On July 17, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine appointed Frank J. Reed, Jr. to the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission. The Commission receives and hears appeals of any person claiming to be aggrieved or adversely affected by an order by the Chief of the Division of Oil & Gas Resources Management. The Oil and Gas Commission is a five-member advisory council consisting of five individuals appointed by the governor to a five-year term. One of the appointees must be a representative of a major petroleum company, one must represent independent petroleum producers, one must represent the public, one must be classed as learned and experienced in oil and gas law, and one must be learned and experienced in geology.
Mr. Reed is a partner with the Environmental practice group of Frost Brown Todd LLC. Mr. Reed advises clients on issues of environmental compliance; defends companies against environmental enforcement activities initiated by Ohio or U.S. EPA. His clients have industry experience in the area of manufacturing, chemicals, real estate development, hazardous mate0rials, construction, foundries, solid waste disposal, scrap tires, construction and demolition and debris disposal, septic tanks, and used oil recycling. He regularly represents carriers, shippers, and consignees in the area of transportation, environmental, and regulatory compliance. He has represented clients regarding truck spills, environmental contamination, remediation, and hazardous waste management. He also has remediated contaminated properties under Ohio’s Voluntary Action Program and assisted clients obtain grants under the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund.
Mr. Reed represents small and large businesses, port authorities, municipalities, and counties. He handles litigation before the state and federal courts, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, the Environmental Review Appeals Commission, and administrative appeals. He handles issues including petroleum, diesel fuel, glycol, asbestos, mold, radon, indoor air toxins, wetlands, and best management practices to handle hazardous materials.
Mr. Reed served in public service under two governors, and served eight years as an Assistant Attorney General where he was the Chief of three sections responsible for representing Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio Rail Development Commission, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations. During his last position in government, he was responsible for supervising 66 lawyers, investigators, Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents, paralegals, and staff. He has been in private practice since 2003.
Mr. Reed obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from The Ohio State University, a Juris Doctorate from the Capital University Law School where he served on Law Review. He is admitted before the Ohio Supreme Court, the United States District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the United States, 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C., and the United States Supreme Court. He was named by Business First as one of Columbus’ “Forty Under 40”; named a “Rising Star” in Ohio Super Lawyers and Cincinnati magazines.