Natural Resources Law Environmental Law Litigation - Environmental
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Santa Fe.
Dalva L. "Dal" Moellenberg
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2001 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Dalva "Dal" L. Moellenberg practices environmental and natural resources law concentrating on water quality and water rights, Superfund, hazardous waste, mining law and mined land reclamation, toxic substances matters, including compliance counseling, permitting, legislation, rulemaking and litigation.
Mr. Moellenberg's recent experience includes:
Mr. Moellenberg's recent experience includes:
- Representing business groups and chairing a subcommittee that drafted Arizona legislation (S.B. 1452, 1997) that amended the state Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund site cleanup program, which transformed the state Superfund program from a "joint and several liability" model to a "proportionate share" liability model with a new out-of-court liability allocation process. He played a similar role in drafting Arizona Voluntary Remediation Program Legislation (S.B. 1454, 2000). Mr. Moellenberg is also a primary industry negotiator and drafter of major water quality, solid and hazardous waste, and mining legislation in Arizona and New Mexico.
- Representing major mining clients in Arizona and New Mexico in obtaining water quality (Clean Water Act and groundwater protection) permits and mined land reclamation permits for industrial operations, mine expansions and new mines.
- Representing major industrial and mining clients at numerous federal and state Superfund sites and other cleanup sites involving negotiation and compliance with Consent Decrees, cleanup orders under CERCLA, RCRA, and the Clean Water Act, and voluntary cleanup actions.
- Representing industry and mining clients in environmental rulemakings in Arizona and New Mexico, including the Arizona Unified Water Quality Permits Rules, the Arizona Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund Rules, the Arizona Mined Land Reclamation Rules, the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission Rules (groundwater protection permits, surface water quality standards, and "abatement rules"), and the New Mexico Mining Act Rules. Mr. Moellenberg also participates in the preparation of comments and lobbying on federal environmental rules.
- Part of the Legal Consulting Team for the Mining Sector Development and Environmental Project for the Ghana Minerals Commission during 2001 and prepared draft environmental regulations for mining in Ghana.
Overview
- Arizona State University, J.D., graduated 1985
- University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A., graduated 1982
- New Mexico, State Bar of New Mexico
- Arizona, State Bar of Arizona
- New Mexico, State Bar of New Mexico
- Arizona, State Bar of Arizona
- Arizona State University, J.D., graduated 1985
- University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A., graduated 1982
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Natural Resources Law, Santa Fe (2026)
- Litigation - Environmental, Santa Fe (2025)
- Environmental Law, Santa Fe (2023)
- Natural Resources Law, Santa Fe (2022)
- Environmental Law, Santa Fe (2020)
- Natural Resources Law, Santa Fe (2018)
- Litigation - Environmental, Santa Fe (2017)
- Environmental Law, Santa Fe (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Environmental Law
- Litigation - Environmental
- Natural Resources Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Water Law
Special Focus:
- Administrative/Regulatory
- Clean Water Act
- Counseling
- Enforcement Defense
- Environmental Cleanup
- Mining
Awards:
- New Mexico Mining Association H.J. "Doc" Weiler/Marvin Watts Award for Professionalism, 2012
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