Sarah Jarboe primarily practices environmental law and civil litigation. She grew up in rural Kentucky near Owensboro, and the outdoors formed the fabric of her childhood. Sarah’s enthusiasm for nature is reflected in her legal practice. For her undergraduate education, Sarah attended the University of Louisville where she double majored in psychology and philosophy and minored in history. The analytical reasoning that intertwined Sarah’s college courses led to her general interest in the legal field.
During Sarah’s challenging studies at Vanderbilt Law School, it became clear that finding an area of law that was meaningful to her was vital to academic, professional, and personal success. Environmental law was a perfect match for Sarah – it is a natural outgrowth of her upbringing in the countryside. Uniting her interest in nature with her legal practice gives Sarah the advantage enjoyed by those who truly love their work.
Sarah joined ELPO in 2013 after working as a law clerk for two years for Chief Justice John D. Minton of the Kentucky Supreme Court in his Bowling Green office.
As part of her practice with ELPO, Sarah has represented clients in permitting and policy issues and enforcement actions. She has advised clients on various environmental matters, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Underground Injection Control Program under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund), Oil Pollution Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act. Sarah is an experienced negotiator, having participated in negotiations in enforcement and permitting cases with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.
“I concentrate on helping companies comply with the complex and often confusing web of environmental regulations without sacrificing their business objectives,” says Sarah. “My favorite days are when I get to wear work boots and a hard hat because it means I am in the field working side-by-side with my clients.”
In addition to her work at ELPO, Sarah is an active member and contributor to national and statewide environmental associations and boards. Sarah currently serves on the Board of the Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park and on the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources’ (SEER) 2020 Fall Conference Planning Committee. Previously, she sat on the SEER 2016 and 2017 Fall Conference Planning Committees. Sarah was one of 12 participants selected nationwide for SEER’s Leadership Development Program from 2014 to 2015. In addition, she devoted five years to the position of Newsletter Vice Chair for SEER’s Smart Growth and Green Building Committee. Sarah also served as Chair of the Environment, Energy and Resources law section of the Kentucky Bar Association from 2016 to 2017, and previously served as Chair Elect and Vice Chair of that section.
Sarah is a frequent speaker at environmental conferences, presenting on topics such as environmental liability related to waste issues, federal and state environmental audit policies, green infrastructure and consent decrees for water and wastewater utilities, the value of water to the U.S. economy, cooperative federalism, brownfields, and environmental common law actions and remedies.
Sarah and her husband have two young children. Locals frequently can find their family enjoying Kereiakes Park or Mammoth Cave National Park with their Vizsla
