Mary Lynn Coffee is an experienced environmental law partner with expertise in obtaining permits and ensuring compliance with various environmental laws. She has extensive experience advising clients on strategies for obtaining permits under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, CEQA, NEPA and other laws. Some of her representative clients include the California High-Speed Rail Authority, City of Ventura, San Diego Association of Governments, California Water Association, and Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies. She provides regulatory, permitting, and compliance advice to help clients successfully develop infrastructure and complete construction projects.

1. Mary Lynn K. Coffee | Partner
Mary Lynn Coffee has extensive experience preparing and providing regulatory agency
affairs strategies and approaches, and providing legal and regulatory advice and counsel with
respect to permitting and compliance under state and federal environmental review, water
quality, wetlands, endangered species, and other natural resource protection laws. Her
experience includes successfully obtaining, and administratively challenging, defending and
moderating the requirements of NEPA/CEQA clearances; Clean Water Act Section 404
permits; Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certifications; Porter-Cologne Waste
Discharge Requirements for dredge and fill; Cal. Fish and Game Code Streambed Alteration
Agreements; State and federal Endangered Species Act permits (including Section 7 and
Section 10(a) permits); general and individual Clean Water Act Section 402 NPDES
Discharge permits; and Porter-Cologne Waste Discharge Requirements and Waivers.
Ms. Coffee’s expertise also includes Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs) and
Special Area Management Plans (SAMPs) developed to address state and federal
Endangered Species Act and wetlands protection requirements, and Clean Water Act and
Porter-Cologne programs to address Section 303(d) impaired water bodies and TMDLs,
Individual NPDES permits, General NPDES Phase I and Phase II MS4 permits, and other
surface and ground water quality requirements.
In addition, Ms. Coffee is at the forefront in interpreting, creating and implementing permitting
and compliance programs for, and engaging in legislative, policy, and regulatory initiatives to
respond to, ever-changing requirements imposed on public agencies and private entities
under CEQA and NEPA, the state and federal Endangered Species Acts, Porter-Cologne and
federal Clean Water Act, and other surface and stormwater quality mandates. Most recently,
such work has included in-depth legal analysis of increasingly stringent NEPA and CEQA
requirements for assessing and considering adverse project impacts of greenhouse gas
emissions, stormwater runoff pollutants, and stormwater hydromodification, and providing
assistance to technical teams developing state-of-the-art methodologies for assessing
impacts and mitigation measure efficacy in response to evolving regulatory requirements.
Representative Work
 California High-Speed Rail Authority. Leads the Nossaman team serving as special
environmental counsel to the assist the client in complying with the requirements of, and
obtaining federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permits, Clean Water Act Section 401
water quality certifications, state and federal Endangered Species Act permits, Cal. Dept.
of Fish and Game Streambed Alteration Agreements, and other state and federal
approvals required for the construction of the high-speed rail facilities and improvements
throughout the State, and establishment habitat and species mitigation banks. Client
duties also include legal advice with respect to compliance with water quality regulations,
TMDLs, stormwater quality NPDES Permit requirements (including MS4 NPDES
Stormwater permits and the General Construction NPDES Stormwater Permit), and
development of comprehensive environmental permitting and compliance programs.
 The City of Ventura. Ms. Coffee leads the Nossaman team as special environmental
counsel for the City of Ventura, assisting the City in developing and implementing an
integrated and comprehensive regulatory permitting and compliance strategy for obtaining
environmental approvals needed for, and assuring compliance with environmental
regulations applicable to discharges of tertiary treated wastewater to both the Santa Clara
River Estuary, as well as to advanced purification recycling facilities and reclamation
uses. Specific tasks for the City include advice, counsel and representation of Ventura
Water with respect to: amendment, renewal and compliance with requirements of: the
City's Section 402 NPDES Permit and Waste Discharge Requirements issued under the
CWA and Porter-Cologne; compliance with and permitting under the state and federal
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18101 Von Karman Avenue
Suite 1800
Irvine, CA 92612
T 949.833.7800
F 949.833.7878
mlcoffee@nossaman.com
Practice Areas & Industries
 Environment and Land Use
 Climate Change
 Land Development
 Home Building
 Real Estate
 Water
 Energy

2. Mary Lynn K. Coffee
Page 2
Endangered Species Acts; compliance with and permitting under Sections 401 and 404 of
the CWA; compliance with and permitting under the Streambed Alteration Agreement
provisions of the California Fish and Game Code; and compliance with CEQA and NEPA
requirements related to permitting. Simultaneously, Ms. Coffee is responsible for
coordinating these regulatory activities with Nossaman's defense of third party water
quality related citizen suits and administrative challenges, Administrative Civil Liability
complaints, and other enforcement actions. Ms. Coffee was also the primary architect of a
comprehensive Consent Decree settling third party citizen suit claims and administrative
challenges under the CWA and Porter-Cologne, and she now works on the behalf of
Ventura Water with all regulatory agencies and two nongovernmental organizations (Heal
the Bay and Ventura Coastkeeper) to implement the settlement agreement in coordination
with satisfying Ventura Water’s other regulatory compliance obligations.
