Clark I. Balfour

Practice Areas

• Environmental and Natural Resources Law
• Land Use
• Municipal Law
• Water

Education

Linfield College, B.A., 1976
Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, J.D., 1979

Professional Experience

Since 1979, Clark Balfour has focused his practice primarily on municipal, land use, and environmental law. Mr. Balfour possesses extensive experience in dealing with federal and Oregon water quality laws, water rights, regulatory permits, construction claims, land use laws, and property acquisitions.

He serves as general counsel for a variety of municipalities and special districts that provide sanitary sewer, surface water management, domestic water supply services, and electricity. Mr. Balfour assists his local government clients with property acquisitions, condemnation, permitting, procurement, and construction and represents them in regulatory permit proceedings before the following state and federal agencies:

• Division of State Lands
• National Marine Fisheries Service
• Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
• Oregon Environmental Quality Commission
• Oregon Water Resources Commission
• Other state natural resource agencies
• United States Army Corps of Engineers
• United States Department of Fish & Wildlife
• United States Environmental Protection Agency

Representative Work

• Drafted legislation that made it easier to locate utility facilities on EFU lands on behalf of the Special Districts Association of Oregon and the League of Oregon Cities.
• Served as counsel to the city of Hermiston in condemnation litigation to acquire an electric distribution system.
• Assisted McMinnville Water & Light with NEPA issues related to increasing the McGuire Reservoir, including a successful defense in Federal District Court and Ninth Circuit Court proceedings.

Professional Activities

• Member, Oregon State Bar, Government Law, Real Estate & Land Use, and Environmental & Natural Resources Sections
• Past Member, Oregon State Bar, Government Law Section, Executive Committee

Community Activities

• Board of Directors, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
• Board of Directors, Sherwood Junior Baseball Organization

Publications

• Oregon Law Institute, Local Government Law, wrote “Special Districts” chapter (1991)
• Oregon State Bar, Continuing Legal Education handbook, Local Government, wrote “Local Government Liability” (1979) and “Remedies and Actions” (1986) chapters

Admitted to Practice

• Oregon State Courts
• United States District Court, District of Oregon