Gary H. Baise

Gary Baise, a principal at OFW Law, specializes in Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) litigation as well as agricultural corporate governance issues. He has defended clients, including farm producers, in several of the leading wetlands enforcement cases under the CWA in federal courts. He has served as lead trial counsel for port authorities, housing and commercial developers, municipalities, farm and construction equipment manufacturers, and chemical industries in defending them in federal and state courts in government enforcement activities and citizen suits. He serves as general counsel for U.S. Grains Council, Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), and National Sorghum Producers (NSP). Mr. Baise has over 30 years experience in government and private practice. He has represented agricultural associations, port authorities, housing and commercial developers, municipalities, and pharmaceutical, steel, farm, construction equipment and chemical industries. 

Mr. Baise was the first Chief of Staff to the first US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator and subsequently became director of the EPA’s Office of Legislation. He served as executive assistant to the Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Acting Deputy Attorney General in the US Department of Justice. 

He served as Chairman of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board and Vice Chairman of the Virginia Water Control Board by appointment of the Governor of Virginia. Mr. Baise served as the only attorney on USDA’s Agricultural Air Quality Task Force during terms of his appointment.  Mr. Baise writes a weekly column, Defending Agriculture, for FarmFutures.com.

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