 San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)- Buena Vista Lagoon Project-
Ms. Coffee leads the Nossaman team advising SANDAG in the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Report under CEQA for a controversial environmental restoration
project proposed to enhance a currently degraded coastal lagoon between the Cities of
Oceanside and Carlsbad. Multiple interests, including interests of private property
owners, local municipalities, state and federal wildlife agencies, would be affected by any
restoration project, and a universally beneficial restoration project has not been identified,
creating political controversy. Ms. Coffee and Nossaman are assisting SANDAG in
complying with all requirements of the CEQA process, including those applicable to
environmental impacts analysis, mitigation commitments, and responsible agency, trustee
agency and public consultation. Public review of the draft EIR for the project was recently
completed, and SANDAG is moving forward with the next steps in the CEQA process.
 California Water Association. Assists the California Water Association in moderating
the terms and conditions of a proposed Clean CWA/Porter-Cologne NPDES discharge
permit imposed by the State Water Resources Control Board on all health and safety
related discharges of potable water to surface waters of California. She provides legal
and policy advice with respect to Clean Water Act and Porter-Cologne issues on an
ongoing basis.
 San Jose Water Corporation. Leads the Nossaman team in providing policy, regulatory
affairs and legal advice regarding streamlining of state and federal environmental permits,
and CEQA and NEPA environmental reviews for new public infrastructure related to
indirect and direct potable supply projects. Duties include advice and counsel under the
federal Clean Water Act, state and federal Endangered Species Act permits, Cal. Dept. of
Fish and Game Streambed Alteration Agreements, and California Porter-Cologne Water
Quality Act.
 Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies. Assists client in complying with the
requirements of, and obtaining federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permits, Clean Water
Act Section 401 water quality certifications, Cal. Dept. of Fish and Game Streambed
Alteration Agreements, implementation of the Central Coastal NCCP/HCP and related as
well as new state and federal Endangered Species Act permits for toll road construction
and improvements. Duties also include legal advice with respect to compliance with water
quality regulations, TMDLs, stormwater quality NPDES Permit requirements (including
MS4 NPDES Stormwater permits and the General Construction NPDES Stormwater
Permit), and development of comprehensive environmental law and permit compliance
programs.
 California Building Industry Association/Building Industry Association of Southern
California/Construction Industry Coalition for Water Quality. Leads the Nossaman
team in providing strategic policy and regulatory affairs advice and legal counsel
associated with respect to CEQA analyses, including climate change, greenhouse gas
emissions, and stormwater quality analyses, and regarding the renewal and revision of
water quality control requirements of the statewide General NPDES Permit for stormwater
discharges from construction sites.
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 Diversified Pacific Development Company. Leads the Nossaman team in providing
CEQA/NEPA and state and federal permitting counsel, litigation defense services, and
administrative proceedings representation for more than 5 development projects totaling
more than 1500 acres in the Inland Empire area of California. The Nossaman duties
include assisting the client in obtaining multiple Clean Water Act Section 404 permits and
related Section 401 Water Quality Certifications and Section 7 Endangered Species Act
approvals, developing an HCP and obtaining a federal Endangered Species Act Section
10(a) permit and CESA Section 2081 permit, obtaining Fish and Game Code Section
1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements, and defending a Porter-Cologne Section 13267
Order, and defending a CEQA challenge and appeal of a tentative tract map approval.
