Kevin M. Bernstein

Firm: Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC
Location: Syracuse - NY

  • One Lincoln Center
    110 West Fayette Street
    Syracuse, NY 13202-1355
  • Tel : (315) 218-8329
  • Fax : (315) 218-8100

As chairman of the management committee, he also is leading the firm in a progressive fashion to successfully navigate this transitional time in the legal industry.

Working through the environmental aspects of business transactions, Kevin is a leader, guiding his clients’ through the regulatory maze that dominates environmental and energy law.

Kevin also represents clients in defense of claims asserted by federal and state governmental agencies for cleanup costs, penalties and other enforcement matters brought under federal and state Superfund statutes, New York State Navigation Law and the Clean Water Act. In connection with this representation, he has negotiated a number of Administrative Orders on Consent and Consent Decrees with the New York State DEC, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice.

Kevin also has considerable experience in matters relating to the permitting of solid waste landfills, wastewater treatment facilities and other large facilities (e.g., distribution and warehouse facilities). In connection with these projects, issues related to compliance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) are always present and he has gone through the entire SEQRA process, including for larger projects the issuance of a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Findings Statement.

In addition to obtaining permits (including participating in numerous hearings to obtain those permits), Kevin has been involved in numerous litigations, either defending against opposition or citizens groups or protecting the rights of his clients against those entities (such as municipalities.)

Kevin has been lead project counsel on numerous Public Service Law Article VII gas and electric transmission projects (including for regulated public utilities), an Article X power plant project (the last one to be approved in New York State under the previous Article X) for a merchant developer, numerous wind energy facilities and underground and above ground natural gas and liquid petroleum gas storage and transportation facilities for a major midstream company.


Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

Our environmental attorneys provide counsel regarding project development and facility siting, hazardous waste, permitting, release reporting, health and safety, air quality, solid waste, storage tanks, water quality and wetlands. We assist large and small businesses, industrial and commercial enterprises, school districts, colleges and universities, health care businesses, public corporations and municipalities to successfully resolve federal and state regulatory compliance and enforcement concerns.

Our lawyers have longstanding experience with matters involving the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. We also have substantial experience advising public entities and private parties on how to navigate the environmental impact review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Our practice is a leader in New York State regarding the use of permits, consent orders and voluntary cleanup agreements to manage environmental risk and liability. Members of our practice have also taken a lead role in reforming New York State’s Superfund.