Jorge J. García-Díaz

Jorge García-Díaz has over 20 years of experience in the private practice, providing counseling to clients in regulatory and compliance matters related to major federal and local environmental laws, such as CERCLA (Superfund), RCRA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act.

He represents clients before local and federal agencies with jurisdiction over Puerto Rico environmental matters, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Quality Board, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Solid Waste Authority, the Energy Affairs Administration and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.

Jorge has represented clients with environmental law issues in a diverse variety of industries, including real estate, banking, solid waste collection, transportation and disposal (commercial and industrial landfill operation), hazardous waste transportation, pharmaceutical products manufacturing, retail pharmacy, shopping centers, retail stores, rental car, hotels, hospitals, manufacturing and energy and infrastructure development. 

He has participated in complex environmental cases, including the representation of a petroleum company in a products liability and natural resources damages multidistrict litigation, relating to the use of the gasoline additive Methyl-tert butyl ther (MTBE).

Jorge closely participates with environmental consultants in removal and remediation related activities in sites subject to Superfund and RCRA corrective actions.  He also participates in Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments in connection with due diligence activities and provides counsel to clients in environmental issues related to real estate transactions, leases and mergers and acquisitions.  He has also acted as lecturer and speaker to the banking industry on CERCLA / Superfund and RCRA / UST liability issues associated with foreclosure of properties.

He started his career in the public service first as a staff attorney and subsequently as Director of the Legal Affairs Office of the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, where he served for over two years before entering private practice in 1995.