Practice areas: Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources, Land Use & Zoning; view more
Licensed in Utah since: 1990
Education: Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2016, 2018 - 2025 Call today:
801-813-4073
Holland & Hart LLP
222 S. Main StreetSuite 2200
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Visit website
Details 
Nationally renowned for his work on environmental law for nearly 35 years, Kevin R. Murray has been a judicious legal advocate for his clients, helping them navigate the complex maze of bureaucratic red tape. A partner at Holland & Hart LLP in Salt Lake City, Utah, he is well-equipped to handle matters pertaining to land use and zoning laws, water law, real estate and mining and natural resources, among many others.
Mr. Murray graduated cum from Brigham Young University in 1981, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. With a fervent passion for pursuing law, he took his first step by enrolling in the Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, where he bolstered his shrewd legal acumen and talents that are still evident in the advocacy he provides for his clients today. He received his Juris Doctor cum laude in 1984 and in the same year, became licensed to practice law in Texas. Later, he obtained his license to practice law in Utah (1990) and Idaho (2006).
A stalwart champion for his clients in helping them achieve their goals, Mr. Murray stands steadfast, ready to take on matters of maximal complexity and handle them with relative ease. For his many contributions, he is rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell, the organization’s highest rating, and was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in environmental law and energy law.
Within his legal community, Mr. Murray maintains close affiliations with myriad legal organizations, including:
- The American College of Environmental Lawyers (President)
- The American Law Institute
- The Environmental Law Institute (Leadership Council Steering Committee)
- The American Bar Association SEER Natural Resource and Environment Law Journal (Editorial Board)
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources, Land Use/ZoningFocus areas
Energy Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law
- 60% Environmental
- 20% Energy & Natural Resources
- 20% Land Use/Zoning
First Admitted: 1984
Professional Webpage: https://www.hollandhart.com/krmurray
Bar / Professional Activity
- Boy Scout of America, Council Executive Board, 2015-2024
- Texas
- Lakeview Hospital, Board Member, 2000-2005; Chair 2003-2005
- Davis Education Foundation, Davis County School District, Board of Trustees, 2006-2011; Chair 2008-2009
- Pioneer Theatre Company, Chair, 2014-2016, Executive Board and Director of Development, 2006-2014
- Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board, Member, 2011-2016; Chair, 2010-2016
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow
- American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, Natural Resources & Environment Editorial Board, Issue Editor, 2021-present
- Environmental Law Institute, Leadership Council, 2021-present
- American Law Institute, Sustaining Member
- American College of Environmental Lawyers, President, 2023-present; President-Elect, 2022-2023; Treasurer, 2020-2022; Executive Board Member, 2020-present; Regent, 2017-2020
- Idaho
- Utah
Transactions
- Extra Space Storage Inc. 2015-present Directed and completed environmental due diligence and related compliance matters for the purchase of real property and facilities for Extra Space Storage throughout the United States, principally in California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, and Texas. This work includes the evaluation of properties, pursuit of applicable state and federal purchaser protection, and negotiation of remedial agreements on hundreds of millions of dollars of properties across the country., 2021
- Bunker Hill Mining Company 2020-2021 Environmental counsel for Bunker Hill Mining Corporation regarding capital raise to restart the Bunker Hill Silver Mine in Kellogg, Idaho. Work includes negotiating an amendment to a previous settlement agreement with the United States government for payment of past response cost of the prior entity, as well as assistance with environmental issue relating to capital markets and repurposing real estate., 2021
- Barrick Gold Corporation (Successor to Homestake Mining Company of California) 2017-present The Grants Uranium Tailings site is the location of a uranium mill built in 1958 and licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The site is subject to regulation by the NRC, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and New Mexico Environment Department. Jurisdictional disagreements between the NRC and the EPA have resulted in conflicting requirements and a dispute over which agency has the primary responsibility for the remediation of the tailings and radioactive by-products. Mr. Murray leads a team working with EPA to develop and demonstrate CERCLA equivalency through its NRC cleanup, a rarely-used CERCLA principle that permits a responsible party to meet its CERCLA obligations through substantial compliance with the National Contingency Plan, which when complete will bring the activities in line with both agency requirements. The process has never been done as contemplated and thus involves many unique and first-time issues., 2021
Educational Background
- Brigham Young University, B.A., Cum Laude, 1981
White Papers
- Environmental Aspects of Real Estate and Commercial Transactions-5th Edition (ABA2021). Developing for Extreme Weather Events, Utah Business, 03092020. Developing Sites for Sea-Level-Rise and Climate-Change Resiliency, Trends, American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, March-April 2020. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund), Environmental Regulation, excerpted from the Second Edition of the American Law of Mining, Chapter 171, Co-Author, 2018. Toxic Substances Control Act, Environmental Regulation, excerpted from the Second Edition of the American Law of Mining, Chapter 178, Co-Author, 2018. A Fresh Air Look at CERCLA Acquisition Structures, Natural Resources & Environment, American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, Summer 2017. A Property Purchaser's Tool Box Part Two, Utah Business Magazine, June 2017
