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 – Government Agency Resources and Databases 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.

Come listen and learn from a panel of experts as they discuss the latest changes to federal environmental policies and regulations under the Trump Administration. This session examines how the policies and roles of the federal agencies are changing across a wide spectrum of issues such as WOTUS and other water issues, endangered species, enforcement, agency size, and climate change. The experts will also discuss how the regulated community, the state, and advocacy groups are responding to such changes including the potential for citizen enforcement. These and other federal issues will be discussed by our well-informed panel. Come prepared to listen, learn and participate.

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.

Come listen and learn from a panel of experts as they discuss the latest changes to federal environmental policies and regulations under the Trump Administration. This session examines how the policies and roles of the federal agencies are changing across a wide spectrum of issues such as WOTUS and other water issues, endangered species, enforcement, agency size, and climate change. The experts will also discuss how the regulated community, the state, and advocacy groups are responding to such changes including the potential for citizen enforcement. These and other federal issues will be discussed by our well-informed panel. Come prepared to listen, learn and participate.

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.

Wetlands provide natural, sustainable, and environmentally beneficial water quality improvement. This exciting course will include a detailed overview of treatment wetland applications, design and permitting, and recent trends and innovations to address some of the state’s most complex challenges associated with surface water quality and water supply shortages. Surface water quality protection will be highlighted by how SFWMD is using treatment wetlands to restore and protect ecologically sensitive areas of South Florida. The Everglades Stormwater Treatment Areas (ESTAs) include a stringent water quality-based effluent limit (WQBEL) for phosphorus concentration. The Northern STAs (NSTAs) are constructed to reduce nutrient load for water discharging into Lake Okeechobee or the Caloosahatchee or St. Lucie Estuaries.  Water resource augmentation using treatment wetlands will be highlighted by multiple projects that reuse wastewater effluent providing multi-functional and multi-beneficial systems that protect water quality, enhance water availability, and protect public health. Recent advancements include new interpretations of the Florida Administrative Code to better target natural recharge areas for groundwater augmentation, couple treatment wetlands with groundwater recharge via injection, and include treatment intensification to provide treatment of micropollutants, including unregulated contaminants and PFAS, in potable reuse applications.

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.