Charles A. O'Connor, III
FAX: 202.496.7756
Experience
Charles A. O'Connor, III, has nearly 40 years experience as an environmental counsel, focusing on chemical and pesticide regulation by federal, state and international agencies. As an authority on U.S. and international chemical regulation, Mr. O’Connor has developed a practice covering the gamut of regulations that affect the manufacture, marketing and use of agricultural, antimicrobial and non-agricultural pesticides, industrial and specialty chemicals and formulated chemical products. His clients include manufacturers and marketers of industrial, institutional and consumer products containing chemicals subject to the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Mr. O’Connor has represented registrants in most of the major pesticide cancellation proceedings before the Environmental Protection Agency, including those against DDT, heptachlor-chlordane, lindane and dicofol. He represents over a dozen industry testing joint ventures and coalitions, including the Spray Drift Task Force, DEET Joint Venture, Pyrethrin Joint Venture, and Residential Exposure Joint Venture. An authority on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Chuck advises on chemical nomenclature, testing, notification, recordkeeping and reporting.
Mr. O’Connor is listed in the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of The Best Lawyers in America practicing Environmental Law. Corporate Counsel recognized him as a Top Lawyer in 2010. Mr. O’Connor also was named one of America's Leading Business Lawyers in the 2004 and 2005 editions of Chambers USA and was rated highly recommended counsel in Practical Law Company’s Cross-Border Environmental Handbook (2006/2007/2008/2009).
Notable Engagements
- Statutory Review Board challenge to Canada's Pest Management Review Board proposal to ban the pesticide linden.
- Presentation to EPA's Industrial Chemical Branch on statutory mixtures.
Education
- M.A. in Liberal Studies, Georgetown University, 1985
- J.D., Georgetown University, 1967
- A.B., Harvard University, cum laude in English, 1964
Admitted
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, Federal Circuit, Fifth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, and Eleventh Circuit
Publications:
- Pesticide Regulation Handbook, 4th Edition, McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP, (2007), principal author.
- The TSCA Handbook, 4th Edition, Government Institutes, (2006), principal author.
- Consumer Product Safety Handbook, Government Institutes, (1977), co-author.
Seminars and Presentations:
- "TSCA Reform: REACHing Consumer Products," Presentation to CSPA's Chemical Management Policy Team (December 10, 2008).
- "Pesticide Risk Assessment: Past and Present," The Basics of U.S. Pesticide Regulation and Current Developments, (December 2008).
- "TSCA: Regulating the Manufacture, Importation, Distribution and Use of Chemicals in the United States," Global Chemical Regulation: TSCA and Its International Counterparts, (November 2008).
- "TSCA: Its Critics and Legislative Prospects," Consumer Specialty Products Association Mid-Year Meeting, (May 8, 2007).
- "CSPA Petition to Modify Exemption for Minimum Risk Pesticides Claiming to Control Public Health Pests," Presentation to Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (March 5, 2007).
Professional Activities:
- American Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar