W. Blaine Early III
Blaine’s science background and experience as a college professor help set him apart as an environmental lawyer, where technical expertise is an important complement to the practice of law. His legal practice is a broad approach to environmental law that includes a focus on water and land issues, agriculture, natural resources and energy, and the intersection of surety law and environmental regulatory matters. He counsels clients on environmental compliance and environmental considerations in real estate and business transactions and is active in civil and administrative litigation.
Age is an asset for UK's Donovan Scholars
by Kim Kobersmith, KentuckyLiving, August 3, 2024
Know Your Obligations: A Survey of Environmental Permitting and Reporting Requirements
Speaker, 27th Annual Kentucky Environmental Permitting and Reporting Conference, Lexington, Ky., July 23, 2024
What You Need to Know About Reclamation Bonds
Speaker, National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), February 28, 2023
Develop a Sustainability Plan
with Shane Tedder, David DeVore andEmily Ladouceur, Bluegrass Forever Green Summer Conference 2022, July 2022
Chapter 7: Reclamation Bonds
co author with Robert L. Scanlon and Laura M. Murphy, The Law of Commercial Surety and Miscellaneous Bonds, Third Edition, ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2022
Can My Business Take the 100% Clean Energy by 2030 Pledge?
20th Annual Kentucky Environmental Conference, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, March 10-11, 2022
Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure
Kentuckiana Chapter of Hazardous Materials Managers, Louisville, KY, March 11, 2020
Use Energy Star Portfolio Manager to Monitor Energy Use and Boost Profits
9th Annual Kentucky Energy Management Conference, January 30, 2020
Stormwater Management System Objectives and Design Considerations
Stormwater Basins and Underground Systems, HalfMoon Seminars, Louisville, KY, November 1, 2019
Corporate Sustainability Best Practices...Using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager to Boost Profits and Promote Sustainability
28th Annual Business & Industry's Sustainability & Environmental, Health and Safety Symposium, Cincinnati, OH, March 26, 2019
Overview of Water Laws in Kentucky
HalfMoon Seminars on Kentucky Water Laws and Regulation, Lexington, KY, October 23, 2018
Compliance With Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Regulations and Unusual Stormwater Conditions
27th Annual Business and Industry's Sustainability and Environmental, Health & Safety Symposium, Cincinnati, OH, March 27-28, 2018
Reporting Sustainability: Zero Waste, Cradle-to-Cradle, and Life Cycle Assessment
Kentucky Chapter of Air & Waste Management Association, Louisville, Kentucky, November 10, 2017
Genetic Editing in Ag Biotech
American Agricultural Law Association Symposium, Louisville, KY, October 27, 2017
The Remains of Water Quality Regulation
Best Practices in Sustainability: Prove Your Success, in Zero Waste, Cradle-to-Cradle, and Life Cycle Assessment
Annual Sustainability and Environmental, Health & Safety Symposium, Cincinnati, OH, March 21, 2017
Current Issues and Perspectives on SMCRA Reclamation Bonding
Managing the Risks of Climate Change
14th Annual Kentucky Environmental Conference, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Lexington, Ky., February 10, 2016
Complying with your KPDES Permit Part 2: Details
The Goods, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, May 2015
Bond What You Know and Insure What You Don’t: A Comment on A Market Approach to Regulating the Energy Revolution
45 Environmental Law Reporter 10756, 2015
Stormwater is Everyone's Challenge
Read It, Do It, Document It: Complying with your KPDES Permit, Part 1: Implementing Plans
The Goods, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, January 2015
Water Programs and HazMat Management
25-Year Retrospective for Kentuckiana Chapter of Hazardous Materials Managers, Louisville, KY, January 14, 2015
Waters, waters everywhere: Does the proposed definition of waters of the United States expand the Clean Water Act's reach?
Trends, Vol. 46 No. 2, published by the American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, November/December 2014
Facing High-Tide Successfully: Getting Stormwater Policies Put into Practice
Environmental Compliance and Drinking Water Protection: The Roles of Permits, Plans, and Reports
17th Annual Kentucky Environmental Permitting & Reporting Conference, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, August 20, 2014
You Thought You Had a Permit for That Discharge?
17th Annual Kentucky Environmental Permitting & Reporting Conference, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, August 19, 2014
From Production to Market
Kentucky Regulatory Changes in Water Quality Standards
Development of Kentucky Water Laws
Stormwater Regulation, It's Time to Get Serious
2013 Kentucky Chamber of Commerce 16th Annual Environmental Permitting & Reporting Conference, August 21, 2013
Legal and tax issues for energy generation in Kentucky
Natural resources law update: Issues in surface mining
Water-related initiatives concerning central Appalachian coal mining
Reclamation Bonds, The Law of Commercial Surety and Miscellaneous Bonds
Trends in Water Quality Issues for Appalachian Mining
The Balancing Act of Biofuels
Intergovernmental Cooperating and Coercion in Environmental Law
Kentucky Water Laws and Regulations
Environmental/Reclamation Financial Assurances: Back to the Future
56th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Annual Institute, Banff, Alberta, Canada, July 22-24, 2010
Big Waters: Everyone's Resource but Whose Responsibility?
