40th Environmental Permitting Summer School

The explosion of AI, work-from-anywhere capabilities, new digital tools, and heightened client
expectations have dramatically altered the face of work for environmental professionals. Whether you
are an engineer, lawyer, or consultant, and whether you practice in the public or the private sector, your
clients rely on you to provide adaptable, ethical, effective, quality work. This newly-updated panel is
designed to help translate the capabilities of these new technologies, and of frequently-used but often
misunderstood concepts, into practical information for all types of environmental professionals.

The first half of this year’s panel will cover effective integration of emerging technologies in the workplace,
with an increased focus on artificial intelligence, security, and recent updates to widely-used software. It
will also provide a discussion of pitfalls and red flags with a focus on maximizing efficiency within an ethical
framework. The panelists will unpack the intricacies of public records laws and when attorney-client
privilege covers the work of consultants. Panelists will focus on providing practical pointers to address
each of these issues and provide real-world examples as illustrations. Part I of the session will finish with
a discussion on troubleshooting your most vexing and everyday annoyances using technology. Attendees
are encouraged to come with questions for the panelists.

After the break, the second half of the session will delve into the world of consultants as expert witnesses
and the importance of using technology to support your credibility, develop your expert opinions, and
effectively present your opinions to a court at trial, with an emphasis on practical tips and best practices
in using technology in the courtroom. Panelists will also provide useful insight into the latest online
technology tools that environmental professionals can use to find answers to client questions, conduct
research queries, and support everyday work functions.

The session is designed to educate both the novice and the experienced technology user and is expected
to generate Florida Bar CLE credits for ethics and technology.

BYOD – Bring Your Own Device and Follow Along!

Part I – The New Era of Workplace Technology Instructors: Kathryn B. Rossmell, F. Joseph Ullo, Jr.,
Gina Chiello, Lauren Brooks

Part II – Expert Witnesses: Utilizing Technology to Make Your Case Instructors: Julia Lomonico, David O’Brien, Christine Wentzel, Melissa Lawrence

Timely and informative update on permitting and enforcement procedures utilized by environmental agencies; beginner to intermediate course; covers permits and permit renewals; construction and operation permits; time limitations; monitoring; agency enforcement of permit conditions; fines and other penalties; legal and ethical considerations; other emerging trends and issues including legislative review of agency rules and ratification of proposed rules; audience participation encouraged.

Florida’s 2024 stormwater rule is already reshaping project planning and permitting across the state—but we’re not fully there yet. With portions of the rule already in effect and the all-important treatment performance provisions delayed until late 2025, this panel tackles the uncertainties and evolving expectations facing stormwater engineers, public and private developers, and local governments. Hear directly from a panel of regulators and experienced practitioners as they unpack how the rule is being interpreted in practice, what’s changing (and when), and how best to prepare for full implementation. Expect practical takeaways, discussion of real project scenarios, and ample time for audience Q&A in this highly interactive session.

Think Environmental Permitting in Florida is an old hat? Think again! This important area of law is constantly evolving, formally or otherwise. This extremely informative (and perhaps even a little fun) course combines the legal principles of ERP permitting, including policy and rulemaking updates, with practical tips for achieving compliance and avoiding process “pitfalls” from regulators and practitioners. The presentation will be led by lawyers and scientists from the public and private sector who will engage in free flowing dialogue with the audience whenever possible. Questions are highly encouraged! The course assumes a working knowledge of the ERP process and criteria, and it is intended to examine emerging issues that make or break applications, including those subjected to the extraordinary scrutiny of an administrative hearing, and what those issues mean for ERP applicants.

We use a roundtable/discussion approach, so there are no presentations to download for this course.

Join us for an exciting, in-depth course where top water policy experts dive into Florida’s rapidly growing demand for water and explore innovative solutions to secure its future. This course focuses on how water reuse can revolutionize the state’s approach to water management. In 2020, DEP was directed to develop potable reuse rules based on the Potable Reuse Commission recommendations. After four years, Florida adopted new rules for direct potable reuse and revising indirect potable reuse rules. These changes are paving the way for a more sustainable and reliable water supply in the face of growing challenges.

Throughout this course, you'll listen to expert presentations and participate in dynamic panel discussions with water policy leaders, engineers, and innovators who are shaping the future of water supply in Florida and beyond. This course will leave you with a deeper understanding of how water reuse can help “grow the water pie” while protecting the environment and ensuring Florida's water future. Don’t miss out on this vital conversation about one of the most pressing issues of our time!

This advanced course delivers a deep dive into the latest developments in the Army Corps of Engineers’ (ACOE) permitting processes under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. With a new federal administration in place, our panel will analyze any fresh guidance or policy shifts emerging from ACOE headquarters, and what they mean for practitioners. Experts will walk through the permitting process step-by-step, sharing case studies, practical strategies to streamline approvals, and key red flags to avoid. Expect an interactive, solutions-focused session designed to spark audience discussion and debate.

Florida’s new stormwater rule does more than increase nutrient treatment requirements. It also creates a performance-based framework for meeting those requirements through onsite treatment, offsite compensating treatment, and regional treatment mechanisms. In practice, each project carries a measurable nutrient reduction obligation, while tools such as Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEAs) and Regional Stormwater Management Systems (RSMS) may provide credits or allocations to help satisfy that obligation within the applicable regulatory constraints. This panel of experts will examine the emerging “cap-and-trade” framework for stormwater nutrient management under the ERP program, including the respective roles of WQEAs and RSMS as sources of enhancement credits or pollutant reduction allocations. Panelists will discuss the statutory and regulatory framework, pending rule development, credit and allocation concepts, receiving-water limitations, and practical considerations for engineers, attorneys, consultants, regulators, local governments, and regulated entities evaluating these tools in project planning and permitting. This course is designed for extensive audience participation, so be sure to bring your questions!

Absolutely the most current and reliable information available on what the 2026 Legislature passed (or considered but failed to pass) and why; assessment of Florida’s changing political landscape with respect to environmental and water policy issues; comprehensive preview of what’s expected with respect to the implementation of 2026 legislation with a look ahead to the 2027 session and beyond. This course is designed for audience participation, so come with your questions for the panelists!

Timely and informative update on permitting and enforcement procedures utilized by environmental agencies; beginner to intermediate course; covers permits and permit renewals; construction and operation permits; time limitations; monitoring; agency enforcement of permit conditions; fines and other penalties; legal and ethical considerations; other emerging trends and issues including legislative review of agency rules and ratification of proposed rules; audience participation encouraged.

Transportation and utility infrastructure in Florida continues to evolve on multiple fronts as technology, travel patterns, and resiliency planning influence how our infrastructure is designed, funded, and utilized. This panel gathers engineers, economic specialists, and planners to discuss how their work is evolving in the face of these changes.

This course provides an overview of the latest developments and best practices in tools available to non-federal entities to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act. Section 10 of the ESA allows for incidental take permits or enhancement of survival permits that provide durable, long-term regulatory assurances that are not available under the federal consultation process of ESA Section 7. These tools have been widely used across the country but less so in Florida. This course will provide a roadmap for how to consider these tools for your projects, lessons learned from successful plans, and pitfalls to avoid. The panel will also discuss how recent court decisions and regulatory changes may influence this key provision of the ESA. Highly relevant case studies will be provided from Florida, the eastern United States, and around the country.