40th Environmental Permitting Summer School

Panelists will examine Florida’s evolving energy landscape, highlighting the emerging role of data centers and the influence of rapidly changing energy policies. The discussion will address the challenges of maintaining reliability and grid stability amid increasing demand and the current energy mix in the state and explore how air quality permitting might offer flexibility and relief during grid emergencies.  The panelists will share insights into recent developments affecting the permitting of new energy infrastructure projects in Florida, including key considerations for facility owners and operators.  The session will also include a discussion about air permitting considerations for data centers and an update on how federal Clean Air Act rulemakings may impact Florida energy facilities.  This timely and interactive session will help attendees stay informed about the fast-changing policy environment—come ready to engage and bring your questions for our panel of experts.

Coming Soon

Tech Tools for Marine Biological Surveys - 

It was a pleasure attending the Florida Environmental Network (FEN) Environmental Permitting Summer School in Marco Island this year.

I had the opportunity to present on Emerging Technology for Marine Biological Surveys, discussing how tools such as underwater ROVs, drones, photogrammetry, and remote sensing technologies are changing the way we collect environmental data and where I believe the industry is headed.

It was also great reconnecting with former colleagues, meeting new professionals, and hearing perspectives from agencies, consultants, and industry leaders. Thank you to everyone who attended my presentation and participated in the discussion. 

Looking forward to seeing how these technologies continue to advance and support environmental decision-making.

This panel will discuss the current status and issues involving Florida’s underground injection control (UIC) regulatory program that authorizes the injection of fluids into underground formations and aquifer recharge projects. The panel will focus on the expanded use of aquifer storage and recovery and aquifer recharge projects involving potable, surface water/stormwater, or reclaimed water to enhance water supplies. The panel will cover changes to underground injection and aquifer recharge resulting from DEP’s recent indirect potable reuse regulations. Additionally, the panel will discuss the recent US Supreme Court Maui decision and the subsequent EPA Maui Guidance to determine when an NPDES permit may be required for groundwater injection projects. Finally, the use of exemptions and variances to obtain UIC approvals for these projects will be examined. Overcoming issues and impediments to obtaining UIC authorizations for deep well disposal of waste streams will also be discussed. Come prepared to listen, learn, and participate!

With all the attention on emerging contaminants of concern, including PFOA/PFAs controversy, this course is a must-attend!  This panel of experts will provide timely updates on new ways the Department of Environmental Protection and EPA are addressing water quality issues; also includes basic as well as advanced discussion on water quality discharge permitting, whether from industrial, domestic, or other discharge sources; emphasis on current agency practices, and updates on pending legal changes; emerging water quality issues affecting industry, regulations and the general population. Come prepared with your questions!  This course is designed for extensive audience participation.

Back by popular demand, the focus of this interactive discussion is facilitating sure and positive communication with both stakeholders and environmental regulatory agencies at the local, state and federal levels. Preparation, organization, as well as an in-depth understanding of the legal framework and processes of regulation, go a long way to ensuring a smoother and certainly more positive outcome. Here’s your chance to interact with the panel, using real case studies, and discuss which techniques were successful (or not) and receive expert advice from four instructors who’ve gotten results.

Florida’s water leaders each play a critical role in shaping policy, permitting, funding, and implementation. Yet even with strong leadership, delivering consistent, integrated outcomes across the system remains a challenge. This session brings together perspectives from across that system to explore how alignment can be strengthened to support shared outcomes. Whether you regulate, plan, fund, design, or deliver, your role is essential. Join this conversation to help connect existing efforts, improve coordination, and advance the outcomes Florida’s water future depends on.

This course addresses how to delineate a federal wetland using the 1987 Wetland Jurisdictional Manual and 2010 Regional Supplement. If you want to know precisely how a wetland jurisdictional boundary is set at the federal level, and the subtle and not so subtle differences and nuances of Federal wetland methodology, this is your course! The panel will discuss and analyze the application of vegetation, soils and hydrologic indicators in determining presence of federal regulated wetlands; the methodologies used in the various tests; and practical applications. Other federal guidance and tools will be discussed, including the Federal Ordinary High Water Line Manual and the new Delineation Data Form.

Expert testimony can make or break adversarial proceedings. This session shows lawyers how to manage experts effectively, protect their opinions under applicable legal standards, and elicit clear, credible, and persuasive testimony. It also shows PhDs, engineers, and other technical experts how to deliver defensible work, withstand challenges, and communicate opinions with greater impact. This session will teach lawyers how to best serve their clients when working with experts and teach experts how to make themselves highly valued and sought-after partners who clients and counsel will want to retain again and again.

This session will provide an overview of policies and regulations that link disaster mitigation policy to climate resiliency issues. The presentation will explore these linkages as well as room for improvement in them. With major storms continuing to impact Florida every few years, agency orders are also a policy implication to be considered, both in short-term response and long-term planning factors. Case studies will be presented that harmonize the concepts of planning for, or responding to, disasters and incorporating aspects of future resiliency into projects. Finally, the session will also explore an important relationship with insurance and funding mechanisms, some of which provide dual benefits in the disaster mitigation and recovery realm as well as the flexibility to add components that address future resiliency.