Property Rights in a Sustainable World: More than Minerals and Surface
Biofuel Production and Water Quality
Toilet to Tap and the Clean Water Act
Newsletter of the Water Quality and Wetlands Committee, American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources, April 2008
Carbon Concerns: Law, Policy, and Business
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed: The Marriage of Nuisance and Environmental Regulation
Mold Litigation & Risk Management
The Blending of Bankruptcy and Environmental Law Issues
Managing Risks of Mold
Advising surety on risks and compliance obligations associated with completing coal mine reclamation to avoid bond forfeiture
Advising materials recycler on compliance with state and local water quality laws and ordinances
Representing landowner in dispute over payment of mining royalties
Defending mineral mining operations against citizens' suits alleging unauthorized water pollution
Advising investor/purchaser of mining and mineral interests from bankruptcy estate
Defending waste facility permit against citizens’ challenge
Defending power plant's wastewater discharge permit against citizens' challenge
Counseling clients on the validity of permit requirements and challenging permits when necessary
Part of the legal team for surety companies addressing bankruptcy, mine reclamation, black lung and workers compensation issues
Led the legal team on behalf of a major metropolitan area to challenge a wastewater discharge permit upstream of the city's drinking water intake and to protect upstream source water
Counsel to major animal agriculture producers in litigation and compliance with environmental laws including Clean Water Act, CERCLA, EPCRA, waste and common law nuisance
Counsel for real estate and business transactions and mineral, natural gas and oil development
Represented parties in litigation involving water intrusion and mold growth in buildings
Defending manufacturers in actions alleging exposure to toxic materials such as lead in the workplace and homes
Office of General Counsel, Ethics Subcommittee, Member
Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government, Environmental Commission, Chair
Bluegrass Tomorrow, Executive Board and Vice-Chair for Bluegrass Forever Green
Upper Cumberland River Watershed Watch, Secretary and Board Member
Watershed Watch in Kentucky, Inc., Board Member
cum laude
University of Kentucky College of Law
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Order of the Coif
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Journal of Natural Resources & Environmental Law, Editor in Chief
University of Louisville
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Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
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Associate Member of Society of Sigma Xi
DePauw University
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Phi Beta Kappa
Law is Blaine's second career. He served on the biology faculty of Cumberland College (now the University of the Cumberlands) in Williamsburg, Ky., from 1979 until 1993, chairing the department (1984 to 1993) and earning the rank of full professor. His research focused on insect/plant interactions, and he continues those interests. Prior to joining the firm in September 1998, Blaine was Judicial Law Clerk to Hon. Jennifer B. Coffman, United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, in London, Kentucky. Blaine is current Chair of the Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government Environmental Commission and is a member of the Executive Board of Bluegrass Tomorrow. He is a member of the board for the Upper Cumberland River Watershed Watch and is a member of the board of the state-wide organization Watershed Watch in Kentucky, Inc. Blaine is a former Chair of the Kentucky Chamber Energy and Environmental Council, a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, former chair of the Water Quality and Wetlands Committee of the American Bar Association's Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources and co-chair of the Section’s Virtual Learning Committee; former chair of the Natural Resources Section of the Kentucky Bar Association; and, a former president of the Kentucky Academy of Science. He is an amateur radio “ham” extra class radio operator, is active in regional emergency communications efforts, and delights in remote, solar-power communications activities.
Best Lawyers in America®, Energy Law, Environmental Law; Water Law (2007-25)
Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2016-24)
International Law Office and Lexology, Client Choice Award for Excellence in Client Service (2015)
Robert N. Clay President's Award, Bluegrass Tomorrow Awards Breakfast (2010, 2023)
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications
Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers® recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers® list and 14 attorneys to the Rising Stars® list.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
Bluegrass Tomorrow Honors W. Blaine Early at 2023 Vision Awards Breakfast
LEXINGTON, Ky. —Bluegrass Tomorrow recently honored Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney W. Blaine Early, III with the Robert N. Clay President’s Award for most valuable board member. This is the second time Early has received the award.
What You Need to Know About Reclamation Bonds
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Virtual Seminar
Attorneys Blaine Early and Bill Gorton will be speakers for the NASBP's virtual seminar on reclamation bonds on Tuesday, February 28th.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 37 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
20th Annual Kentucky Environmental Conference
Griffin Gate Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, 1800 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511
Environmental attorney Blaine Early will be a presenter at this two-day conference in Lexington, Kentucky on March 10 & 11, 2022.