Thomas S. Burack

A leading practitioner of environmental law, Tom’s 35 years in the field include more than a decade as Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. He combines an in-depth understanding of how government agencies work and strong problem solving skills to help achieve efficient resolutions across a broad range of regulatory, compliance, enforcement, litigation, permitting, contracting, liability, and other business matters. Tom represents manufacturers, energy suppliers and generators, real estate and housing developers, property owners, small and large businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, family trusts, and individuals in the environmental, energy, and climate arenas.

Tom also practices in the areas of real estate, nonprofit and charitable organizations, as well as political committees and campaign finance, and frequently coordinates teams of attorneys in addressing complex matters involving the intersection of different areas of the law.

Tom’s environmental practice covers  groundwater contamination, site investigation and remediation, brownfields, facility construction and permitting (alteration of terrain, wetlands, air, water, waste, endangered species), water supply development and operations, transactional due diligence, management systems, and sustainability. He has substantial experience representing clients before regulatory agencies under federal and state programs, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as well as laws and regulations governing abatement of structural hazards (e.g., PCBs, asbestos and lead paint), dams, wetlands, shoreland protection, and shorefront structures of all kinds (including docks, beaches, marinas, and boat launches). Tom also advises clients on emergency preparedness, response and recovery issues, and has experience in helping to lead governmental responses to natural and manmade disasters.

In the energy sector, Tom works with project developers and host communities and has deep insights into energy facility siting strategies and processes based upon his prior service on the State of New Hampshire’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Committee.

Tom also consults with organizations on a diverse set of environmental, energy, and organizational management and governance issues. A skilled group facilitator, he guides clients through comprehensive scenario thinking and strategic planning processes to develop living strategic plans that are regularly monitored and updated.

Tom grew up in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and loves to hike, ski, and canoe. As a professional raconteur, he is known for calling moose, performing as Daniel Webster, and regaling many an audience with tales of the North Country. He is a Harry S. Truman Scholar, served as Law Clerk to the Honorable David H. Souter on the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, and as Legislative Assistant for Environmental Matters to U.S. Senator Gordon J. Humphrey (R-NH) in Washington, DC. Tom is a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL).