Biography

In addition to serving as leader of the firm's Environmental Practice Group, Bob Joyce focuses his practice on regulatory, litigation and transactional matters and has developed particular expertise in the pipeline, manufacturing, mining, aviation/ aerospace and midstream and downstream petroleum industries. He has a diverse environmental, health and safety practice with particular emphasis on regulatory issues related to hazardous waste treatment, storage, transportation and disposal, site remediation, underground storage tanks, wastewater treatment and discharges, underground storage tanks, underground waste injection wells, EPCRA/SARA Title III, and OSHA.

Bob has an extensive background in regulatory issues pertaining to hazardous and solid waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). His experience in RCRA issues includes work on the closure of RCRA Interim Status treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDs), and the negotiation and implementation of risk-based closures and cleanup of such facilities. In addition, Bob specializes in providing advice to TSDs and hazardous waste generators and transporters (especially in connection with refining and aerospace) regarding the application of the RCRA regulations to their operations and regarding methods for reducing or eliminating regulatory impediments to current or proposed business practices. In addition, he has successfully represented clients before state and federal agencies regarding a wide variety of enforcement issues under RCRA and other regulatory programs.  Bob has also provided extensive input and comment on numerous proposed regulations under RCRA and works with businesses and industry organizations to develop comments.

Bob also represents clients in environmental litigation, arbitration, and enforcement proceedings involving issues such as cost recovery, contribution, environmental indemnities, and regulatory noncompliance.  On the transactional side, he represents clients in matters involving environmental issues and indemnities, and the handling of discontinued operations. He has worked with clients in negotiating and implementing the risk-based cleanups of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and wastes from manufacturing and maintenance operations.

His writing credits include "Lender Liability Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) - EPA's Final Rule Interpreting the Security Interest Exemption," 63 Oklahoma Bar Journal 2702, Sept. 1992 and “Drawing the Line on Rate Conditions Under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act," 9 Energy Law Journal 113, 1988. 

Prior to joining McAfee & Taft in 2009, Bob was a partner with Joyce & Paul, PLLC, a law firm he co-founded in 2000.  His extensive career experience includes serving as executive partner of the Tulsa, OK, office of Gardere & Wynne, LLP, process/project engineer in the natural gas liquids division of OXY/Cities Service Company, and as senior attorney and manager of environmental compliance for Hilti, Inc.

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