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Justine Beckstrom

Senior Counsel

Justine Beckstrom assists her public and private clients in all things water quality, with a focus on effecting positive changes in state regulations and policies.

Justine provides comprehensive representation under the Clean Water Act and the Colorado Water Quality Control Act for municipalities, industry, utilities, special districts, nonprofits, and trade associations. She routinely acts as general water quality counsel for her clients, guiding them through myriad regulatory changes at the federal and state level, as well as advising them in compliance matters. She has extensive experience in state rulemaking hearings on water quality standards, reviewing and commenting on complex permits, and in challenges to state-issued discharge permits.

Justine actively participates in various stakeholder efforts aimed at developing and revising state water quality regulations and policies.

Additionally, Justine has represented clients on permitting issues under Colorado’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Clients requiring counsel in complicated environmental matters rely on Justine’s substantial knowledge and attention to detail to successfully navigate state and federal regulations.

Education

J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2012, Certificate in Environmental & Natural Resources Law
B.A., University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, 2008

Recognitions

Colorado Mining Association, Outstanding Service to the Mining Industry (2024)

Memberships

  • Colorado Bar Association, Environmental Law, Natural Resources & Energy Law, and Water Law Sections
  • Boulder County Bar Association
  • Colorado Environmental Management Society
  • Colorado Mining Association
  • Colorado Water Quality Forum

State Bar Licenses

Colorado, Wyoming

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
U.S. District Ct, District of Colorado

Representative Experience

  • Regularly represents public and private clients in rulemaking and administrative action hearings before the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission.
  • Represents clients in administrative and judicial challenges to CDPS discharge permits issued by the Colorado Water Quality Control Division, including on behalf of mining companies, municipalities, and special districts.
  • Represented public and private clients in successful revisions to the state water quality standards, including representation of a mining company to update human health-based water quality standards using the best available science.
  • Advises clients on all stages of Colorado CDPS Permits, including application, review and comment on draft permits and modifications, and compliance with CDPS permits.
  • Litigates CDPS discharge permit terms and conditions before administrative agencies and courts.
  • Experience with CDPS and NPDES discharge permitting for wastewater treatment plants, water treatment plants, and industrial and municipal stormwater.
  • Works closely with the Colorado Water Quality Control Division staff in ongoing stakeholder efforts on state regulations and policies.
  • Represented amici in litigation of a Clean Water Act citizen suit in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in the first reported appellate decision concerning indirect discharges considered the functional equivalent of discharges to waters of the United States under the U.S. Supreme Court Maui.
  • Testified on draft legislation in front of the Colorado General Assembly, Senate Finance Committee.
  • Represented client in challenge to their permit under the State RCRA.
  • Counsels clients on regulatory and legislative developments related to PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

Publications and Presentations:

  • Co-presenter, Ethics for Judicial Law Clerks & Interns, Denver, CO (June 2013; June 2014)
  • Symposium Editor, 2012: The Year of Water, Denver, CO (April 13, 2012)
  • Author, Court Report, Upper Eagle Reg’l Water Auth. v. Wolfe, 230 P.3d 1203, 14 U. Denv. Water L. Rev. 177 (2010).