Photograph of Robert Meyers

Government Experience

  • Environmental Protection Agency—Assistant Administrator (Acting)/Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator (2007-2009); Deputy Assistant Administrator/Associate Assistant Administrator (2004-2007); Office of Air and Radiation
  • United States House of Representatives—Deputy Chief Counsel for Energy and Environment/Environmental Counsel, House Energy and Commerce Committee (1995-2004)
  • United States House of Representatives—Chief of Staff/Legislative Director, Representative Michael Bilirakis (1983-1994)
  • United States House of Representatives—Senior Legislative Assistant, Representative James Nelligan (1981-1983)
  • United States House of Representatives—Task Force Director, Defense (1979-1980)

Education

  • St. Lawrence University (1976) cum laude
  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D. (1979)

Admissions

  • District of Columbia

Robert Meyers

Partner
Washington, D.C.
rmeyers@crowell.com
Phone: +1 202.624.2967
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004-2595

Bob Meyers is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Crowell & Moring and a member of the firm's Environment & Natural Resources Group, where his practice focuses on federal and state energy and environmental issues, specifically Clean Air Act (CAA), greenhouse gas, climate change regulation, litigation, and enforcement. Bob has represented clients in related litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals (D.C. Circuit) and the Ninth Circuit as well as Congress and federal agencies.

With more than three decades of Washington experience in energy, utility, transportation, fuel, and climate issues, Bob formerly led the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, serving as Assistant Administrator (Acting) and Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator. In 2019, Bob was appointed to serve on the EPA's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee.

Prior to his work at EPA, Bob served as Deputy Chief Counsel for Energy and Environment and Environmental Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as Chief of Staff for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. As a result, Bob has extensive experience in the legislative process and regulatory implementation, including the drafting and negotiation of environmental and energy statutes and the promulgation of Clean Air Act regulations affecting national ambient air quality standards, stationary and mobile source requirements, fuels and fuel additives, hazardous air pollutants, and ozone-depleting substances.

During Bob's tenure with EPA, the landmark case of Massachusetts v. EPA was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Bob oversaw efforts at EPA to respond to the court's ruling, including development of light duty automobile regulations and publication of the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Greenhouse Gases in July 2008 (ANPR). The ANPR addressed the seminal issue of regulating stationary sources for greenhouse gas emissions under authority of the Clean Air Act as well as provided extensive analysis of regulatory pathways for mobile and stationary sources. Bob additionally managed EPA's efforts to set final primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone; primary and secondary NAAQS for lead emissions; control of emissions from locomotive and marine diesel engines; final rules for small engines; and final radiation health and safety standards for the nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

At Crowell, Bob has advised clients regarding numerous CAA implementation issues, including with regard to facility permitting, issues related to new source review, air monitoring requirements, compliance with reporting regulations and disclosures under EPA and California audit policies. His expertise spans the full range of Clean Air Act programs including stationary and mobile source regulations and he has advised clients with regard to product compliance and business planning.

While at EPA, Bob also closely supervised implementation of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and the development of regulations for the expanded "RFS2" program under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. He also testified before Congress on 12 occasions concerning climate change, regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, mercury regulations, and pending energy legislation regarding alternative fuels, infrastructure, and vehicles. Bob additionally represented the United States government at international environmental meetings and helped organize U.S. negotiating efforts within the Montreal Protocol process to accelerate the production and consumption phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

During his prior service with the U.S. House of Representatives, Bob served as lead counsel for several titles of Energy Policy Act legislation considered between 2002 and 2004, including provisions on climate change, renewable fuels, fuel additives, clean coal technology and research and development. He also represented House Energy Commerce Committee members on the 2002 Farm Bill conference and the 2004 highway funding bill (TEA-LU) and drafted Title IV of the 2001 Bioterrorism Act to establish drinking water security measures.

Bob's significant legislative experience includes House and Senate conference committees for the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, "TEA-LU," defense authorization bills, and environmental provisions in agricultural legislation. He drafting and negotiating several successful amendments to the Clean Air Act, including measures regarding the State Implementation Plan crediting of vehicle commuting, addressing U.S./Mexico cross-border vehicular traffic, the reform of transportation conformity provisions, authorization of the phase-out of methyl bromide, and measures to limit the number of "boutique fuels" allowed for retail sale. Early in his career on Capitol Hill, Bob authored proposals to address acid rain and negotiated several successful provisions to provide emission allowances for utilities in high-growth states.

Bob has been ranked by Chambers and Partners in the field of climate change law for the past five years. Clients have said his “knowledge of air regulations is second to none and his deep experience and practical business knowledge make him a crucial ally in regulatory change issues." He was also named by Lawdragon as one of "500 Leading U.S. Environmental & Energy Lawyers" in 2021.