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- CERCLA Liability Heats Up: EPA Designates PFAS Chemicals Hazardous Substances, PFAS Update, April 23, 2024
- PFAs: Laws and Litigation, Northwest Environmental Business Council, PFAS Workshop: Focus on Idaho Understanding the Scope and Scale of the Emerging Challenge, 08/19/2020
- Impacts on Transactions - Ubiquity and Uncertainty: Unusual Challenges of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Bring Unorthodox Challenges to Environmental Law (Panel 1), The American College of Environmental Lawyers, 09/12/2020
- Don't Go Chasing Ephemeral Streams and Isolated Wetlands: EPA's Navigable Waters Protection Rule Sticks to More Jurisdictional Waters, ABA Virtual SEER 28th Fall Conference (Panel Discussion), October 21, 2020
- ACOEL Superfund Update and Environmental Justice, Panelist, ACOEL Webinar; Larry Starfield and Kevin Murray panelists, moderated by David Mandlebaum, National Webinar, May 26, 2022
- Energy Options, Moderator, EarthxLaw Conference, Our Energy Future and the Environment: Revolution or Evolution, Dallas, TX, October 20, 2022
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Environmental Law Institute's Nineteenth Annual Western Boot Camp on Environmental Law®, San Francisco, CA, April 4, 2023
- Clean Water Act, Environmental Law Institute's 32nd Annual Eastern Boot Camp on Environmental Law®, Washington, D.C., November 16, 2023
- Hazardous Waste and Sites, Moderator, Environmental Law Institute Summer School 2024, Webinar, July 30, 2024
- The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund), Environmental Regulation, excerpted from the Second Edition of the American Law of Mining, Chapter 171, 2015
- Water Quality, Environmental Regulation, excerpted from the Second Edition of the American Law of Mining, Chapter 169, 2015
- Developing Sites for Sea-Level-Rise and Climate-Change Resiliency, Trends, American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, March/April 2020
- Developing for Extreme Weather Events, Utah Business, 03/09/2020
- California Pushes the Environmental Envelope - Sets in Motion Stricter Vapor Intrusion Regime, Holland & Hart News Update, 06/02/2020
- The Future Is As We Now See It – Environmental Development Resiliency and Disaster Planning, American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), 06/17/2020
- Recent EPA Guidance Spells Out Superfund Liability Protections Available to Local Governments, Holland & Hart News Update, 09/23/2020
- EPA Issues Interim Guidance on PFAS Destruction and Disposal, 01/26/2021
- Environmental Aspects of Real Estate and Commercial Transactions: Acquisition, Development, and Liability Management, Fifth Edition, American Bar Association, Editor, 2021
- State Environmental Programs and Statutory Frameworks for Consideration in Real Estate Transactions, Environmental Aspects of Real Estate and Commercial Transactions, Fifth Edition, American Bar Association, Chapter 3, 2021
- Environmental Law—Sick Unto Death With That Long Agony?, American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), 05/17/2021
- SCOTUS Seeks to Clarify Contribution Claims under CERCLA, Holland & Hart News Update, 06/02/2021
- Water, Water, Everywhere Nowhere, and Not a Drop to Drink, American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), 08/02/2021
- Developments in EPA's Plan for PFAS Regulation, Holland & Hart News Update, November 3, 2021
- New Findings May Trigger Stricter Rules for Low Dose Radiation Discharge, Holland & Hart News Update, 06/20/2022
- Toward Stability, Resilience and Reconciliation, 37 Natural Resources & Environment 1, Summer 2022
- We Will Miss the Water If the Wells Run Dry, 37 Natural Resources & Environment 2, Fall 2022
- Expedited Cleanups under CERCLA – Could It be True?, 37 Natural Resources & Environment 2, Fall 2022
- Sorcery, Magic, and a Bit of Alchemy? Creating Water, American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), 03/09/2023
- Perspectives: Be Present, 38 Natural Resources & Environment 1, Summer 2023
- CERCLA Liability Heats Up: EPA Designates PFAS Chemicals Hazardous Substances, PFAS Update, April 23, 2024
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Strategist behind the highly innovative and successful Midvale Slag Site, which recently was deleted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List of Superfund Sites 50 years ahead of schedule. Played a key role in the Richardson Flats remediation, which was recognized by the Department of the Interior as the site of the year for its effective combination of Natural Resource Damages Restoration and CERCLA remediation. Led the remediation and redevelopment of a 450-acre smelter site through the innovative use of special account and private funds. It was the first time EPA had agreed to use the approach. The former smelter site is now a thriving multi-use project.
- Mr. Murray is a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers and an acclaimed adjunct professor of real estate development and finance at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University Law Schools, having taught since 1990. Kevin was appointed by Utah Governor Huntsman to serve as a member of the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board in 2005. He was appointed as Board Chairman in 2011 and served in that role for four years. Kevin has also held various executive leadership positions with the Urban Land Institute, The Dallas Bar Association, the Utah Bar Association and other professional groups.
Honors
- Chambers USA, Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries, 2010-2020; Natural Resources & Environment, 2021-2024
- Peter W. Billings Excellence in Teaching Award, May 2016
- Mountain States Super Lawyers®, "Top 100 Lawyers," Environmental, 2012
- Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Environmental, 2007-2016, 2018-2024
- Utah Business Magazine, Utah Legal Elite, 1998-2015; Environmental, 2017-2018, 2020-2022
- Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent® Rating
- American College of Environmental Lawyers, Fellow
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Environment Law, 1997-2025; Energy Law, 2011-2025
Industry Groups
- And Energy
- Mining
- Petroleum
- Real Estate
Office location for Kevin R. Murray
222 S. Main Street
Suite 2200
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 801-813-4073
Selections
18 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2016, 2018 - 2025
