Eric B. Fjelstad

Eric B. Fjelstad represents clients in Alaska on environmental and natural resources matters involving oil and gas, mining, project development and litigation. His work also includes strategic counseling for municipal and industrial projects. He advises on environmental requirements throughout the development of resource projects, from due diligence and commercial arrangements for exploration, development and production to permitting and challenges to project approvals.

Eric counsels Alaska’s leading oil and gas and mining companies on federal and state discharge permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. His permitting work also covers Section 404 approvals and compensatory mitigation, National Environmental Policy Act strategy and compliance, Outer Continental Shelf permitting and leasing, and permitting under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. He advises on easements and rights-of-way, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and oil spill contingency planning. Other aspects of his environmental practice include hazardous waste issues under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Prevention of Significant Deterioration program, air permitting and water rights.

In disputes, Eric represents mining, oil and gas, and industrial concerns in administrative and legal challenges to permits and project approvals. He also defends companies facing third-party or governmental claims and investigations under state and federal environmental laws. His experience includes significant Alaska proceedings concerning disaster risk reduction, natural resource damages and contaminated sites. He has negotiated settlements addressing the shutdown and cleanup of many of the state’s largest industrial facilities.

Eric is an officer of the Resource Development Council, a trade group representing leading Alaska companies in the resources, fishing and tourism sectors.

• Lewis & Clark Law School, J.D., 1994
• Marquette University, B.A., Minor in Chemistry, 1991

• Named "Best-in-State, Alaska - Environmental Law," by Forbes, 2025

• Ranked by Chambers USA, as “America’s Leading Lawyers" for Environment & Natural Resources, 2003-2026; Mining & Metals, 2024-2026; Native American Law, 2026

• Ranked by Chambers Global in Mining & Metals, 2025-2026

• Named the Best Lawyers’ Anchorage " Oil and Gas Lawyer of the Year," 2027

• Named the Best Lawyers’ Anchorage "Litigation - Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year," 2025, 2026

• Named the Best Lawyers’ Anchorage "Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year," 2014, 2017, 2020-2022

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental; Mining Law, 2007-2027; Oil and Gas Law, 2025-2027

• Listed in Super Lawyers, as "Alaska Super Lawyer", Environment, Energy & Natural Resource Law, 2007-2026

• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Antidegradation Working Group, Member, 2012-2013

• Listed in "The International Who's Who of Environmental Lawyers," 2010

• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation transition team, appointed as member by Murkowski Administration, 2002-2003

• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation NPDES Primacy Working Group, appointed as member, 2004-2008

• Listed in Best Lawyer for Environmental Law - Administrative/Regulatory, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Coastal Zone Management, Counseling, Endangered Species, Litigation, Mining, Permitting, RCRA/Hazardous Waste, Superfunds/Environmental Remediation, Litigation - Environmental, 2015

• *Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell 
  (AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)

• American College of Environmental Lawyers, Fellow, 2012-Present
• Alaska Bar Association, Environmental and Natural Resources, Administrative Law, and Corporate Counsel Sections
• American Bar Association, Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law Section
• Oregon State Bar Association
• Resource Development Council for Alaska, President of Board of Directors, 2016-2019, Member of Executive Committee and Officer, 2010-present

• Ziegler Law Firm, Ketchikan, Alaska, Partner, 1996-1999
• U.S. EPA Region 5 Multimedia Enforcement Branch, Law Clerk, 1993