 City of Irvine Orange County Great Park. Served as special environmental counsel to
the Orange County Great Park, one of the nation’s largest public works projects.
Nossaman provided strategy, advice, and counsel with respect to compliance with and
approvals and permitting under CEQA, NEPA, endangered species, wetlands, water
quality and all other environmental resource protection laws and regulations. Specific
highlights for this representation included obtaining the obtaining permit amendments for,
and complying with federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permits, Section 401 water
quality certifications, state and federal Endangered Species Act permits, Cal. Dept. of Fish
and Game Streambed Alteration Agreements, and other state and federal approvals
required for the construction of the Great Park facilities and establishment of a wildlife
corridor, habitat mitigation bank, and water quality mitigation bank implementation and
modification.
 Irvine Ranch Water District. Led the Nossaman team in developing the strategy and
approach for IRWD’s CEQA analysis and review of their award-winning Natural Treatment
System Water Quality Protection Master Plan for the San Diego Creek Watershed in
Orange County California. Ms. Coffee’s responsibilities included creating a defensible and
compliant hydrology, surface water quality, biological (including surface water quality
standards, endangered species and wetlands), and air quality impacts analysis, as well as
providing general regulatory advice and counsel under CEQA, the federal Clean Water
Act, Porter-Cologne, state and federal Endangered Species Acts, and other environmental
requirements and regulations.
 Dam Removal. Served as water quality and state and federal Clean Water Act counsel in
preparing detailed comments on the draft environmental impact statement on the
proposed removal of four Klamath River dams. The comments examined all potential
aquatic and water quality related impacts associated with proposed dam removal,
including impacts on all affected fish and wildlife (including endangered species), water
quality (including short and long term effects associated with sediment releases, nutrient
loading, and anticipated impacts on water quality objectives adopted for the river,
including objectives for sediment, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and algal growth, and other
constituents), hydrology and drainage (including anticipated hydromodification impacts on
bed and bank), and climate change.
 The Newhall Land and Farming Company. Assisted client in developing strategy and
approach to create defensible hydrology, surface water quality, and aquatic resource
impacts assessment to support Section 404 permit, Section 401 certification, and CEQA
impacts analysis that demonstrated compliance with all pertinent surface water quality
requirements. In addition, assisted Newhall in preparation of the first sub-regional
stormwater and hydromodification plan to be approved under provisions of the Los
Angeles Regional Board MS4 Permit, which will replace project-by-project compliance
with ever-changing MS4 Permit requirements. Also providing advice, counsel, and
services to defend and address construction stormwater Section 402 permit notices of
violation and compliance issues, and develop a stormwater compliance program to assure
construction compliance with all state and federal permits (federal Clean Water Act
Section 402 NPDES permits or stormwater, Section 404 permits for fill; Section 401 water
quality certifications; Cal. Dept. of Fish and Game Streambed Alteration Agreements;
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4. Mary Lynn K. Coffee
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state and federal Endangered Species Act permits under Cal. Fish and Game Code
Section 2081 and Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
 Centex Homes. Assisted client in obtaining Section 404, Section 401, and Section 1602
approvals for Inland Empire division projects, and assisted client to address and defend
construction stormwater Section 402 permit notices of violation and compliance issues.
 Tustin Legacy Park Partners (Centex Homes and Shea Homes). Assisted the client in
obtaining Section 404, Section 401, and Section 1602 approvals, and in developing
strategy and approach to create defensible hydrology, surface water quality, and biological
(including endangered species and wetlands) CEQA documentation demonstrating
compliance with all pertinent surface water quality and endangered species and wetlands
requirements and regulations for the MCAS Tustin, Tustin Legacy master planned
community.
 Seeno Construction/Discovery Builder. Served as special endangered species and
environmental counsel to the company in negotiating a memorandum of agreement
setting forth its commitments to the State and federal wildlife agencies in their processing
and approval of a regional multi-species HCP and Section 10(a) permit covering the entire
eastern portion of Contra Costa County. Compliance and permitting work associated with
this HCP requires detailed CEQA and NEPA analysis, state and federal endangered
species advice and council, extensive negotiations with the Contra County Costa Habitat
Conservation Planning Joint Powers Authority, the California Department of Fish and
Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and riparian and wetlands permitting and
compliance advice under the federal Clean Water Act, the California Fish and Game Code
Streambed Alteration provisions, and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act.
