FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 10, 2026
Location: New York, NY
Contact: Dave Martin | 646-483-5898 | dave.goodgovpodcast@gmail.com
Headline:
From Archeology to Air Quality: How One DOJ Lawyer Helped Win the Largest Clean Air Penalty in U.S. History
Subhead:
Fleming Award winner Nick McDaniel shares the inside story behind a landmark environmental case on The Good Government Show
New York, NY — The Good Government Show podcast recently featured Nick McDaniel, a former senior attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Section and a recipient of the prestigious Arthur S. Flemming Award, in a powerful conversation about public service, environmental protection, and one of the largest enforcement victories in federal history. McDaniel played a key role on the team that secured a record-setting Clean Air Act civil penalty — a landmark case aimed at reducing pollution and improving public health nationwide.
During the episode, McDaniel discussed his unconventional path into public service, joking that he nearly pursued archeology before choosing law. That decision ultimately led him to a career where he worked alongside engineers, scientists, and federal investigators to uncover violations that affected air quality across the country. The case he helped build centered on illegal emissions software in diesel engines — a massive enforcement effort involving nearly a million vehicles and years of technical investigation.
The settlement, which resulted in the largest Clean Air Act civil penalty ever obtained by the federal government, was about more than a number. McDaniel emphasized that the work was rooted in protecting communities. Through the agreement, mitigation projects were required to offset excess pollution, including replacing older locomotive engines and reducing emissions in rail yards — often located near vulnerable communities. He described environmental enforcement as fundamentally tied to public health. “I like to think of the job of the Environmental Enforcement Section as really public health focused,” McDaniel said. “If pollution goes down, people’s health outcomes improve.”
Throughout the interview, McDaniel highlighted the team effort behind major federal cases and the mission-driven culture within government service. He stressed that the attorneys, scientists, and investigators he worked alongside were motivated by a belief in making a real difference. “I think you don’t do this work if you don’t believe in your ability to make a difference and make things better,” he told host Dave Martin. “People are doing this work because they really care about the mission.”
Now in private practice, McDaniel reflected on his 11 years at the Department of Justice with pride, pointing not just to headline-making cases but to smaller enforcement actions that stopped illegal pollution, improved sewer systems, and protected communities from environmental harm. His story, shared on The Good Government Show, offers listeners a rare inside look at the dedicated professionals working quietly behind the scenes to protect public health and strengthen the rule of law.
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