John Christopher (“Chris”) Vamos is Of Counsel in the Washington, DC office of Conn Maciel Carey LLP, where he advises industrial and manufacturing clients on environmental regulatory compliance, hazardous chemical management, and hazardous materials transportation law. Widely recognized for his dual expertise as a lawyer and engineer, Chris counsels clients on regulatory issues that intersect environmental law and workplace safety across multiple industries.
Chris has over thirty years of experience representing clients in sectors such as iron and steel, electric utilities, metallic mineral mining, and high technology. Before joining Conn Maciel Carey, he served in senior environmental roles where he developed deep expertise in regulatory compliance, permitting strategy, and enforcement defense across a broad range of industrial operations.
His practice focuses on helping organizations navigate complex environmental regulatory frameworks at the federal, state, and international levels. Drawing on his technical and legal background, Chris advises on environmental permitting and facility planning, compliance auditing, enforcement matters, and environmental reporting obligations.
Chris has extensive experience with chemical product regulations and reporting requirements, including the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), California Proposition 65, and international chemical regulatory regimes such as REACH and RoHS. He also counsels clients on Clean Air Act permitting and compliance, RCRA hazardous waste requirements, and Clean Water Act NPDES permitting, Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention planning.
In addition, Chris advises clients on hazardous materials transportation regulations under the U.S. Department of Transportation and chemical security requirements enforced by the Department of Homeland Security, as well as OSHA’s hazardous chemical standards applicable to workplaces.
- J.D., M.S., Environmental Law, Vermont Law and Graduate School, 1994
- B.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Delaware, 1989