Affiliations

Admitted to practice: District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits



Highlights, News & Knowledge

Speeches & Presentations

  • "EPA Update: Transition to Biden Administration," Joint Meeting of Diesel Technology Forum and Engine Manufacturers Association (December 16, 2020). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • "Hazardous Air Pollutant Activities," 2020 MEGA Symposium: Navigating the Emerging energy Environment (November 17, 2020). Presenter: Robert Meyers.
  • "Election 2020: Environmental Law and Policy," Crowell & Moring Webinar (October 28, 2020). Presenters: David Chung, Robert Meyers, Byron R. Brown, Paul Freeman, Amanda Shafer Berman, Elizabeth B. Dawson, and Amy Symonds.
  • "Managing Environmental Compliance and Exposure to Liability During the Coronavirus Crisis," Crowell & Moring Webinar (April 8, 2020). Presenters: David Chung, Peter Gray, Robert Meyers, Kirsten L. Nathanson, Byron R. Brown, and Paul Freeman.
  • "EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Agenda for 2019," Crowell & Moring Webinar (March 7, 2019). Speakers: Paul Freeman, Robert Meyers, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Byron R. Brown, Elizabeth B. Dawson, and Preetha Chakrabarti.
  • "View from Washington – Status of the Trump/Pruitt Regulatory Agenda," Energy Industry Environmental Law Conference, Houston, TX (May 18, 2018). Presenter: Robert Meyers.
  • "Beyond the First Year - Regulation in the Trump Era," Crowell & Moring Webinar (February 28, 2018). Presenters: Thomas A. Lorenzen, James G. Flood, W. Scott Douglas, Christine M. Clements, Jodi G. Daniel, Robert Meyers, Michael Boucher, Daniel Cannistra, Jennifer A. Ray, Maarten Stassen, Jenny E. Cieplak, and Matthew B. Welling.
  • "UBS Access: The Next Round of Ozone - Meshing Old and New EPA Air Regs," UBS Securities Teleconference (October 7, 2015). Presenters: Richard Lehfeldt, Thomas A. Lorenzen, Robert Meyers, and Jared B. Fish.
  • "Update on Post-Election Energy and Environmental Policy," Diesel Technology Forum, Annual Meeting, Arlington, VA (November 12, 2014). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • "EPA's Proposed Greenhouse Gas Standards for New Power Plants," Institute of Clean Air Companies, 2014 Legislative Conference, Washington, D.C. (July 29, 2014). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • "Impact of Energy Policy Act of 2005 on EPA Clean Air Act Authority under CAA section 111," EEI/ABA/ELI Climate Conference, Washington, D.C. (January 30, 2014). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • "Testimony of Robert J. Meyers Before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power," U.S. House of Representatives' hearing on the "American Energy Initiative" (March 28, 2012). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • "Testimony of Robert J. Meyers Before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power," U.S. House of Representatives' hearing on the "Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011" (May 13, 2011). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • "Testimony of Robert J. Meyers Before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power," U.S. House of Representatives' hearing on the "Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011" (April 13, 2011). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • "Obama Administration Clean Air Act Agenda At Year One," American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, 39th Annual Conference on Environmental Law, General Session, Salt Lake City (March 2010). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • "The Lowered 8-Hour Ozone Standard: How we get there from here," American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, Air Quality Committee, Washington, D.C. (August 2009). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • Edison Electric Institute Summer Environmental Meetings, Clean Air Strategy Group, San Francisco (June 2009). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • American University Washington College of Law Symposium, Climate Change Legislation: Domestic and International Implications, Washington, D.C. (October 2008). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • PowerPlant Air Pollutant Control "Mega" Symposium, Office of Air and Radiation and Implementation of National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Baltimore (August 2008). Speaker: Robert Meyers.
  • EPA Air Quality Priorities and Climate Change Outlook, EEI National LAMPAC Meeting, Washington, D.C. (June 2008). Presenter: Robert Meyers.
  • U.S. Delegation to the 20th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, Montreal (2007). Member: Robert Meyers.
  • EPA Representative to Transatlantic Cooperation for Clean Air Workshop, Brussels (2007). Presenter: Robert Meyers.
  • U.S. Delegation and Presenter to U.S.-EU High Level Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development, Helsinki (2006). Member: Robert Meyers.
  • U.S. Congressional Delegation to the Ninth Session of the Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Milan (2003). Member: Robert Meyers.
  • U.S. Congressional Delegation to Meetings of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (Beijing, 1999; San Jose, 1996; Geneva, 1995) (January 1, 1999). Member: Robert Meyers.

Publications


Client Alerts & Newsletters


Media Mentions


Firm News & Announcements

May.20.2021 Chambers USA 2021 Ranks 63 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 30 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
Apr.23.2020 Chambers USA 2020 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 21 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
Nov.07.2019 Crowell & Moring Partner Robert Meyers Appointed to the EPA's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee
Apr.29.2019 Chambers USA 2019 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 21 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
May.09.2018 Chambers USA 2018 Ranks 52 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 24 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
Jan.04.2018 Crowell & Moring Elects Seven New Partners and Promotes 23 Associates to Counsel
May.26.2017 Chambers USA 2017 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 23 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
Mar.28.2012 Crowell & Moring's Robert Meyers Testifies Before Congressional Committee on Energy & Power
Apr.12.2011 Robert Meyers to Testify Before House Energy and Commerce Committee on Clean Air Act and Outer Continental Shelf Activities