Tanner N. Brantley
Tanner Brantley helps developers, energy companies, utilities, manufacturers, construction companies, and other businesses move projects forward while managing environmental and regulatory risk.
He advises clients on permitting, compliance, enforcement, and environmental issues affecting operations and transactions, translating complex federal, state, and local requirements into practical strategies aligned with project schedules, operational needs, and business objectives. His practice includes matters involving the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and Virginia environmental and occupational safety programs.
Tanner regularly represents clients before the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and other regulatory agencies. His experience includes Virginia Water Protection (VWP) permits and Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certifications, renewable energy permit-by-rule (PBR) requirements, stormwater and erosion and sediment control compliance, wetlands and stream impacts, air permitting, enforcement actions, and consent orders. He also works closely with buyers, sellers, investors, lenders, and deal teams on environmental aspects of mergers, acquisitions, asset purchases, real estate transactions, and project investments. Tanner evaluates environmental diligence, permitting and compliance risks, helps develop practical mitigation strategies, and assists in allocating identified liabilities through transaction documents. He also advises on Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) matters and emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane.
Tanner earned his Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law, his Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law and Graduate School, and his Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College.
- Elon University School of Law (J.D.)
Coverdell Fellow
- Vermont Law and Graduate School (M.E.L.P.)
- Morehouse College (B.A.)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association - Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Member
- North Carolina Bar Association – Member
- Richmond Bar Association – Member
- Hill Tucker Bar Association – Member
- Old Dominion Bar Association – Member
- The National Black Lawyers – Member
Community Involvements
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. – Rho Iota Lambda Chapter Member
- Sportable – Associate Board Member, Vice Chair
- The 423 Fund – Chair
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina State Bar
- Virginia State Bar
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Virginia
The National Black Lawyers – Top 40 Under 40 Honoree in Virginia (2025)
Best Lawyers® – "Ones to Watch"® in America, Environmental Law (2026)
Experience
Energy & Infrastructure Permitting
Counseled the owner of a federally licensed Virginia hydroelectric facility on a VWP permit and Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification, including agency negotiations and administrative appeal strategy concerning minimum flows, peaking operations, operational flexibility, economic feasibility, and coordination of state permit conditions with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license requirements.
Advised developers, owners, and investors on environmental permitting and due diligence for utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects, including Virginia permit-by-rule (PBR) requirements, stormwater management, wetlands and stream impacts, land-disturbance approvals, local development conditions, and environmental risk allocation.
Advised developers and energy project sponsors on wetlands and stream mitigation strategies, including the evaluation, purchase, and negotiation of compensatory mitigation credits, mitigation credit purchase agreements, and related real estate and project-development documents.
Environmental Transactions & Due Diligence
Advised buyers, sellers, and investors on environmental aspects of acquisitions, asset purchases, real estate transactions, and project investments involving energy, manufacturing, industrial, and operating businesses.
Conducted environmental due diligence for acquisitions and asset transactions involving energy, industrial, and operating businesses; reviewed permits, compliance records, environmental studies, and potential liabilities and helped transaction teams address identified risks in deal documents.
Counseled a strategic buyer in connection with the acquisition of an industrial facility, including review of Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, evaluation of identified contamination and regulatory obligations, coordination of pre-closing diligence, and review of state liability-protection and post-closing compliance documentation.
Environmental Compliance & Enforcement
Represented industrial and manufacturing clients in responding to alleged environmental violations and negotiating practical resolutions with DEQ, including consent orders, civil charges, corrective-action obligations, compliance schedules, and strategies to support continued operations.
Counseled industrial and manufacturing clients on federal and state reporting and compliance obligations, including Toxic Release Inventory reporting, air and water permit requirements, and emerging contaminant issues.
Represented residential developers, homebuilders, and construction companies in stormwater and environmental compliance matters, including inspection findings, alleged noncompliance, notices of violation, erosion and sediment control requirements, wetlands issues, agency response letters, settlement strategy, and corrective-action planning designed to limit disruption to active projects.
Workplace Safety
Represented employers in Virginia Occupational Safety and Health matters, including citation review, informal conference strategy, factual development, and resolution of alleged workplace safety violations.
