Competitiveness of New Domestic Nuclear Power
Stuart Butzier examines the changing market for domestic nuclear power. Read More...
Lawyers
Stuart R. Butzier - Shareholder
I practice in the following areas:
Antitrust, Class Action and Mass Torts, Commercial Litigation, Cultural and Historic Resources, Energy and Utilities, Environmental, Indian Law, Litigation, Mining, Oil and Gas, Public Lands, Regulatory Practice, Water Resources and Quality, Appellate Cases, Renewable Energy
Practice
Practice concentration in natural resources, environmental and public lands law, including complex litigation, all levels of appeals, multi-state natural resources transactions and administrative representation before federal and state mining, environmental and land and royalty management agencies.
Publications
- "Competitiveness of New Domestic Nuclear Power Post-EPAct, Post-Kyoto," Natural Gas & Electricity (April 2007)
- "Miles From Three Mile Island; Warming Up to Nuclear Energy? ," LSI Southwest Energy Law Conference (2005)
- Federal Mining Law Update , RMMLF (1999)
- New Mexico Mining Act: Hard Rock Mine Reclamation, Natural Resources Law Reporter (1993)
- The Application of CERCLA to Mining Operations, State Bar of New Mexico (1992)
- Environmental Crimes - The Best Defense is Prevention, DLA Defense News, Vol. I, No. 4 (1992)
- New Mexico Adopts the Modern Rule of Collateral Estoppel, 18 New Mexico Law Review 597 (1988)
Speeches/Presentations
- "Nuclear Power" component of "Energy in the Southwest," Law Seminars International (2005 and 2006 - Santa Fe, NM)
- "Mining Law Update," 45th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute (1999 - Monterey, CA)
- "Water Quality Issues Facing the Extractive Industries," 6th Annual CLE International Water Law Conference (1998 - Santa Fe, NM)
- "Trends in Federal and State Regulation of Mining," CLE, Inc. Annual New Mexico State Bar Convention (1997 - Farmington, NM)
- "Assignments and Consents; Let's Be Reasonable," 11th Annual Mining and Geothermal Institute (1995 - Reno, NV)
- "Environmental Regulation of Extractive Industries," Cambridge Institute (1993 - Albuquerque, NM)
Representative Cases and Clients
- ASARCO - provided representation in connection with reclamation permitting under the New Mexico Mining Act,
- Augusta Resources - provided counsel concerning opposition to a mining project on federal and state lands in New Mexico, and drafting of surface access agreements to allow access to mining clams and mineral leaseholds
- Mainline Rock and Ballast - lead trial counsel in litigation involving interests in a quarry supplying ballast for railroad purposes
- Blue Ensign Technologies - negotiated and drafted agreements respecting the acquisition of an oil shale lease in Colorado under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as well as an appeal from the Bureau of Land Management to the Interior Board of Land Appeals concerning action on an oil shale lease
- Uranium King, Ltd. and Australian Limited Partnership - provided advice and lease negotiations concerning uranium mining claims under the General Mining Law of 1872
- Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold - provided counsel with regard to permitting, leasing, land collateral transactions for financial assurance, administrative litigation and performed appellate work relating to closure planning for open pit copper mines in New Mexico
- Newmont USA Limited - provided counsel in uranium lease litigation and representation in connection with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Southwest Exploration Group, LLD - negotiated and drafted an option agreement to acquire the Lone Mountain mining project in New Mexico
- Representative clients also include: Tyrone and Chino Mines, Rio Grande Resources, Elkins Ranch, Intrepid Potash New Mexico LLC, Newmont Gold Corporation, Newmont Realty, BHP Billiton, Navajo Coal Company, El Capitan Precious Metals, Inc., NZ Travertine LLC, Redwine Resources, Inc., Bartoo Sand and Gravel, Fisher Sand and Gravel, J. H. Williams Ranch
Professional Activities
- Trustee, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF) (2000-09)
- Mining Co-Chair, RMMLF Annual Institute (2006-Santa Fe, NM)
- Chair, RMMLF Special Institute on Uranium Exploration and Development (2006-Denver, CO)
- Co-Chair, RMMLF Special Institute on Public Land Law, Management and Regulation (2003-Albuquerque, NM)
- Co-Chair, RMMLF Special Institute on Natural Resources Administrative Law (1999-Denver, CO)
- Adjunct Professor, University of New Mexico School of Law (natural resources and environmental law courses);
- University of New Mexico School of Law Alumni Association (President, 2004-05; Director, 1999-2006)
- Past Chair, State Bar of New Mexico Section on Natural Resources and Environmental Law (1996-97)
- Program Chair, State Bar of New Mexico annual legal education seminars on mining, environmental, utilities, oil and gas topics (1993-97)
Education
- University of New Mexico, J.D. 1989
- Member, New Mexico Law Review
- Frederick M. Hart Prize for Excellence in Commercial Law
- Grinnell College, B.A., English Literature 1981; Basketball team captain
Honors
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
- Selected as a Southwest Super Lawyer®, 2008 (derived from a lawyer survey) in the areas of Natural Resources
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2008 in categories: Environmental Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law
Firm Committees
- Executive Committee
- Chair, Natural Resources Section, Co-Chair, Mining Group
- Member, Natural Resources and Environment Department
- Member, Associates Committee
Personal Interests
President Albuquerque Youth Basketball (AYBL East); Jazz bass and guitar; married, with three rapidly growing sons
