Aleava Sayre focuses her practice on the areas of environmental law, mining law, real estate litigation and landlord-tenant law. As part of her environmental law practice, she assists clients in resolving a wide range of environmental issues arising under federal, state and local laws, including:

• Environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act.
• Permitting for air emissions, hazardous waste, stormwater, wastewater, and other permitting associated with project development.
• Hazardous waste management.
• Liability under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) or Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act (MERLA).

With respect to mining and mineral exploration, Aleava is a dedicated advocate of sustainable mining in Minnesota and assists clients in the areas of environmental compliance, permitting and review as well as specific issues relating to the mining industry, such as:

• Navigating federal and state permitting and leasing requirements for mineral exploration and development.
• Representing clients in negotiations with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
• Advising clients on the preparation of noncompetitive or preference right lease applications.
• Facilitating land exchanges associated with mineral exploration and development.
• Obtaining access to federal, state, and private lands for purposes of exploration or development.
• Conducting due diligence related to mining transactions, including evaluation of specific permits and leases for surface and mineral interests.
• Protecting outstanding and reserved mineral rights.

Aleava is also committed to the firm’s pro bono program, routinely providing both litigated and non-litigated services to indigent clients in the area of housing and immigration law. In recognition of her pro bono work, Aleava received the firm’s 2007 Pro Bono Service in the Public Interest Award.

Before joining the firm, Aleava was a law clerk for the Honorable Harriet Lansing of the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 2004 to 2006. This experience provided her with a unique insight into judicial decision-making and appellate practice.

Professional and Civic Activities

• Reporter, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), Mineral Law Newsletter
• Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF)
• Executive Director, Board of Directors, Women’s Debate Institute
• Secretary, Minnesota State Bar Association, Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Section
• Member, Minnesota Women Lawyers

Publications & Presentations

• Co-Author, “United States Forest Service Issues Draft EIS for Federal Hardrock Mineral Prospecting in the Superior National Forest,” and “Minnesota Enacts New Legislation Streamlining State Environmental Review and Permitting for Projects,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), Mineral Law Newsletter (forthcoming)
• Co-Author, “Minnesota – Mining: Minnesota Legislature Declines to Pass New Mining Legislation” and “The Perfect Storm: A New Permitting Requirement and Increased Enforcement for Industrial Stormwater Run-Off,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), Mineral Law Newsletter, Number 3 (2009)
• Co-Author, “Minnesota – Mining: Minnesota Court of Appeals Hears Oral Argument in Minnesota Steel Case,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), Mineral Law Newsletter, Number 3 (2009)
• Co-Author, “Minnesota – Mining: New Interest in Non-Ferrous Mining Triggers State and Federal Environmental Reviews,” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), Mineral Law Newsletter, Number 1 (2009)
• Co-Speaker, “Stormwater and Environmental Enforcement,” a presentation to the Minnesota Trucking Association (2010)
• Speaker, “A Clean Shot: Complying with MPCA’s New Industrial Stormwater Permit,” a presentation to the Minnesota Trucking Association (2010)
• Speaker, “What’s Next? MPCA’s New Multi-Sector Stormwater Permit Program,” a presentation to Minnesota Regional Railroads Conference (2008)
• Co-Author, “Notes & Trends: Environmental Law – Clean Water Act; TMDLs,” Bench & Bar of Minnesota (May/June 2007) 

Education

• J.D., magna cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 2004
       Staff member, Minnesota Law Review, 2003-2004
       Director and competition team member, Environmental Law Moot Court, 2003-2004
• B.A., International Affairs and Foreign Languages, Lewis & Clark College, 2000

Admissions

• State of Minnesota, 2006
• State of Oregon, 2006
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
• 8th Circuit Court of Appeals