40th Environmental Permitting Summer School

Florida's rich and diverse mineral resources offer significant opportunities for economic development, energy production, and multifaceted land use and development, but also pose complex challenges for proprietary property rights, environmental protection, property and royalty ownership, and public participation. This panel will explore the legal and operational aspects of identifying and securing real property rights for mineral owners, complying with regulatory requirements for near-surface non-mineral resources, as well as heavy minerals, mining, oil and gas development, and addressing surface and land use issues. Additionally, the panel will address how mineral rights and activities impact non-mineral development and create permitting and real property title issues. The panel will also examine the roles and responsibilities of local, state, and federal regulators, as well as the interests and concerns of landowners, operators, developers, citizens, and stakeholders. This course is designed for anyone involved or interested in the mineral exploration and development industries in Florida, whether as a mineral owner, a mining or oil and gas operator, a developer, a policymaker, a government official, or a member of the public.

This course will cover the latest court decisions and legislative actions affecting private property rights in Florida, takings jurisprudence, the Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act, and other government actions that affect private property. Hot topics this year include the SCOTUS decision in Pung v. Isabella County, MI.

The Division of Waste Management touches many areas, ranging from Brownfields and emerging contaminants to solid and hazardous waste regulation. It also formulates policy and coordinates with the six regulatory Districts on enforcement and compliance assistance. This is a class to introduce a wide audience to one of the largest operations units of FDEP. You will learn what are the Division’s several programs and how they are implemented throughout the State and relate to ensuring that as Florida grows, the Division keeps pace with its mission. Has compliance assistance paid dividends on RCRA, USTs, solid waste, and other programs’ compliance? What are the most common violations on several programs? What do their data and 2024 dashboards show, particularly in the Petroleum Restoration Program? Where does FDEP see the PRP evolving to now that the last batch of sites will be assessed in the next few years? How can most RCRA, UST, and solid waste violations be avoided? As several cleanup programs mature, what will be emerging contaminants that all stakeholders will have to be prepared for (hint… like to start developing a PFAS groundwater primary standard in 2025. How are the Division and industry reacting to these? How does the Division relate to other Divisions? Our panel will consist of past and present state regulatory leaders, private corporate leaders, consultants, and attorneys who will give their impressions and encourage audience participation.

Environmental enforcement in Florida continues to evolve, with regulatory agencies placing increasing emphasis on accountability over compliance assistance. This policy shift is especially evident in the regulation of solid and hazardous waste, soils, and water quality—and it has intensified the scrutiny on both permitted activities and private property transactions. As enforcement tightens, new technologies are entering the market to help regulated entities manage liability, reduce costs, and comply with stricter standards. This course explores recent legal and technical developments affecting pollution liability, including case studies and real-world implications for property owners, facility operators, and transactional stakeholders. New this year is a presentation from Sedron Technologies on their advanced biosolids processing system now under construction in Martin County. The system offers a sustainable, chemical-free method to transform wastewater biosolids into Class A fertilizer and recover clean water, with added benefits such as PFAS destruction and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Course attendees are encouraged to engage in interactive discussion with environmental attorneys, technical experts, and innovators addressing today’s most pressing pollution liability challenges.

This course has been fully redesigned to focus on practical implementation of pollutant load reductions in the context of impaired waters. The session explores both regulatory and engineering pathways available to achieve pollutant load reductions and restore water quality more efficiently. Panelists will present real-world examples from across Florida, highlighting how stakeholders are navigating the scientific, technical, and legal challenges associated with impaired waterbody designations. Basin Management Action Plans, Alternative Restoration Plans (ARPs), and other implementation-focused strategies will be discussed as potential pathways to accelerate restoration while maintaining compliance with state and federal requirements. In parallel, the course will examine engineering and watershed-based approaches for reducing pollutant loads, including source controls, treatment technologies, stormwater retrofits, and integrated watershed management strategies. Case studies will demonstrate how these approaches are being applied in practice to achieve measurable water quality improvements. Perspectives from both agencies and practitioners will be provided, along with insights into coordination, data needs, modeling considerations, and implementation challenges.

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.

This course will provide environmental engineers, attorneys, and other brownfield stakeholders with a practical, detailed overview of how to navigate the redevelopment of contaminated sites in Florida. Participants will learn how current state and federal rules, including recent changes from the 2025 Florida Legislative Session, directly impact liability management, site cleanup, and redevelopment financing. The panel will walk through replicable processes for addressing risk, satisfying regulatory requirements, and structuring public-private partnerships that align with legal and technical best practices. Case examples will be used to illustrate how successful projects have been executed, with a focus on the technical, financial, and legal strategies that made them work. By the end of the course, attendees will have a clear understanding of how to approach brownfield redevelopment projects efficiently and in compliance with applicable laws.

Florida agriculture plays a significant role in meeting the food and commodity needs of a growing world population and in environmental stewardship. This course will discuss new and ever-evolving topics – including land use management and preservation, water use, and wetland and wildlife conservation – and their effect on Florida’s agricultural community. Expect the expert panelists to discuss recent state and federal legislation affecting agriculture in Florida, best management practice (BMP) developments, industry trends, historic and predicted changes in water use and availability, permitting strategies, and more! Don’t miss it!

This panel of experts will discuss the results of an active 2026 legislative session, the latest with the Live Local Act and how local governments are responding, as well as the latest Florida planning trends. The panel will also discuss the direction of land use in the state, including discussion of state preemption. This course is updated every year to discuss new and anticipated legislation, emerging issues and problems, and examples of local government innovation. Bring your questions, as audience participation and debate is highly encouraged!

Recent federal policy shifts have altered or rolled back several carbon-related initiatives adopted in prior years. While Florida does not maintain statewide carbon mandates, many businesses made operational, capital, and strategic decisions in response to earlier federal policies. This session brings together representatives from mining, power generation, ports, and municipalities to discuss how they are evaluating prior investments, adjusting compliance strategies, and planning amid regulatory uncertainty. The discussion will address cost implications, operational flexibility, infrastructure planning, and lessons learned from rapid policy change.