Legal Alerts Dec 12, 2018
Proposed Federal Clean Water Rule Impacts Cities and Residents
Comments Being Sought
At a Glance
John has spent his 30-year career synthesizing, distilling and presenting complex public policy issues to decision makers in Washington, D.C.
John advises clients on legislative, regulatory and permit problems and develops and implements strategies for overcoming those problems.
He authored the only amendment to the federal Clean Water Act for a public agency in Texas, resulting in reduced mass emissions of toxic (priority) pollutants.
John Freshman has worked on all of the major national environmental legislation — the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Solid and Hazardous Waste Acts, the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. He has spent his 30-year career synthesizing, distilling and presenting complex public policy issues to decision makers in Washington, D.C. — first in government, and then on behalf of public and private clients. John’s experience includes both houses of Congress, especially the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency, where he was special advisor to the administrator. He has developed relationships across the country in many disciplines, including politics, government, business, law and science.
John advises clients on legislative, regulatory and permit problems and develops and implements strategies for overcoming those problems, including advocating by drafting issue papers, using grass-roots methods, communication plans and direct lobbying.
John’s particular emphasis is water — supply, conveyance, funding projects, quality, treatment and reclamation, and recycling. He develops innovative funding strategies for water and wastewater projects, and has represented municipalities and private entities across the U.S. that are involved in water delivery, wastewater treatment and private sector investments in water. He utilizes his broad experience to assist clients with flood control protection and water supply funding for recycling projects.
While John’s focus has been on water and the environment, he has also handled health, trade and tax issues with success.
John has secured a high level of federal funding for counties and cities in California, including the County of Monterey and the cities of Los Angeles and Sacramento. John’s responsibilities for the County of Monterey and the City of Sacramento were all-encompassing: He coordinated and advocated all of the federal issues for these clients.
John is married with three grown children. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.
*Not admitted to the practice of law.
Education
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Middlebury College, B.A.
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Legal Alerts Feb 12, 2018
Federal Infrastructure Outline Released
Details Local Agencies Need are Included
Legal Alerts Jan 31, 2018
A Peek Inside the Trump Infrastructure Plan: What Local Government Agencies Should Know
The State of the Union Address and a Leaked Memo Give the Insight We’ve Been Waiting For
Authored Articles & Publications Nov 01, 2017
The Proposed Tax Plan: What Public Agencies Should Know
By John Freshman and Ana Schwab
Authored Articles & Publications Aug 30, 2017
August 2017 Federal Report: Infrastructure, Debt Ceiling and Budget
By John Freshman and Ana Schwab
Authored Articles & Publications Jul 12, 2017
Tracking Trump’s Appointments
By John Freshman and Ana Schwab
Authored Articles & Publications May 25, 2017
Trump’s Water Resources Budget Requests
By John Freshman and Ana Schwab
Legal Alerts Jan 18, 2017
The Trump Infrastructure Plan
How BB&K Can Help Your Agency Position and Respond
Legal Alerts Nov 15, 2016
The Future of U.S. Infrastructure and Local Control Amid Post-Election Uncertainty
Post-Election Opportunities for Local Government Agencies
- “Looking Ahead: Federal Drought Response,” BBKnowledge, Jan. 13, 2016
- “Water Infrastructure Funding,” BBKnowledge, Dec. 7, 2015
- “Drought: Congressional State of Play at the End of the Fiscal Year,” BBKnowledge, Oct. 1, 2015
- “[VIDEO] Waters of the United States: Implications of EPA’s Regulatory Definition,” BBKnowledge, Sept. 3, 2015
- “Dead in the Water: The Western Water and American Food Security Act,” BBKnowledge, July 17, 2015
- “The Impact of the California Drought on Water Agencies and Treatment Districts,” BBKnowledge, July 1, 2015
- “Changes in Congress Affect California Water Interests,” BBKnowledge, Nov. 10, 2014
- “December 3 Deadline for Submitting Federal Water Projects,” BBKnowledge, Oct. 9, 2014
- “Highlights from the Build America P3 Infrastructure Investment Summit,” BBKnowledge, Sept. 10, 2014
- “President Announces Public-Private Partnership Initiative for Infrastructure Development,” BBKnowledge, July 18, 2014
- “EPA Proposes Change to Clean Water Act Rule and Definition of the Term “Waters of the U.S.,” BBKnowledge, June 20, 2014
- “Developments in Water Law,” BB&K Legal Alert, June 10, 2014
- “WIFIA: New $350 Million Water Project Federal Financing Program*,” BBKnowledge, May 23, 2014
