Catherine M. van Heuven
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Catherine M. van Heuven

Partner; Member, Management Committee

Denver
303.825.7036C 303.909.0339
Washington, DC
202.955.5600

I enjoy helping clients understand and work through the regulatory and environmental permitting processes necessary to achieve their development goals.  I bring a public policy background and over twenty years of legal experience to bear to help clients on complex airport development projects.

Katie van Heuven is an expert on a broad range of environmental and land use issues and specializes in airport and transportation projects. She has advised airport clients on pending environmental reviews for ongoing development projects, including the Chicago O’Hare Modernization Program, the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Airport Terminal Modernization Project, the new parallel runway at Charlotte International Airport, and the development of a new, supplemental commercial service airport in Las Vegas. Katie has extensive experience litigating airport issues, including claims arising under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) and the Clean Air Act, and various federal aviation statutes. In addition, Katie provides strategic counsel to numerous airport sponsors on regulatory compliance matters including revenue use, grant assurance compliance, obligations arising under federal aircraft-noise statutes and securing FAA approvals related to land acquisition and development.

Katie also has broad experience with environmental and permitting obligations under various federal statutes including, but not limited to the National Historic Preservation Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and CERCLA. She has represented and advised clients before various federal agencies and courts, including rulemaking comments and litigation matters, and she lobbies members of Congress and senior officials at various federal agencies on behalf of clients with regard to land use and development issues.

In addition, Katie has broad public policy experience. She previously served as the senior legislative assistant on environment, energy, and natural resource issues for former U.S. Senator Paul Simon; as a policy analyst for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Constitution Subcommittee; and as a special assistant in the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legislative Affairs.

Representative Experience

City of Chicago, Chicago Department of Airports

Assisted the City of Chicago in implementing the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and its O’Hare 21 vision, including a comprehensive terminal update and the proposed new O’Hare Global Terminal. This representation has included a range of issues related to the OMP, including financing of airport capital improvements, planning for airport transportation infrastructure, and assistance with reviews of the proposed Terminal Area Plan under NEPA and the National Historic Preservation Act (“NHPA”)

Los Angeles World Airports

Representing Los Angeles World Airports on strategy and environmental reviews for airfield, terminal, support, and landside projects at Los Angeles International Airport, including the Airfield & Terminal Modernization Program, the Midfield Satellite Concourse and nonaeronautical development of airport property

Central West Virginia Airport Authority

Representing the sponsor of West Virginia International Yeager Airport with regard to an environmental impact statement for comprehensive airport redevelopment including runway safety and terminal upgrades

Clark County, Nevada

Assisting Clark County, Nevada, in all aspects of planning for the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, including legal advice related to Airport Improvement Program (AIP) procurement obligations, process and strategy for compliance with NEPA and related federal environmental issues, including the Endangered Species Act, and early project feasibility and delivery structuring

Tweed New Haven Airport Authority

Representing the sponsor of Tweed-New Haven Airport on environmental reviews and permitting for an approximately $100 million redevelopment project, including terminal and other facility development as part of initiating new lines of service with a start-up low cost airline

Town of Islip, New York

Representing the Town on strategy for development of a multi-faceted, multi-modal, public-private project at the Long Island MacArthur Airport, involving a new terminal at the town-owned-and-operated airport, to be located close to a major commuter rail station, with a connection between the station and the airport

FAA Contract Tower Litigation

Lead author for the consolidated federal litigation brought in 2013 by a coalition of several dozen airports challenging the proposal to end funding for federal contract towers

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