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Austin Echols Baker Botts Houston
Austin Echols Baker Botts Houston
Austin Echols
Senior Associate
[email protected]
DETAILS
Practices
Crisis Management
EHS Crisis Response
Environmental, Safety and Incident Response Group
Health and Safety
Investigations
Litigation
Monitorships
Details
Overview
Overview Admissions & Affiliations Experience News Thought Leadership
Practices
Crisis Management
EHS Crisis Response
Environmental, Safety and Incident Response Group
Health and Safety
Investigations
Litigation
Monitorships

Overview

Austin Echols' practice focuses on a range of environmental, health, safety, and transportation issues at the state, federal, and international levels. His experience includes addressing workplace safety, process safety, pipeline safety, incident response, maritime, aviation, hazardous materials, air, water, and waste issues in matters involving OSHA, CSB, PHMSA, USCG, BSEE, FAA, EPA, and corresponding state agencies. Austin also counsels clients during crises, defends witness interviews, and manages federal and state agency investigations into workplace safety, process safety, transportation, and environmental incidents. Prior to returning to private practice, Austin served as Senior Counsel for a large upstream oil and gas company in Alaska, where he managed environmental, safety, incident response, pipeline, and aviation matters for the company's Alaska operations.

Prior to attending law school, Austin worked as an operator for a large pipeline company and served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a shipboard engineer, waterfront facility inspector, and pollution investigator. Austin continues to serve in the USCG Reserve. Austin also serves on the Board of Directors of Breakwater Alliance Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists active duty USCG members with mental health issues.

Admissions & Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Alaska Bar

Education

  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center
    cum laude
    Chief HLRe Editor, Houston Law Review
  • B.A., Business Administration, Sam Houston State University

Experience

Incident Response & Workplace Safety

  • Represented and provided immediate incident response and crisis management to chemical facilities and oil refineries following releases, fires, and explosions that resulted in fatalities and personal injuries.
  • Represented onshore and offshore operators in response to BSEE, BLM, and EPA safety and environmental investigations.
  • Advised companies on OSHA, EPA, USCG, and CSB investigation processes and regulations before, during, and after crises.
  • Represented companies during OSHA, EPA, USCG, and PHMSA inspections and contested citations related to workplace fatalities, injuries, and transportation incidents.
  • Defended refineries, chemical facilities, manufacturers, and food processing companies in OSHA citations, including allegations involving process safety management and other workplace safety standards.

Maritime & Transportation

  • Advised companies in the oil, gas, and maritime industries on USCG safety, security, and environmental regulations, and counseled on PHMSA requirements related to the construction and maintenance of LNG and hazardous liquid facilities and pipelines.
  • Represented companies in FAA investigations and appeals, including securing withdrawal of an investigation with no enforcement action and reversal of an adverse agency determination.
  • Served as a member of the court-appointed monitor team for one of the world’s largest cruise lines subject to a criminal judgment arising from international vessel pollution.
  • Advised companies within the oil, gas, and transportation industries on pipeline safety, hazardous materials, and transportation regulations.
  • Represented Alaskan pipeline operators in PHMSA enforcement proceedings, resulting in withdrawal of proposed violations, and advised other operators on jurisdictional determinations, pipeline abandonment obligations, and enforcement risks.

Internal Investigations

  • Performed privileged investigations in connection with fire and chemical release incidents at refineries and chemical plants.
  • Performed internal investigations and provided risk assessments and recommendations to a large private environmental infrastructure maintenance company on environmental, health, safety, and transportation matters.
  • Performed internal investigations and provided risk assessments and recommendations to a large private supermarket company on COVID-19 policy and procedure implementation.

Environmental & Regulatory Counseling

  • Advised companies on compliance with federal and state environmental regulations, including oil spill responses to land and water and air releases under federal and state frameworks.
  • Represented states and state agencies in seeking EPA approval of Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting program assumptions and defended those approvals in litigation.
  • Represented private clients in Clean Water Act Section 404 civil enforcement actions.
  • Drafted comments to state and federal agencies on behalf of oil, gas, and energy clients in response to major environmental rulemakings

Transactions and Due Diligence

  • Analyzed potential OSHA, USCG, PHMSA, and environmental liabilities in connection with numerous acquisitions, mergers, sales of assets, and other transactions.
  • Provided regulatory counseling and risk assessments to support transaction negotiations and post-closing compliance obligations.