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The International Who’s Who for Business Lawyers named V&E as Texas’ best environmental law firm and Molly as “superb.”
 
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Molly Cagle

Experience     |     Education     |     Recognition     |     Activities      |     Publications

Cagle, Molly

Biography
Molly counsels clients on virtually every kind of environmental matter and represents them before various agencies and in federal and state courts. Chambers USA described her in their 2004 publication of America’s Leading Business Lawyers as a “renaissance lawyer, a true litigator” who is especially praised for her “effectiveness” and “top notch negotiation skills.”

In the enforcement area, she has litigated and negotiated settlements for clients under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and their state analogs, as well as Superfund. Molly has counseled on audit issues, under both the state audit law and federal policy. She also has both resolved and tried disputes regarding water supply and utility issues.

Molly’s other major area of practice is permitting work before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (and its predecessor agencies), as well as the Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Railroad Commission of Texas. With regard to air and solid waste, Molly has handled a variety of contested cases, including incinerator and BIF air and hazardous waste permitting. She represents clients in State Implementation Plan (SIP) issues as well. On both a state and federal level, Molly has assisted clients in rulemaking petitions and in preparing comments on agency rules. She also has assisted clients in bringing litigation to challenge environmental legislation and rules. Molly has testified before the United States and Texas Senates, and has served as a testifying expert on environmental issues in a number of cases.


Representative Experience
Clean Air Act
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  • Secured first contested NSR/PSD permit in non-attainment area (TCEQ decision upheld by district court)
  • Counseled clients on impact of non-attainment designation on permitting issues
  • Represented clients in work group to consider challenging EPA’s eight-hour ozone non-attainment designation for counties determined to be “contributing to” non-attainment area
Mining
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  • Counseled clients on rulemaking and interpretation of coal combustion byproducts
  • Successfully represented client in defeating an unsuitability petition
  • Assisted in securing settlement in SCMRA contested case
Water/Wastewater
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  • Secured, defended, and defeated water rights permits
  • Secured groundwater permits in contested matters from the Edwards Aquifer Authority and other groundwater districts
  • Represented client in securing contested wastewater permit for new lignite mine
Waste
  • Successfully permitted and renewed underground injection control
  • Advised clients on various RCRA issues
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Education and Professional Background
  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with honors, 1981
  • Texas Tech, B.S. Textile Technology and Textile Chemistry magna cum laude, 1978 (Outstanding Engineering Student, Engineering Student Council, 1977 - 1978)
  • Attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana
  • Admitted to practice: Texas, 1981
Professional Recognition
View All
  • The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers in environmental law, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in environmental law, 2003 - 2009
  • The Best Lawyers in America® in environmental, administrative, and water law, 1995 - 2010
Activities and Affiliations
  • Member: Administrative and Public Law, and Environmental and Natural Resources Law Sections, State Bar of Texas; Board of Directors of the Texas Water Conservation Association, 1999
  • Served: Task Force 21, a regulatory negotiation committee for developing environmental rules and policies in Texas, at the request of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
Publications and Presentations
  • Author of numerous environmental articles
  • Lecturer of environmental courses


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Molly Cagle
Partner
2801 Via Fortuna
Suite 100
Austin, TX 78746-7568

Tel  +1.512.542.8552
Fax  +1.512.236.3280
mcagle@velaw.com

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The International Who’s Who for Business Lawyers named V&E as Texas’ best environmental law firm and Molly as “superb.”