Denise Dragoo's practice focuses on natural resources, coal law, water law, environmental law, mining law, public land law, mine safety, and health law.
Representative Litigation
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- Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, et al., 620 F.3d 1227 (10th Cir. Sept. 23, 2010) (affirming federal district court decision upholding federal mine permit)
- Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 163 IBLA 142, GFS (Min) 36 (2004)
- Jesse H. Knight, 155 IBLA 104, GFS (Min) 14 (2001)
- Lodestar Energy, Inc., 155 IBLA 286, GFS (Min) 21 (2001)
- White Oak Mining & Construction Co., Inc. v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, decided December 30, 1998, IBLA 97-239
- East Jordan Irr. Co. v. Morgan, 860 P.2d 310 (Utah 1993)
- Hidden Valley Coal Co. v. Board of Oil, Gas and Mining, 866 P.2d 564 (Utah Ct. App. 1993)
- Jensen v. Dinehart, 645 P.2d 32 (Utah 1982)
- White Oak Mining and Construction Co., Inc. v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, decided February 4, 1997, 138 IBLA 109
- Ashley Creek Phosphate Co. v. John D. Archer, decided November 29, 1995, 134 IBLA 206
- PacifiCorp, dba PacifiCorp Electric Operations, Utah Power and Light Co., and Energy West Mining Co. v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, decided September 26, 1994, 131 IBLA 17
- Sunnyside Reclamation and Salvage, Inc., decided October 30, 1992, 124 IBLA 238
- Utah Power and Light Co., decided March 6, 1991, 118 IBLA 181
- Utah Power and Light Co., decided August 15, 1990, 115 IBLA 366
- Kaiser Coal Corp., decided August 5, 1988, 103 IBLA 312
Education
- Washington University School of Law (LL.M., Environmental and Land Use Law, 1977)
- Howard Stamper Scholarship
- University of Utah College of Law (J.D., 1976)
- Utah Bar and Gavel Society
- Articles Editor, Journal of Contemporary Law
- University of Colorado (B.A., History, with honors, 1973)
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Utah
- United States District Court
- United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Professional Memberships & Activities
- State Bar of Utah
- Judicial Conduct Commission, Past Chair and Member (1992-2002)
- Natural Resources Section, Distinguished Lawyer (1996)
- Utah Board of Bar Commissioners, Commissioner (1991-2002)
- American Bar Association
- SEER Section Leadership Council (2010-present)
- Public Lands Committee, Chair (1993-2001)
- Mining Committee, Vice-Chair (1997-2000)
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow (1993-present)
- Women Lawyers of Utah, Inc. (1980-present)
- Woman Lawyer of the Year (1997)
- Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute
- President Elect (2011)
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
- Trustee (1988-present)
- Executive Committee (2002-2004)
- National Mining Association, Board Member
- Utah Mining Association, Board Member
Representative Presentations & Publications
- New NEPA Challenges for Project Development on Public Lands, Author, Paper No. 4B (Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 2009)
- Coal Mine Closure, Reclamation, and Financial Assurance Under the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Mine Closure, Financial Assurance, and Final Reclamation, Co-Author, Paper No. 7, Page No. 7-1 (Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 2009)
Professional Recognition & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Government Relations Practice, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law (2006-2012); Environmental Litigation (2012)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business®, Energy & Natural Resources (2010-2011)
- Lawdragon Top 3000 Leading Lawyers in America (2010-2011)
- Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Energy & Resources (2007-2011)
- Top 40 Women (2007-2011)
- Super Lawyers®, Energy & Resources - Business Edition (2011)
- Super Lawyers®, Energy & Resources - Corporate Counsel Edition (2009-2010)
- Utah Legal Elite: Energy/Natural Resources (2009-2011), Environmental (2012) Utah Business magazine
Community Involvement
- Legal Aid Society
- Board Member (1993-2005)
- Chair (1999-2001)
- "And Justice for All," Board Member (1998-2005)
- Salt Lake City Land Use Appeals Board (1996-2005)
- Salt Lake City Futures Commission (1996-1998)
Other Professional Experience
- Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall and McCarthy, Shareholder, Officer, Director
- Fabian and Clendenin, Shareholder, Director
- State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Special Assistant Attorney General