 Brookfield Homes. Assisted client in developing strategy and approach to create
defensible hydrology, surface water quality permitting, Section 401 certification, and
CEQA impacts analysis that demonstrates compliance with all pertinent surface water
quality requirements and regulations for the Park Place and Keystone master planned
communities. Also assisting with general CEQA and environmental compliance for
Diamond Bar Village residential development.
 The Irvine Company. As Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Environmental
Compliance, and later as outside counsel, developed, supervised, and continue to assist
with the implementation of environmental compliance programs for :
o Implementation and modification of, compliance with, and defense of
enforcement actions pursuant to federal Clean Water Act Section 402
permits for construction and post-construction stormwater discharges,
Section 404 permits for fill, and Section 401 water quality certifications; Cal.
Dept. of Fish and Game Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements;
California Endangered Species Act Section 2081 Permit, federal Endangered
Species Act Section 10(a) Permit, and the Central Coastal HCP/NCCP.
o CEQA review of land use and entitlement activities, construction stormwater
quality, post-construction stormwater quality, construction phase protection of
endangered species and wetlands, control of hazardous materials, and
surface water TMDLs.
 North Peak Partners. As Vice President of Governmental Affairs and General Counsel,
assisted client in obtaining permits for a 2700-unit residential development in Lake
Elsinore CA, including preparation of the North Peak multispecies HCP/NCCP and
obtaining a California Endangered Species Act Section 2081 Permit, federal Endangered
Species Act Section 10(a) Permit, federal Clean Water Act Section 402 permits for
construction and post-construction stormwater discharges, Clean Water Section 404
permit for fill, and Section 401 water quality certification; and a Cal. Dept. of Fish and
Game Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements.
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 Fieldstone Communities. Assisted client in obtaining permits for a 3500-unit residential
development in Carlsbad CA, including preparation of one of the first multi-species
HCP/NCCPs in the state of California, and obtaining a California Endangered Species Act
Section 2081 Permit and federal Endangered Species Act Section 10(a) Permit.
Awards & Honors
Named to California’s “Top Women Attorneys” list in 2016 by The Daily Journal
Named a Southern California "Super Lawyer" and “Top Women Attorneys” for Environmental
Law in 2011 - 2016 by Los Angeles magazine.
Named Orange County's “Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser” in 2013.
Professional Affiliations
Building Industry Legal Defense Foundation, Board Member
California Building Industry Association Select Conference on Industry Litigation, Member
California Building Industry Association Regulatory Affairs Committee, Member
Construction Industry Coalition for Water Quality, Member
California Building Industry Water, CEQA, and Climate Change Task Forces
California Association of Storm Water Quality Agencies (CASQA), Member
California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), Attorneys’ Committee Member
American, California and Orange County Bar Associations, Member
Presentations
Speaker, “2016 ‘Wetlands and Waters’ Regulations,” American Planning Association,
California Chapter, Orange Section, Irvine, CA, January 28, 2016.
Speaker, “New Water: ‘Pollution’ Meets Water Supply,” Law Seminars International ‘Finding
New Water’ Seminar, Anaheim, CA October 6, 2015.
Speaker, “2015 Environmental and Land Use Seminar,” Nossaman LLP, September 22,
2015.
Speaker, “The Proposed Wetlands Rule: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” Building
Industry Legal Defense Foundation Law and Policy Conference, Los Angeles, CA,
October 2, 2014.
Speaker, “California High-Speed Rail Authority: Advancing Sustainable Design,” California
Endowment Program for Transportation and Heavy Industry in an Era of Low Impact
Development, Los Angeles, CA, September 30, 2014.
Speaker, “Clean Water Act Permits for Public Water System Discharges,” San Gabriel Valley
Water Association, May 29, 2014.
Speaker, “Integrating NEPA and Other Regulatory Requirements,” 9th Annual CLE NEPA
Conference, San Francisco, CA, April 22, 2013.
Speaker, “20th Century Water Quality Regulations; 21st Century Problems,” California
Stormwater Quality Association 8th Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, November 5,
2012.
Speaker, “Low Impact Development, Stormwater Permitting, and Water Supply,” Conference
on California Water Law, San Diego, CA, May 4, 2012.
