Overview
Emily Schimelpfenig is an associate in Stoel Rives’ Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources group, where she advises clients on a wide range of environmental law matters. She helps businesses navigate federal, state, and local environmental regulations, providing strategic guidance on compliance and risk management. With a practical and solutions-oriented approach, Emily works with clients across industries to address evolving regulatory industries to address evolving regulatory challenges and environmental permitting requirements.
Emily has a particular focus on the complex permitting of renewable energy facilities, including assisting developers in securing approval for wind, solar, and other clean energy projects. She helps clients manage the environmental review process under federal and state law, ensuring that projects move forward efficiently while meeting regulatory standards. Her experience includes working with agencies, stakeholders, and project teams to resolve permitting hurdles and minimize potential legal risks.
In addition to her environmental practice, Emily advises clients on workplace safety and regulatory compliance under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). She assists companies in understanding and complying with safety regulations, responding to enforcement actions, and implementing best practices to reduce liability.
Outside of her legal work, Emily enjoys playing soccer in a local league, coaching high school mock trial, and hosting board game nights with her amazing partner Eric.
Education
The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2022
University of Wyoming, M.A., Political Science, 2019
University of Wyoming, B.A., Political Science, 2018
Admissions
Oregon
Washington
Experience
Land Use and Environmental and Natural Resource Permitting
- Assists clients in obtaining and defending permits and other government approvals by providing legal and practical guidance from initial scoping to appeals. Specific experience in Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) permitting.
- Manages complex permitting timelines.
- Advises clients throughout Oregon on local development code provisions that apply to their properties.
- Represents rural and urban developers in Oregon and Washington land use proceedings, including asserting and defending appeals before the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.
- Works with solar and wind energy developers to develop mitigation strategies and to obtain siting permits from local governments and Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council.
Safety and Health Matters
- Represents mine operators in MSHA enforcement actions.
- Representation of a demolition company in an Alaska OSHA investigation and enforcement arising out of an accident resulting in a fatality.
- Representation of a paper mill in a Washington OSHA investigation and enforcement arising out of an accident resulting in a fatality.
- Representation of a company in an Oregon OSHA inspection appeal.
Insights
Insights & Presentations
- “LUBA Confirms That Standalone Battery Storage Qualifies as a “Utility Facility Necessary for Public Service” in the Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) Zone” (co-author), Stoel Rives LLP, September 9, 2026
- “Citations vs. Orders: What Every Mine Operator Needs to Know About MSHA Enforcement,” North American Mining Blog, September 2, 2025
- “New Oregon Land Conservation Development Commission Rules Create New Local Permitting Pathways for Mid-Sized Solar Development in Eastern Oregon” (co-author), Stoel Rives Renewable + Law Blog, August 25, 2025
- “LUBA Provides Guidance on “Agricultural Land” Determination,” Oregon State Bar, Real Estate and Land Use Digest, Vol. 47, No. 4 (August 2025)
- Presented at the Mine Safety and Health Conference on Accompanying the MSHA Inspector with Diane Watson, October 2024
- “United States Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on Public Camping Laws in the Ninth Circuit,” Stoel Rives Ahead of Schedule Real Estate and Construction Law Blog, July 3, 2024
- "The United States Supreme Court Determines There Is No Distinction Between Legislative and Administrative Takings,” Stoel Rives Ahead of Schedule Real Estate and Construction Law Blog, May 28, 2024
- “New Legislation Authorizes Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council to Certify Standalone Battery Energy Storage Systems but Stops Short of Including Clear Land Use Approval Pathway (co-author),” Stoel Rives Renewable + Law Blog, April 12, 2024
- “Three Rulings Issued on the Same Day Further Clarify Reclamation’s Obligations and Authority to Manage Water in the Klamath Basin,” The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, Water Law Newsletter, Vol. 56, No. 3, 2023
- “Federal Supremacy Under the ESA Found for Releases of Water from Upper Klamath Lake,” The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, Water Law Newsletter, Vol. 56, No. 2 (2023)
- “Oregon Court of Appeals Addresses Water-Related Administrative and Land Use Law Rules,” The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, Water Law Newsletter, Vol. 56, No. 1 (2023)
- “Five Recent Opinions Highlight Procedural Barriers to Resolving Ongoing Disputes About Releases of Stored Water from Upper Klamath Lake,” The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, Water Law Newsletter, Vol. 55, No. 3 (2022)
- “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Proposes Revisions to Eagle Permit Rules, Including General Permits for Qualifying Wind Energy Projects, Power Lines, and Disturbance and Nest Take,” Stoel Rives LLP legal alert, October 5, 2022
Publications
Affiliations
Professional
- Oregon State Bar, Environmental and Natural Resources Section, Member
- Oregon State Bar, Real Estate and Land Use Section, Member
- Women in Environment, Networking Committee Co-Chair
- Campaign for Equal Justice, Associates Committee Member
- Mock Trial Coach and Judge
- Attorney Mentor