Ms. Peticolas primarily represents clients in Superfund and Spill Act litigation, as well as in companion personal injury and property damage matters. Currently, she represents a number of companies in the massive Lower Passaic River Study, one of the largest contaminated sediment sites in the country.
In addition to litigating, she counsels clients on general regulatory compliance questions, including issues relating to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA), Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and New Jersey Site Remediation Reform Act. Matters she has handled include:
Ms. Peticolas is included in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for Environmental Law and in Best Lawyers® for Environmental Law and Environmental Litigation, as well as in New Jersey Super Lawyers. Martindale-Hubbell has included her on its “Preeminent” list. A Master of the Justice Stewart G. Pollock Environmental American Inn of Court, she is a frequent writer and speaker on environmental topics, and she is an editor of the firm’s Gibbons Law Alert blog.
Ms. Peticolas represents a number of clients in the massive Lower Passaic River Study. These parties have consented to perform the remedial investigation and feasibility study for the 17.2 miles of the lower Passaic from the Dundee Dam to the Newark Bay, a major waterway in the Newark Bay Complex in New Jersey. This matter is an administrative proceeding under the supervision of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, and concerns a complex contaminated sediment river and ecosystem. It is of major significance to both the US EPA and the state of New Jersey.
She is also representing a number of clients as defendants in a private cost recovery litigation pending in federal district court related to the remedial activities in the Passaic River.
She represented a number of clients as third party defendants in the litigation filed by the state of New Jersey, in state court, for past costs incurred in connection with the Newark Bay Complex. Serving on the defense group executive committee, Ms. Peticolas was instrumental in effectuating the $32 million third party settlement with the state of New Jersey.
She assisted a client with an application for waiver of compliance with Class D recycling requirements under New Jersey’s Waiver Rule, successfully obtaining the first waiver granted by NJDEP under the rule.
Ms. Peticolas co-authored the annual update for the CERCLA and New Jersey Environmental Law chapters of the Thompson Reuters/West Business Law Deskbook, 2004-2018. She also authored a chapter in the New Jersey Environmental Law Handbook, Eighth and Ninth Editions.
Rutgers School of Law – Newark|Barnard College
J.D., high honors|B.A., cum laude
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Law Secretary to the Honorable Harold A. Ackerman, U.S. District Judge, District of New Jersey, 1980-1982
State of New Jersey|State of New York|District of Columbia|United States District Court for the District of New Jersey|United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit|United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
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Recognized by Best Lawyers®, 2025 Edition: Environmental; Litigation – Environmental
Included on the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business list, Environment
Included on the New Jersey Super Lawyers lists, Environmental, 2006-2021
Included on the Martindale-Hubbell “Preeminent” list
Justice Stewart G. Pollock Environmental American Inn of Court
President, 2020-2022
Recipient, Human Rights First Pro Bono Star Award for excellence in legal advocacy, 2014
Included on the NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business list, 2009
Master of the Inn, Justice Stewart G. Pollock Environmental American Inn of Court, 2005-2021
Rutgers University, Center for Women and Work, Tenth Anniversary Celebration Honoree, November 12, 2003
Justice Stewart G. Pollock Environmental American Inn of Court
President, 2020-2022
Master of the Inn, 2005-2006, 2010, 2021
New Jersey State Bar Association
Co-Chair, Superfund Committee of Environmental Section, 2005-2006
New Jersey Governor’s Trade Mission
Delegate to the Far East, May 2000
American Bar Association
Gibbons Law Alert blog (www.gibbonslawalert.com)
Editor
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Middlesex County,
Trustee, 2020-2022
Middlesex County Workforce Investment Board
Chair, Barriers to Work Committee, 2004-2007
Urban League of Essex County
Human Resources Advisory Committee, 2008
Trustee, 1996-2005
Borough of Highland Park Rent Leveling Board
Board Attorney, 1983-1985
