Dan Colton is set apart from most attorneys by virtue of his Master of Science degree and professional consulting experience in geochemistry, environmental compliance and mineral exploration. His background allows him to understand and work effectively with scientists and technical experts while navigating through legal issues to the benefit of his clients. Dan’s practice focuses on environmental regulation and risk management, natural resources, mining and mineral law, business and regulatory transactions, and complex civil litigation.  He draws on more than 20 years of experience in law and science to develop and implement effective transactional, regulatory and litigation strategies for clients confronting a wide spectrum of science and technology issues. Dan bridges the science and law divide, and can assemble and manage teams of attorneys, scientists and engineers with unique synergies to optimize performance and achieve client goals.

Dan has represented a wide range of clients with diverse problems and needs, including: mining company due diligence/joint venture work; development and federal/state funding of bench-scale studies assessing the technical feasibility of mineralogical sequestration of CO₂ using mafic rock mining waste; negotiating and managing federal, state and private mineral leases; preparing severed-mineral interest title opinions; obtaining federal and state permits and approvals for mineral exploration and mine development; representing clients in negotiations and litigation with U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management; representing clients on the appeal of adverse environmental (NEPA) review decisions; seeking solid waste, water, air and remediation permits; addressing coastal engineering issues; addressing contaminated property issues; seeking to recover cleanup costs from responsible parties; the acquisition and sale of regulated technology businesses; obtaining public funding for the cleanup and subsequent sale/purchase of brownfield sites; defending against federal and state regulatory enforcement actions; seeking to recover costs on failed remediation and construction projects. Dan also has worked with the Department of Energy on siting and permitting underground repositories for nuclear waste, air quality modeling of facilities that are part of the nation's nuclear weapons industrial complex, and 10,000-year performance assessment programs for nuclear and hazardous chemical waste.

Professional and Civic Activities

• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Member, New Mexico Bar Association
• Member, Science and Technology Division of American Bar Association
• Member, Geochemica et Cosmo Chemica
• Member, Exploration Geology
• Participant, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Mixed Contaminant Computer Modeling
• Advisory Board Member, American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund
• Vice-Chair, Metropolitan Water Management Organization

Education

• J.D., cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 1990
• M.Sc., Geochemistry/Mineral Exploration, Queen’s University, 1984
• B.S., Geology/Chemistry, St. Lawrence University, 1981

Admissions

• State of Minnesota, 1991
• State of New Mexico, 1990
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota