38th Environmental Permitting Summer School

This informative and extremely popular course has been updated once again for 2023! This panel of agency, industry, and legal experts will explore the projected impacts of climate change and sea-level rise in the context of infrastructure, natural systems, planning, and law. Come prepared with your questions for the panel as they provide a federal overview of the current science and policies related to climate change with a specific focus on impacts in Florida. The discussion will identify current and future regulatory implications of sea-level rise in Florida, regional partnerships/collaborations, and state and federal laws, policies, and regulations that address coastal resiliency. The panel will also examine potential adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect infrastructure and natural systems, anticipated hurdles to adaptation strategy implementation and liability, and legal considerations for climate planning and response. 

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.

With all the attention on emerging contaminants of concern, including PFOA/PFAs controversy, this course is a must-attend!  This panel of experts will provide timely updates on new ways the Department of Environmental Protection and EPA are addressing water quality issues; also includes basic as well as advanced discussion on water quality discharge permitting, whether from industrial, domestic, or other discharge sources; emphasis on current agency practices, and updates on pending legal changes; emerging water quality issues affecting industry, regulations and the general population. Come prepared with your questions!  This course is designed for extensive audience participation. 

This panel will provide the latest information on Candidate Species Updates, State and Federal current and future mitigation policies related to species, and the implications for both public and private infrastructure projects. This course covers new mitigation policy related to species impacts for all USFWS agency actions under both the CWA and ESA. Discussion of updated Imperiled Species Action Plans. Get the latest information and hear the discussion on the implications for Florida.  

The growth of Florida’s mitigation banking industry has resulted in over 100 permitted banks providing mitigation to 4,000+ projects throughout the state. As the industry evolves, changes in regulatory and policy standards are inevitable. This course focuses on recent changes on a national and state level that affect the mitigation banking industry and associated development in Florida. Prospective and current mitigation bankers and users of mitigation bank credits need to understand these changes to ensure compliance and to achieve efficient and timely permit processing. Updates will be provided on USACE’s new Mitigation Banking Instrument, new Financial Assurance requirements, changes in the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and mitigation challenges associated with Florida DOT projects.

An excellent course designed to provide insight into the regulatory, planning, and water supply development programs of Florida’s five water management districts; includes a discussion of water resource development and water supply planning; adoption and implementation of MFLs; development of water reservations; Environmental Resource Permitting updates; secondary and cumulative impacts; discussion of changes to water management district budgeting and cooperative funding for water quality and water supply; and other emerging programs and issues; audience participation encouraged. 

This panel will discuss the current status and issues involving Florida’s underground injection control (UIC) regulatory program that authorizes the injection of fluids into underground formations and aquifer recharge projects. The panel will focus on the expanded use of aquifer storage and recovery and aquifer recharge projects involving potable, surface water/stormwater, or reclaimed water to enhance water supplies. The panel will cover changes to underground injection and aquifer recharge resulting from DEP’s recent indirect potable reuse regulations. Additionally, the panel will discuss the recent US Supreme Court Maui decision and the subsequent EPA Maui Guidance to determine when an NPDES permit may be required for groundwater injection projects. Finally, the use of exemptions and variances to obtain UIC approvals for these projects will be examined. Overcoming issues and impediments to obtaining UIC authorizations for deep well disposal of waste streams will also be discussed. Come prepared to listen, learn, and participate! 

In Florida, the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) is used by local, state and federal regulatory agencies to determine the amount of mitigation necessary to offset impacts to wetlands and other surface waters and the number of mitigation credits to be assigned to a mitigation bank. This course will focus on UMAM fundamentals with additional discussion reflecting any recent policy or rule changes under consideration by the FDEP and the panel’s experience with thousands of individual UMAM assessments. Audience participation is encouraged. 

This course will provide a detailed and in-depth breakdown of all aspects and components necessary for the environmental professional to obtain an ERP permit in an efficient and effective manner. This course will take the audience through all the steps in the review and issuance of an ERP permit including an administrative permit challenge. In addition, the course will discuss how new and proposed rules and policies are affecting the permitting process. Learn from this highly-experienced panel all of the essential criteria and policies, including wetland and mitigation requirements, stormwater requirements, water quality and administrative and legal requirements critical to finalize a permit. This course is a must for environmental professionals who want to understand all aspects of ERP permitting to better represent their clients and deliver efficient results. Audience participation is encouraged. 

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.