chair attorney on litigation team representing power company's interests in the Klamath Basin Water Rights Adjudication.
• Assisted a major forest products company with the development and implementation of a compliance system to satisfy the FSC certification requirements for controlled wood.
• Prepared a fisheries management plan on behalf of an Oregon irrigation district in consultation with federal, state and local agencies.

Professional Honors & Activities

• Co-chair, Multnomah County Bar Association Dropout Prevention Program, 2006-2008
• Contributing editor, Western Water Law & Policy Reporter, 2006-2008

Presentations

• Co-presenter, "Legal and Regulatory Framework: New Developments," Fisheries & Hatcheries: Legal and Regulatory Frameworks, The Seminar Group, May 2010
• "Planning for Future Water Needs and Protecting Your Rights – Water Rights Master Planning Strategies," Water Rights Sales and Transfers in Oregon, Lorman Education Services, Oct. 2007
• "Water Rights 101," Natural Resources Law for Foresters, Western Forestry and Conservation Association, Feb. 2007

Civic Activities

• Volunteer attorney, East County Legal Clinic, 2004 2008
• Mentor, Lewis & Clark Law School 1L Mentor Program

Publications

• "The Polar Bear Listing Story: Efforts to Regulate GHG Emissions Using the Endangered Species Act," (co-author Jeffrey Leppo) presented at the 38th Annual American Bar Association Conference on Environmental Law, Keystone, Colorado, March 12-15, 2009
• "An Important Federal Court Victory for Oregon Irrigation Districts and Water Conservation," 12 Western Water Law & Policy Reporter 184, 2008
• "Oregon Department of State Lands Issues Amendments to Removal-Fill Rules," 12 Western Water Law & Policy Reporter 110, 2008
• "District Court Upholds Listing of Coastal Coho Salmon Under the Endangered Species Act," 12 Western Water Law & Policy Reporter 21, 2007
• "EPA's New Aquatic Pesticide Rule Leaves Wake of Uncertainty," 11 Western Water Law & Policy Reporter 147, 2007
• "Paying for Employment Dispute Resolution: Dilemmas Confronting Arbitration Cost Allocation Throw the Arbitration Machine into Low Gear," 7 Journal of Small & Emerging Business Law 181, 2003
• "Egg Burial Depth by Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): Implications for Survival of Embryos and Natural Selection on Female Body Size," coauthor, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1999

Education

• Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, J.D., 2003, magna cum laude
• University of Washington, B.S. fisheries, 1998

Admissions

• Washington
• Oregon
• Alaska
• U.S. District Court for the Districts of Oregon, Alaska and the Western District of Washington
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

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