Speaker, “Stormwater Discharge Permitting and Regulation” Southern California
Environmental Law Symposium, Whittier Law School, Orange County, CA, February 17,
2012.
Speaker, “Redefinition of Federal Clean Water Act Jurisdiction, or What are Wetlands Now?”
Building Industry Legal Defense Foundation Legal and Policy Issues Conference, Los
Angeles, CA, October 5, 2011.
Speaker, “The Year In Stormwater: Cases that Changed the Landscape” California
Stormwater Quality Association, Monterey, CA, September 26, 2011.
Speaker, “Wetlands Update: What Are “Wetlands” Now?” Nossaman Environmental Legal
Update: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?, Santa Ana, CA, June 9, 2011.
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Speaker and Moderator, “Municipal Low Impact Development Requirements and
Development of Water Resources: Urban Runoff as ‘New Water,” Water Education
Foundation 2010 Water Quality & Regulatory Conference, Ontario, CA, November 3-4,
2010.
Speaker and Moderator, “Nuts and Bolts of SB 375,” 9th
Annual BILD Foundation Legal
Issues Conference, Los Angeles, CA, October 6, 2010.
Speaker, “North Orange County MS4 Permit,” Building Industry Association of Southern
California’s North and South Orange County MS4 Permit Seminar, Laguna Hills, CA, June
4, 2010.
Speaker, “Update Regarding Stormwater Permit Requirements,” Nossaman Environmental
Legal Update: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?, Santa Ana, CA, May 19,
2010.
Speaker, “LID For A Rainy Day: Consequences of LID Stormwater Permit Requirements,”
ABA 28th
Annual Water Law Conference, February 18, 2010.
Speaker, "Overview and Implications of the MS4 Permit," Building Industry Association,
Greater Los Angeles and Ventura Chapter – Ventura Stormwater MS4 Seminar,
December 8, 2009.
Agenda and Panel Recruitment, Fall 2009 Clean Water Conference, Irvine, CA, Urban Water
Institute, November 16-17, 2009.
Speaker, "Is Water A Waste? Addressing Regional Board Concerns about Potable Water
Discharge and Supplemental Water Recharge," CLE International's 8th Annual California
Water Law Conference, Palm Springs, CA, November 6, 2009.
Speaker and Panel Moderator, "Is Water A Waste? Cooperative and Stakeholder Driven
Water Quality Compliance Programs," 8th
Annual Water Law Conference, La Quinta, CA,
November 3-4, 2009.
Speaker and Facilitator, “Strategic Legal Initiatives Forum,” Select Conference on Industry
Litigation for the California Building Industry Association, La Quinta, CA, May 30, 2009.
Speaker, “SB 375 Update,” Nossaman LLP Environmental Legal Update: Where Are We
Now and Where Are We Going?, Irvine, CA, May 21, 2009.
Speaker, “Water Quality Standards Take Center Stage,” The Annual National Environmental
Law Conference of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and
Resources, Keystone, CO, March 14, 2009.
Speaker, “SB 375: A Builder/Developer Perspective,” California Association of Local Agency
Formation Commission’s SB 375 Forum and Roundtable, Los Angeles, March 12, 2009.
Speaker, “Stormwater Quality and Wetlands Protection Regulations,” CLE International’s
California Wetlands Conference, San Francisco, CA, February 27, 2009.
Speaker, “Water Quality Standards Take Center Stage,” American Bar Association's 38th
Annual Conference on Environmental Law, February 13, 2009.
Speaker, “SB 375: A Builder/Developer Perspective,” Orange County League of Cities SB
375 Forum, Buena Park, CA, January 27, 2009.
Speaker, “Stormwater Permits Update,” Orange County Business Council, Irvine, CA,
January 13, 2009.
Publications
Co-Author, “Clean Water Rule (WOTUS) Update,” The Natural Lawyer, January 2016.
Co-Author, “Court Allows EPA to Stop Ongoing Projects, Years After Permits Were Granted,”
Daily Journal, May 28, 2013.
Co-Author, "EPA Issues Final Water Transfers Rule: No NPDES Permit For Now, But
Litigation Looms," The Inland Empire Field Report, June/July 2008.
Education
J.D., University of Texas School of Law, 1989, with honors
B.S., Trinity University, 1985, summa cum laude
Admitted
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California
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