His work establishing environmental regulations and becoming all around Avenger played out from the 70’s throughout the 80’s;
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1971–75,
National Association of Attorneys General, 1975–76,
Assistant Attorney General, Commonwealth of Virginia, 1976–80.
How did Timothy G. Hayes become an Environmental Avenger? In his early years of law he worked as the assistant attorney general representing the State Water Control Board (1976). He helped to settle litigation and only a year later the State Water Control Board received authority to manage the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program. Timothy Hayes was a key player in defining the regulations and getting that program up and going.
The State Water Control Board with Attorney Timothy Hayes at the helm set precedence when there was a major oil spill which occurred in the Chesapeake Bay the winter of 1976. The Water Control Board received a large monetary settlement in litigation. The case helped to set a value for thousands of waterfowl which died as a result of the oil spill. Not only was there a reimbursement for the loss of wildlife, it was also one of the first cases in which the courts put a value on the loss of birds, mammals, flora and fish and gave residents the right to receive money for the damage.
Attorney Timothy Hayes is a partner in Hunton & Williams in Richmond, Virginia. His practice is 50% Environmental, 30% Environmental Litigation and 20% Administrative Law. He has received recognition from his peers for the work he does:
Hayes was honored as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law, 1992-2007,
Hayes was named as a ''Virginia Super Lawyer,'' in the Richmond magazine, 2006-2007.
In review, the title of Environmental Avenger has been earned by Timothy G. Hayes for his work over the past two decades. Attorney Timothy Hayes brought Virginia out of ignorance about environmental issues and helped set regulations that would have an influence across the United States in zoning, waste treatment and landfills. Timothy Hayes set precedence in environmental litigation. He has obtained coveted titles of “Best Lawyers in America” for environmental law over 15 consecutive years.
The environment was getting cleaned up with the appropriate sewage treatment systems for the public. Regulations to control dumping from industry too close to neighborhoods changed when Hayes fought to get the zoning laws approved to protect families from the by-product dumps of industry. He helped to raise the standards for landfills so the health of communities would not be jeopardized. These changes we take for granted were developed over years of consistent work by the Environmental Lawyer in court and on Capitol Hill to bring a nation to recognize the fact that we must protect our earth.