EXPERIENCE

Mr. Palma has over 25 years experience in natural resources and environmental law, including extensive work in federal and state public land law, NEPA, environmental regulatory compliance and permitting, oil and gas, minerals, and water.  He has worked on environmental and regulatory permitting associated with coalbed methane development, as well as conventional oil exploration production, natural gas processing and pipeline facilities within Wyoming and has been an adviser to oil and gas producers with respect to day-to-day legal issues. 

He has been lead counsel for major oil companies with respect to the NEPA and Endangered Species Act compliance regarding oil and gas projects on environmentally sensitive public lands in Wyoming, and successfully defended challenges to projects before the Interior Board of Land Appeals and Forest Service.  He has also litigated issues in the federal courts, including oil and gas royalties, EPA enforcement actions, NEPA, CERCLA, and Citizen's Suits, and regularly practices before the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Mr. Palma served on Holland & Hart's five-member Management Committee.  Before joining the firm, he served as Natural Resources Deputy Attorney General for the Wyoming Attorney General's office with primary responsibility in legislative matters, trial and appellate litigation, and policy-making in the areas of natural resources and water law, handled the adjudication of federal, Indian, and private water rights.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Member, Environmental, Public Lands and Legal Committees of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming

Member, Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States

Member, Natural Resources and Litigation Sections of the American Bar Association

Member and served as Trustee, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation

Mr. Palma is listed in Best Lawyers in America, International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers, and Who's Who in America.

PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Mr. Palma has written numerous articles and papers on natural resources, public lands, and environmental issues, water rights and water quality issues, including Indian water rights.

Mr. Palma has recently written a chapter in the American Law of Mining, entitled "Culture Resources Protection." He also wrote a chapter in the Natural Resources Law Manual of the ABA entitled, "Land Exchanges with the Federal Government," and for several years, he has authored the Wyoming Oil and Gas Section of the ABA's Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law Year in Review.

Mr. Palma's speeches and presentations include topics such as:

 "The Impact of NEPA on the Oil & Gas Industry,' BLM/Petroleum Association of Wyoming Workshop

 "Global Warming - The Implications of the Kyoto Treaty on the Natural Resource Sector," at an in-house seminar for firm clients

 "Strategies for Faster NEPA Approval of Oil, Gas and Mineral Projects," at an in-house seminar for firm clients

 "Federal Reserved Water Rights," testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Environmental Pollution of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

 "Litigating State and Indian Water Rights" before the National Conference on State Legislature's Task Force

 "Public Land Exchanges Strategies" before the 6th Annual Conference on Developments and Trends in Public Land and Mining Law of the ABA Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law

 "State Royalty Valuation" before the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Special Royalty Valuation Institute

 "Administrative Law Practice" before the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Litigation Special Institute

 "Environmental Audits" before the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association Annual Meeting

 "Municipal Water Rights," CLE International Water Law Seminar

 "Water Export," CLE International Water Law Seminar

 "Water Use Management: Tools for the 21st Century." CLE International Water Law Seminar

EDUCATION

University of Denver (J.D., 1974)
- Order of St. Ives

Allegheny College (B.A., 1968)