Kristen Ellis Johnson

Kristen has substantial experience advising clients on environmental regulatory and permit compliance under federal, state, and local laws. She balances her practive among regulatory, transactional, and administrative litigation matters dealing with solid and hazardous waste laws, Superfund/CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act, as well as local zoning and land use matters. She has served the highly regulated rail and transit industries advising on issues ranging from shipping hazardous waste, to air emissions from mobile sources, to import inspection regulations administered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Her familiarity with regulatory framework across the environmental and transportation sectors allow her to efficiently navigate complex issues.

Regulatory Inspections and Emergency Response

She represents clients across sectors and provides counseling on day-to-day activities to ensure compliance with environmental requirements. She frequently advises clients on spill and release reporting issues, air and water permitting compliance, Spill Prevention Countermeasure & Control (SPCC) plan compliance, and voluntary self-disclosure of discovered non-compliance under EPA's audit policy. When needed, she assists clients through the process of inspections, including the collection and production of records post-inspection. Kristen takes the lead in developing strategy during administrative enforcement actions and is experienced at negotiating settlements to reduce penalties at the state and federal levels, including supplemental environmental projects. Kristen helps clients protect their confidential and proprietary information when responding to requests for information by agencies or navigating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

Industry Focus

Kristen frequently represents chemical and industrial manufacturers, and municipalities who manage power plants and public drinking water systems to stay abreast of the ever-changing environmental frontier. This includes compliance with the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule, PFAS monitoring, and changes to Navigable Waters standard and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits requiring consideration of groundwater. Kristen has also represented clients owning landfills and managing solid waste in various stages of Superfund litigation, permit compliance, and compliance disclosure reporting.

Transactional Due Diligence

Kristen regularly joins Stinson's Corporate Finance and Real Estate teams on environmental due diligence during complex transactions, where her broad-based experience lends itself well to issue-spotting and establishing protective contract terms. She understands the necessity of thorough environmental diligence and is skilled at navigating issues as they arise. She is also involved with environmental diligence for new market tax credits and energy-related developments, such as solar farms and carbon dioxide capture and sequestration projects.

Administrative Litigation

As a full-service environmental practitioner, Kristen has also been a key team member in litigated cases, including cases dealing with water rights, agency permitting decisions, RCRA exemptions, Superfund PRP suits, and endangered species and critical habitat. Kristen is keeping abreast of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as part of the firm's Infrastructure Task Force. She has also defended clients during OSHA interviews and represented landowners in property tax and zoning appeals.

Land Use, Planning and Zoning

Kristen has successfully defended property owners’ rights to use their property in appeals before Planning and Zoning appeals boards and city council commissions to develop expertise in municipal zoning and codes compliance. She brings over a decade of experience in administrative practice to guide clients through local procedures, inspections, and political challenges to development projects. Bringing her environmental expertise to the intersection of land use and community benefits, she has become an expert in urban agriculture and composting.

Committed to Service

Kristen gives back to the community by providing pro bono services in the family court, protecting small businesses, and participating in the Election Protection voter hotline. She has been recognized multiple years as a Pro Bono Champion by Stinson for devoting more than 100 hours to pro bono service. She also sings soprano in a well-known Kansas City choir, Te Deum, in her spare time.

Named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America list, 2022-2025

Citizens of the World Kansas City, Former School Board Director and Secretary

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, 2023 Pathfinder