40th Environmental Permitting Summer School

In this popular session, a panel of subject matter experts will present the trends in the newest regulated contaminant: PFAS. Panelists will discuss the EPA's latest plans to address PFAS, as well as the most recent scientific studies, strategies for conducting due diligence, and the status of remediation technologies. This session is relevant for both attorneys and consultants.

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.

Florida is faced with significant local and regional water supply, water quality and other water resource challenges in the coming decades unless proactive actions are taken. The need for new investments in water infrastructure is growing, while local governments and other governmental agencies are faced with fiscal, risk-based and capability constraints. Private sector expertise and financing is needed to play a key role in replacing and expanding Florida’s water infrastructure. Part of the solution may be public-private partnerships (P3) through the development of contractual arrangements. In 2019, federal, state, and local governments spent well over $500 billion to design, build, operate, and maintain transportation and water infrastructure in the United States. The panel will discuss P3 opportunities, legislative initiatives at the state and federal level, as well as case studies in meeting Florida’s future water resource needs. This is a timely and highly recommended course!

As regulatory frameworks and ecological markets continue to change and evolve, species' mitigation is entering a period of meaningful transition. This panel brings together key federal and state agencies to provide a forward-looking perspective on policy, program development, and implementation strategies shaping the next generation of species conservation. This session will explore how policy shifts, market mechanisms, and infrastructure innovation are converging to redefine how impacts are offset and how conservation value is created, measured, and monetized across Florida’s rapidly developing landscape.  Panelists will highlight advancements in species-focused mitigation tools, provide critical updates on species listing status, identify emerging trends influencing conservation banking, and showcase innovative approaches to integrating wildlife crossings and corridor design into infrastructure projects, including how these efforts are generating measurable ecological lift, mitigation credits, and quantifiable species protection outcomes.

Two historically well- attended classes in the areas of waste cleanup and waste management regulation are now being combined to create a comprehensive “super” class that will address a multitude of current and emerging “hot topic” issues and developments in these areas with predictions and forecasts by a panel of experts on potential federal and state government regulatory responses. Those issues include projected data centers/AI-related impacts in Florida and anticipated government polices to address such impacts; updates on state PFAS legislation and regulation and their effect on waste cleanup and Florida’s solid waste management industry; anticipated significant FDEP rulemaking affecting waste cleanup (e.g., Chapters 62-788 and 62-524, F.A.C.); potential changes to waste management regulations (e.g., Chapter 62-701, F.A.C.) arenas and the regulatory consequences that may result; projected landfill and solid waste management facility capacity, and challenges in addressing Florida’s future solid waste management needs for an always increasing state population, as well as industrial solid waste management developments. Come prepared to not only learn from our panel of experts on these and related topics but to offer your own thoughts and opinions on these issues as audience participation is strongly encouraged.

Two historically well- attended classes in the areas of waste cleanup and waste management regulation are now being combined to create a comprehensive “super” class that will address a multitude of current and emerging “hot topic” issues and developments in these areas with predictions and forecasts by a panel of experts on potential federal and state government regulatory responses. Those issues include projected data centers/AI-related impacts in Florida and anticipated government polices to address such impacts; updates on state PFAS legislation and regulation and their effect on waste cleanup and Florida’s solid waste management industry; anticipated significant FDEP rulemaking affecting waste cleanup (e.g., Chapters 62-788 and 62-524, F.A.C.); potential changes to waste management regulations (e.g., Chapter 62-701, F.A.C.) arenas and the regulatory consequences that may result; projected landfill and solid waste management facility capacity, and challenges in addressing Florida’s future solid waste management needs for an always increasing state population, as well as industrial solid waste management developments. Come prepared to not only learn from our panel of experts on these and related topics but to offer your own thoughts and opinions on these issues as audience participation is strongly encouraged.

Updated for 2026, this highly popular course brings together practitioners, agency leadership, and industry experts to share real-world lessons learned from planning and implementing projects funded under Florida’s Resilient Florida Program. Drawing from direct project experience, panelists will provide practical insights into what works—and what doesn’t—when advancing resilience planning projects and initiatives from concept through design and construction. The discussion will highlight strategies for overcoming common challenges, with a focus on accelerating early project phases, navigating approvals, creating policies that facilitate project development, maintaining project momentum, and data management best practices to help communities before, during, and address and adapt to current and future flood risk. The panel will also explore what lies ahead for the Resilient Florida Program, including expectations for the coming year and the implications of the Florida Legislature’s funding levels for the program overall.  Panelists will also discuss key resilience projects, and data collection initiatives happening across the state, to prepare for current and future weather hazards.  Participants are encouraged to engage with panelists and come prepared with questions, as this session focuses on actionable insights, funding sources for future projects, and practical guidance for advancing resilience for coastal and inland projects in Florida. Plus Eddy is in the house!

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.