Julia Barber Headshot | Large 2023

Julia B. Barber

Partner
  • (205) 226-8722
Download Resume jbarber@balch.com
Education
  • Washington & Lee University School of Law
    J.D., 2014, magna cum laude; Order of the Coif; Washington & Lee Law Review, Lead Articles Editor
  • University of South Carolina
    B.S., Accounting, 2011, summa cum laude; South Carolina Honors College
Bar Admissions
  • Alabama, 2014
About Julia
Q&A
  • What types of clients do you represent?

    My clients primarily include large power companies and other industrial and manufacturing companies, such as wood pellet manufacturing facilities.

  • Which Courts or agencies do you most often appear before on behalf of your clients?

    I routinely represent clients before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, but I have also assisted with the representation of clients in other Courts of Appeals, district courts, and Alabama State courts. Additionally, a significant portion of my work relates to actions before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental agencies, including the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

  • What type of matters do you work on most often?

Select Matters

  • EPA Clean Power Plan and Affordable Clean Energy Litigation: Represented major electric generating company in challenges to EPA Clean Power Plan and associated reconsideration denial in D.C. Circuit (2015, State of West Virginia, et al. v. EPA, 15-1363 (D.C. Cir.); 2017, State of North Dakota, et al. v. EPA, 17-1014 (D.C. Cir.)). Representing electric generating company in support of EPA in challenges to EPA’s repeal of the Clean Power Plan and promulgation of the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule (2019, American Lung Association, et al. v. EPA, 19-1140 (D.C. Cir.)).    
  • Air Permitting and Associated Challenges: Assist industrial facilities, including wood pellet manufacturing facilities and electric generating facilities, in various air permitting efforts such as construction permits, Synthetic Minor Operating Permits, and Title V Operating Permits. Represented facilities in associated challenges to air permits by third party groups. 
  • Environmental Due Diligence: Perform environmental due diligence and review in support of purchase and sale of power generation facilities, other industrial facilities, and general corporate transactions.    
  • New Source Review (NSR): Execute system compliance efforts relating to the CAA and NSR for various utilities. Assist in the representation of electric generating company in NSR enforcement action.
  • EPA Coal Combustion Residuals Litigation: Representing major electric generating company in support of EPA against challenge from environmental groups to CCR Part A Rule (2020, Labadie Environmental Org., et al. v. EPA, 20-1467 (D.C. Cir.)). Represented major electric generating company in support of EPA against challenge from environmental groups to CCR Phase One, Part One Rule (2018, Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc., et al. v. EPA, 18-1289 (D.C. Cir.)).
  • Regulation of Greenhouse Gases: Drafted comments for electric generating companies in EPA's promulgation of the Clean Power Plan regulations for the control of greenhouse gases under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, EPA’s proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, and EPA’s proposed replacement rule, the ACE rule.  
  • EPA NAAQS Designations: Representing electric generating company in judicial challenges to EPA's promulgation ofSO2  NAAQS designations. (2017, State of Texas, et al. v. EPA, No. 17-60088 (5th Cir.)).  Assist generating company in administrative proceedings relating to compliance with SO2 NAAQS designations.
  • Regional Haze/BART: Representing electric generating company in litigation regarding EPA’s Regional Haze and Interstate Visibility Transport Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for the State of Texas.(2020, National Parks Conservation Association, et al. v. EPA, 20-1408 (D.C. Cir.)). Drafted comments for electric generating company on EPA’s Regional Haze and Interstate Visibility Transport FIP for the State of Texas. Represented business group in participation as amicus curiae in challenge to EPA’s Regional Haze FIP for Utah (2016, State of Utah, et al. v. EPA, No. 16-9541 (10th Cir.)).
  • Interstate Transport: Represented electric generating company in challenges to EPA’s CSAPR Update. (2016, State of Wisconsin et al. v. EPA, No. 16-1406 (D.C. Cir.)). Drafted comments for generating electric generating company on EPA’s Revised CSAPR Update. Drafted comments for electric generating companies regarding EPA’s actions on 2015 ozone NAAQS interstate transport SIPs. 
  • SSM SIP Call: Represented electric generating company in support of EPA against challenge from environmental groups to EPA’s withdrawal of the SSM SIP Call for Texas.  (2020, Sierra Club, et al. v. EPA, 20-1115 (D.C. Cir.)).
  • CERCLA: Advise clients on issues related to Superfund sites, including potential impacts from potentially responsible party designations and listing of sites on the National Priorities List.

News

    Speaking Engagements

      Credentials

      Education
      • Washington & Lee University School of Law, J.D., 2014, magna cum laude; Order of the Coif; Washington & Lee Law Review, Lead Articles Editor
      • University of South Carolina, B.S., Accounting, 2011, summa cum laude; South Carolina Honors College
      Courts
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 2015
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 2016
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2019
      Bar Admissions
      • Alabama, 2014
      Professional Affiliations
      • Birmingham Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section
      Awards & Accolades
      • Chambers USA, Environment
      • The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, Environmental Law
      • Birmingham Business Journal, NextGenBham: Law Winner