David L. Harbin has over thirty years legal, policy and legislative experience as an attorney in the environmental/natural resource area with both federal and state governments. David began his legal career representing Tennessee’s State Parks and Forests but his primary career focus was on enforcement of the nation’s environmental laws. While he worked at Tennessee’s Department of Health and Environment (now Department of Environment and Conservation), David successfully led the litigation team in the nation’s first hazardous waste air permit appeal.
David served as a multi-media attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. During his work at EPA, he served as the Special Assistant to the Regional Administrator. He served as an attorney enforcing the Clean Water Act and for Underground Storage Tanks but his primary focus at EPA was in CERCLA Superfund enforcement. His final accomplishment at EPA was to serve as lead attorney in the cooperative cleanup of the Copper Basin Mining District Superfund Site that successfully reduced pollution into the Ocoee River in Tennessee.
He also has substantial experience in the development of government policy and the writing and passage of legislation. While at Tennessee’s Department of Environment and Conservation, David was instrumental in the development and passage of Tennessee’s Brownfields Redevelopment Act. He also drafted Tennessee’s Rare Plant and Animal law and Tennessee’s Ginseng Dealer Act.
David’s career has notably involved resolving complex issues. For example, he was significantly involved in the transfer of the Volunteer Army Ammunition property from federal ownership to the local government that resulted in Volkswagen moving to Tennessee.
David graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and got his JD Degree from the Nashville School of Law. He has recently served as an adjunct professor at a faith-based university in Nashville, Tennessee where he taught environmental law and environmental management. David resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Christel. He loves playing music and is an active drummer in Nashville.
