“I am proud that during my career I have helped to reduce pollution in California and throughout the US by working cooperatively with industry, agencies and the community to find feasible, cost-effective solutions to environmental issues. With my regulatory and technical expertise, I enjoy helping clients find the best solution to all of their matters.”
Frances Keeler joined Peacock Piper Tong + Voss LLP as Of Counsel in 2021, bringing in nearly four decades of environmental experience, primarily in air quality. Frances represents industrial, energy, and shipping companies before multiple federal, state, and regional environmental regulatory entities such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the California Air Resources Board, the California State Lands Commission, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Prior to entering private practice, Frances held numerous positions at SCAQMD, including enforcement, operations management and district counsel. While at SCAQMD, she was extensively involved in the development and implementation of air quality management plans, rule development, permitting, compliance, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) issues, and in California and federal programs to regulate non-road sources such as locomotives, marine vessels, and ground support equipment. Frances was most recently Vice President of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB), advocating for policies that protect public health while maintaining a strong economy. Frances led the South Coast Air Project and the Bay Area Project as Project Manager, with additional responsibilities in strategic management across all CCEEB projects.
100 West Broadway Suite 610
Oakland, CA 94612 USA
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California State University San Bernardino (B.A. Chemistry 1982)
Western State University College of Law (1987)
California
US Supreme Court
US Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section
CSU Maritime Foundation
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association
Maritime Lawyers Association
Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce
American Association of Blacks in Energy
Propeller Club of LA/Long Beach
Frances brings nearly 40 years of environmental experience from both the regulatory and industry perspectives. She represents a broad range of clients before various regulatory entities, including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (CARB), State Lands Commission (SLC) and the local air pollution agencies. Her expertise encompasses rule development, compliance issues, state and federal Clean Air Acts (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), multijurisdictional regulatory development, Title V and equipment permitting, credit trading, and global climate change. She represents clients before district hearing boards on variances, Title V alternative operating conditions, and permit appeals. Frances also advises clients planning development projects on permitting and compliance and helps to develop, review and defend California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analyses.
In her career at the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Frances advised the District Governing Board and staff on legal authority and obligations under all applicable laws including the state and federal CAA, CEQA, Torts Claims Act, Brown Act, regulatory development, conflicts and contracts law. She worked with senior management to develop district programs, strategies, and policies including Air Quality Management Plans (AQMPs), rules and regulations. She testified on behalf of the District at legislative and regulatory hearings regarding air quality issues. Frances represented the District in the development of state and federal programs to regulate nonroad sources such as locomotives, marine vessels and ground support equipment. Her litigation experience includes initiating and defending the District in state and federal courts, primarily focused on the CAA and CEQA, and representing the Executive Officer in administrative hearings before the District Hearing Board. She also hired and supervised outside counsel in liability matters and CEQA litigation. Frances developed and conducted staff training in enforcement and regulatory development.
Frances represents international commercial ship owners and operators, marine terminals, and trucking and warehousing operations by providing advice in contract review, lease negotiations, permitting, environmental compliance, and regulatory development. She advises clients during spill response and criminal investigations, concentrating on natural resource damages, and in criminal and civil litigation arising from marine casualties. Frances has worked with clients on issues before the US EPA, USCG, CARB, SLC, local air agencies and the ports including issues with MOTEMS, CEQA, CWA, CAA and many others. Frances has written compliance advisories and presented at national and international seminars and client trade associations on various environmental topics.
Frances’ Energy Practice focuses on representing upstream and downstream oil and gas and power plant operations in a variety of regulatory, permitting and compliance matters under the federal and state CCAs, CWA and Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90). She has represented refineries and municipalities in obtaining variances from district rules and regulations. Frances has conducted comprehensive facility environmental compliance audits for terminals, tank farms, offshore oil rigs and other energy operations.
