Steven J. Christiansen

Steven J. Christiansen

Mining Law

4.0 (1 reviews)
Salt Lake City, Utah
43+ years experience
Parr Brown Gee & Loveless
Updated:

Contact Information

101 South 200 East, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
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Bio

Steven Christiansen has over 30 years experience with environmental permitting and enforcement matters, RCRA and CERCLA remediation, air emission credits transactions, climate change, state implementation plan development, environmental legislation, NEPA, public lands permitting, environmental aspects of business transactions, brownfield redevelopment, and the administrative rule-making process. He also works in the areas of energy and public utilities law.Mr. Christiansen actively represents mining, petroleum, chemical, energy, and public utility interests throughout the western United States and Canada.Mr. Christiansen is licensed to practice law in Arizona, California, Utah, and Washington, D.C. He was elected as Chair of the Great Basin Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association for 2008. As a member of the Utah State Bar, he has served twice as Chair of the Environmental Law Committee within the Section on Energy, Natural Resources and Environment. From 1990-2002, Mr. Christiansen served as an Adjunct Professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, teaching a course in environmental law.Mr. Christiansen is asked frequently to speak and write on issues related to the environment, energy and natural resources. He has been a presenter at national business institutes, the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Utah Manufacturers Association, Utah State Bar, Arizona State Bar, the Cambridge Institute, the International Cogeneration Society, the Resource Recovery Institute, Air and Waste Management Association and the American Bar Association.Mr. Christiansen was ranked as one of the top environmental and land use attorneys in Utah since its inception in 2004 by Utah Business magazine as one of Utah’s Legal Elite. He is recognized in the 2007-2015 editions of Best Lawyers in America for Environmental law, and was awarded “Lawyer of the Year“ in 2015. He was listed in the 2009-2014 editions of Mountain States Super Lawyers. He has also been named one of the top Energy & Natural Resources lawyers in Utah in the 2011-2014 editions of Chambers USA – America’s Leading Business Lawyers. Mr. Christiansen has also been awarded an AV rating – the highest awarded by Martindale-Hubbell.​In the news: What does warning label from California really mean?, ksl.com – November 2013 Utah CEO Magazine September 2010 – Ready for ANYTHINGPublications & Speaking Engagements:Energy Industry Eagerly Awaits Duke Energy Verdict Energy Law 360, February 23, 2007.California’s Cutting Edge Laws EnergyBiz Insider, October 20, 2006.The Huntsman Administration and the Environment Utah Business, April 2005EPA Lawsuits Against Utilities on New Source Review Compliance Reach Pivotal Year Hazardous Waste, February 14, 2003New Source Review Reform Generates Polarized Views, Hazardous Waste, February 28, 2003.Hazardous Air Pollutants: An Update of Activities Under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act 2000 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Salt Lake City, UT and publication in the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, February 2000. PRACTICE AREASCommercial LitigationEnvironmental LitigationNatural Resources LawEnergy and UtilitiesEnvironmental LawMining LawWater LawReal Estate LawAdministrative and Regulatory Steven Christiansen has over 30 years experience with environmental permitting and enforcement matters, RCRA and CERCLA remediation, air emission credits transactions, climate change, state implementation plan development, environmental legislation, NEPA, public lands permitting, environmental aspects of business transactions, brownfield redevelopment, and the administrative rule-making process. He also works in the areas of energy and public utilities law.Mr. Christiansen actively represents mining, petroleum, chemical, energy, and public utility interests throughout the western United States and Canada.Mr. Christiansen is licensed to practice law in Arizona, California, Utah, and Washington, D.C. He was elected as Chair of the Great Basin Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association for 2008. As a member of the Utah State Bar, he has served twice as Chair of the Environmental Law Committee within the Section on Energy, Natural Resources and Environment. From 1990-2002, Mr. Christiansen served as an Adjunct Professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, teaching a course in environmental law.Mr. Christiansen is asked frequently to speak and write on issues related to the environment, energy and natural resources. He has been a presenter at national business institutes, the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Utah Manufacturers Association, Utah State Bar, Arizona State Bar, the Cambridge Institute, the International Cogeneration Society, the Resource Recovery Institute, Air and Waste Management Association and the American Bar Association.Mr. Christiansen was ranked as one of the top environmental and land use attorneys in Utah since its inception in 2004 by Utah Business magazine as one of Utah’s Legal Elite. He is recognized in the 2007-2015 editions of Best Lawyers in America for Environmental law, and was awarded “Lawyer of the Year“ in 2015. He was listed in the 2009-2014 editions of Mountain States Super Lawyers. He has also been named one of the top Energy & Natural Resources lawyers in Utah in the 2011-2014 editions of Chambers USA – America’s Leading Business Lawyers. Mr. Mr. Christiansen actively represents mining, petroleum, chemical, energy, and public utility interests throughout the western United States and Canada. Mr. Mr. Christiansen is asked frequently to speak and write on issues related to the environment, energy and natural resources. He has been a presenter at national business institutes, the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Utah Manufacturers Association, Utah State Bar, Arizona State Bar, the Cambridge Institute, the International Cogeneration Society, the Resource Recovery Institute, Air and Waste Management Association and the American Bar Association. Mr. Christiansen was ranked as one of the top environmental and land use attorneys in Utah since its inception in 2004 by Utah Business magazine as one of Utah’s Legal Elite. He is recognized in the 2007-2015 editions of Best Lawyers in America for Environmental law, and was awarded “Lawyer of the Year“ in 2015. Christiansen has also been awarded an AV rating – the highest awarded by Martindale-Hubbell.​ In the news: What does warning label from California really mean?, ksl.com – November 2013 Utah CEO Magazine September 2010 – Ready for ANYTHING

Practice Areas

Mining Law

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Mining Law, Salt Lake City (2026)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Environmental Law, Salt Lake City (2024)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Environmental Law, Salt Lake City (2015)
  • Recognized: Energy Law
  • Recognized: Environmental Law
  • Recognized: Mining Law
  • Recognized: Natural Resources Law
  • Practice Area: Water Law
  • Utah Business magazine Top environmental and land use attorneys in Utah
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year“
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers
  • Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • AV rating – the highest awarded by Martindale-Hubbell

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007

Education

  • Brigham Young University, J.D., graduated 1982
  • Brigham Young University, BA, graduated 1979

Reviews

A

Angela Hill

2 weeks ago

Expert guidance on a complex land use and permitting issue

Our company engaged Steven Christiansen at Parr Brown regarding a challenging land use and environmental permitting issue that had stalled a critical project. His deep, 30+ years of experience in environmental law and permitting was immediately evident. He navigated the complex regulatory landscape involving state and federal agencies with a steady hand, and his recognition as a 'Lawyer of the Year' in this field was clearly well-deserved. Steven’s strategic advice was invaluable, and he successfully guided us to a favorable resolution. While his expertise is top-tier, communication response times could occasionally be slower during peak periods, which is our only minor note. For anyone in Utah facing intricate environmental or natural resource legal matters, Steven’s vast knowledge from his four-decade career is an exceptional asset.

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