Mr. Niermann is an environmental attorney in private practice. He previously served as the Chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). First appointed in 2015, Mr. Niermann was named the Commission's chair in 2018 and appointed to a second term in 2021. While Chairman, he also served as President of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS). Earlier in his career, Mr. Niermann held significant roles at the Texas Attorney Generals Office, including Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Environmental Protection Division. During his time there, he led the Texas delegation to negotiations that successfully resolved the state's claims relating to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Additionally, he represented the state in federal appellate courts, serving as the lead attorney on several petitions for review of EPA rulemaking actions under the Clean Air Act. Before his public service, Mr. Niermann practiced environmental law with a national firm. He began his regulatory career as the Safety and Environmental Manager for a heavy-equipment manufacturer.
Work Phone:
(512) 542-8585
Email:
jon.niermann@gmail.com
Website:
https://www.velaw.com/people/jon-niermann/
EPA Region:
Region 6 – (AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX)
Year of induction:
2020
Degrees:
B.A. (History), University of California, Santa Barbara, 1989
J.D. & MBA., University of Oregon, 2001
Admissions:
State Bar of Texas
Court Admissions:
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Professional Societies and Organizations:
Environmental Council of the States (former president)
Western States Water Council (former chair)
Good Neighbor Environmental Board (Federal Advisory Committee)
Bureau of Economic Geology Visiting Committee
Citations of Major Published Cases:
Texas v. EPA, 690 F.3d 670 (5th Cir. 2012).
Luminant Generation Co. v. EPA, 675 F.3d 917, 74 E.R.C. 1417 (5th Cir. 2012).