38th Environmental Permitting Summer School

John Hampp, FPL’s Environmental Director, will address the complexities of providing electrical energy in Florida that meets the reliability, price, and environmental energy needs of regulators, customers, and communities. Angela Morrison will explain EPA’s recently finalized carbon dioxide (CO2) emission standards for new, modified, and existing fossil-fuel-fired steam electric generating units (EGUs) and new combustion turbine EGUs that would require the use carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and hydrogen co-firing, what changed from EPA’s proposal, EPA’s plans for existing combustion turbine EGUs, and what this could mean for Florida utilities. She will also briefly describe other important new greenhouse gas regulations and energy transition projects impacting utilities and industry in Florida. Ken Kosky, who has helped license over 30,000 megawatts of power production in the state, will share his insights on Florida’s electrical generation transition and greenhouse gas emissions in the past, present, and projected for the future. His projections for the future will contrast what would be expected under a business-as-usual case compared to reductions that would occur under EPA’s recently finalized standards that limit CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel-fired power plants. David Thorley, Director of Air Programs for Waste Management, will explain new methods being developed and used to measure and quantify methane emissions from landfills and EPA’s next round of emission standards. Jeff Koerner, Director of the Florida DEP Division of Air, will share updates related to electric vehicle charging stations, electric school buses, electric transit buses, and other projects related to the VW settlement grants.

Groundwater in Florida is intricately wrapped up in a complex web of social, environmental, and economic factors. It is the source of drinking water for most Floridians, serves the State’s agricultural activities, and it has a significant role in the health of our ecosystems and iconic springs. Long-time stressors such as agricultural use are beginning to be addressed; however, population growth, continued saltwater intrusion, and now emerging challenges such as pervasive and contamination recently subject to a 2024 rulemaking petition by the Florida Brownfields Association will put added pressure on planners, utilities, and policymakers to ensure that vulnerability evaluations are being conducted so that adequate supplies of high-quality groundwater resources exist for current and future needs. How are these emerging challenges being confronted and overcome? What are the likely interdisciplinary approaches?  What are the effects of the 2024 rulemaking petition on FDEP, Water Management Districts, and the public in general? What are the economic and policy implications of current sustainable development approaches? Is private-public sector collaboration the way to overcome these challenges? This has been a full class since its inception so come and listen to experts discuss these challenges, possible solutions, legislation, sources of funding, and how we will face these emerging challenges in the future.

Completely redesigned for 2024! This panel of experts will cover emerging challenges in meeting future water demands, the delivery of innovative water supply projects, meeting the conceptual costs of distribution and storage of reclaimed water, and regulatory challenges and innovative approaches to addressing these issues. The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) area covers all or part of five central Florida counties and includes portions of three water management districts, several regional public water utilities and dozens of local governments. The panel will explore innovative water supply projects and policies that are emerging around Florida, including the CFWI, and the role of utilities and other significant water users now and into the future. Be ready to participate in this “must-attend” course.

Florida has been grappling with septic tank policies since the infamous mandatory septic tank inspection requirement was adopted in 2011 and repealed in 2012. If this subject interests you, and it should if you are in the residential development industry or interested in the water quality of our state (or both!), this course is a must-see! Come hear from a panel of experts, who will discuss (and possibly debate) the major policy changes stemming from the Blue Green Algae Task Force and the Florida Clean Waterways Act and culminating in recent revisions to septic tank regulations and expanded wastewater grant eligibility. You will also hear about the latest changes to the septic tank regulatory program since its relocation from FDOH to FDEP and emerging regulatory, policy, and grant funding options. Bring your questions! Audience participation is highly encouraged!

In this advanced, two-part course, a panel of water policy experts will discuss Florida’s growing demand for water, and policy options for growing the “water pie” to satisfy these future demands. While conservation is an important tool, states must incorporate reuse as a source of water to meet growing needs and protect against environmental degradation.  Is it time to recognize that there may be better uses for reuse water than residential irrigation? Is Florida ready to accept indirect or direct potable reuse? Is the future for reuse related to aquifer replenishment?  Part 2: Join us for an intriguing discussion on the policies needed to advance reuse in the Sunshine State including a discussion on 2022 legislation, the Potable Reuse Commission, DEP reclaimed water phase II regulatory activities, national reuse activities, direct and indirect potable reuse, end-users’ concerns, while also highlighting successful projects and future projects such as regional aquifer replenishment. 

In this advanced, two-part course, a panel of water policy experts will discuss Florida’s growing demand for water, and policy options for growing the “water pie” to satisfy these future demands. While conservation is an important tool, states must incorporate reuse as a source of water to meet growing needs and protect against environmental degradation.  Is it time to recognize that there may be better uses for reuse water than residential irrigation? Is Florida ready to accept indirect or direct potable reuse? Is the future for reuse related to aquifer replenishment?  Part 2: Join us for an intriguing discussion on the policies needed to advance reuse in the Sunshine State including a discussion on 2022 legislation, the Potable Reuse Commission, DEP reclaimed water phase II regulatory activities, national reuse activities, direct and indirect potable reuse, end-users’ concerns, while also highlighting successful projects and future projects such as regional aquifer replenishment. 

Florida agriculture has a significant role to play in meeting the food and commodity production needs of a growing world population and an equally important role in environmental stewardship. This course will discuss emerging issues that are likely to impact Florida farmlands and the Florida agricultural community, particularly those issues affecting the use and management of agricultural lands and the impact of those practices on wetlands, wildlife and conservation.  Expect the panelists to discuss recent state and federal legislation affecting agriculture in Florida, emerging topics in wildlife best management practices (BMPs) for agriculture, and new approaches for obtaining both binding and non-binding determinations on whether your activities on agricultural lands need an Environmental Resource Permit or a “Section 404” permit for activities in Waters of the United States. The panel of experts will also discuss strategies on agricultural lands that can minimize environmental impacts, avoid permitting requirements, and manage wildlife interactions to minimize conflicts. We will even attempt to forecast the future of agriculture in the state, with new cash crop opportunities like hemp production and what that might mean to the state. Don’t miss it!

The panel of experts will provide an in-depth examination of agency emphasis on watershed management as a means of comprehensively integrating a variety of planning and regulatory programs currently implemented by DEP and water management districts; these include TMDLs, stormwater, NPDES, PLRGs, Water Quality Credit Trading, and both structural and non-structural floodplain planning and management; practical considerations; organizing stakeholders; discussion of the need for statutory changes as well as changes to current agency practices. Audience participation is encouraged.

Permits, approvals, and other agency authorizations are critical to your company’s business. But challenges in courts of law and public opinion are becoming increasingly common. These attacks threaten to delay, derail, or undo your permitting effort. This course is designed to help you navigate the steps you can and should take both to plan for and to defend your permit from such challenges. It will include practical advice on how to successfully survive a permit challenge, including identifying key vulnerabilities, building a defensible record, and other early steps to help ensure the long-term success of your efforts. It will also cover the defense of your permit in administrative and judicial proceedings, as well as other settings. Audience participation is encouraged.

This course is completely redesigned for 2024, expanding the focus of the “Numeric Nutrient Criteria Update” from past years. This course now focuses on the implementation of water quality standards with an emphasis on options for dealing with an “Impaired” designation. Panelists will provide examples of current experiences around the state, including how affected parties are dealing with the scientific, technical, and legal issues involved in the application of water quality criteria in Florida. Engineering and agency perspectives will be discussed, and case studies describing water quality restoration planning and implementation options will be provided. There will be an opportunity for exchange among panelists and the audience during this highly technical course designed to explore and provide an update on navigating the options to achieve restoration where water quality criteria have been exceeded.