39th Environmental Permitting Summer School

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.

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.

In this day and age, accessibility to information drives the involvement of stakeholders (e.g., investors, employees, neighbors, environmental groups) at a detailed level in matters of environmental permitting and compliance. The role of the “inspector” expands beyond just the agency regulators but encompasses the public community. How should a company best prepare for an “inspection” – whether it is a DEP review under the State Review Framework or public scrutiny of the vast amount of disclosures and environmental reports? This panel will focus on answering this question by presenting practices for proper data collection and disclosure that can stand up to stakeholder inquiries while still balancing a company’s desire to implement a value-added strategy. Additional considerations addressed in this panel:
With industry reliance on consistency and transparency, when is voluntary disclosure advised and do more detailed disclosures lend the risk of gaining more exposure?
What is the appropriate balance of information to keep on file and why is “accurate” rather than “conservative” data more important than ever?
How can a company balance the risk of exposure to releases/misinterpretations while still adding value to their process for consistency and attaining Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) goals?
All these questions will be explored in the light of both federal and state updates, considerations for Environmental Justice (EJ), and how these changes impact industry. The panel will provide a perspective and guidance from many points of view including state regulators, permitted industry, and legal counsel.

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.

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.

The last few years have seen a cascade of changes in contaminated media management, site cleanup, and closures, as well as site redevelopment.  We live in a world of constant change in rules, regulations, and policies. The initial reaction to PFAS in Florida (“winter is coming”) has been replaced by a more thoughtful approach based on risk management. In May 2025 EPA made the decision on enforcing two PFAS, and so it is anticipated that FDEP will initiate rulemaking for a drinking water standard in 2026. Where will this lead? How do we prepare?  Also, what does the recent EPA announcements in PFAS policy mean?  Also,  Rule 62-524, F.A.C. “Delineated Areas” has been requested to be updated. What changes will this request usher for public health protection and site closure? Plus, the recent Brownfields statutory changes are hoped to trigger major investments in long-neglected Superfund sites. The round-table format discussions will involve the latest in policy changes and several other hot topics that are sure to capture the audience’s attention. This class has been standing-room only in the past and the round-table format allows active panel and audience interaction. Come, listen, and learn from instructors who are at the forefront of hot issues, how they navigate through the latest challenges, and what they predict will evolve into the decade.

This session will address the types of permits (CCCL, ERP, JCP) that apply to marine-related projects and includes presentations on how the ecology and biology of Florida’s seagrasses and mangroves drive the reality of regulatory responses; what restoration options and assessment strategies are available and appropriate; the challenges of the permitting process and the importance of establishing realistic restoration goals that can be measured as well as attained. Also, some focus will be given to UMAM assessments for seagrass impacts and mitigation; living shorelines, mangrove restoration and other estuarine restoration techniques; and restoration site selection, techniques, and monitoring in the context of the regulatory environment. This course provides excellent coverage of a very complex subject.

As industries move toward a reduced carbon society, they are faced with regulatory and operational challenges. Florida industry representatives from mining, power, ports, and municipalities will discuss their action plans and policies and the benefits (and costs) of moving towards a reduced carbon society.

This panel of experts will discuss the results of an active 2025 legislative session, the latest with the Live Local Act and how local governments are responding, as well as the latest Florida planning trends. The panel will also discuss the future of comprehensive planning including the more relevant court cases for the year. This course is updated every year to discuss new and anticipated legislation, emerging issues and problems, and examples of local government innovation. Bring your questions, as audience participation and debate is highly encouraged!

Public and private sector projects located near wetlands, endangered species habitats, or other protected areas are often opposed by individuals and organizations during permitting proceedings as well as in federal court. Effective permitting of such projects requires a grasp of the changes in the requirements or enforcement of these federal laws under the Biden administration. This seminar focuses on how to build a winning record and strategies for supporting or attacking permitting decisions in the courtroom. This course is ideal for managers and consultants who work on large or controversial projects involving wetlands, endangered species or protected natural resources.

Back by popular demand! This course was completely redesigned in 2024, expanding the focus of the “Numeric Nutrient Criteria Update” from prior 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.

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 (STAs) cover over 62,000 acres and represent the largest constructed treatment wetlands in the world. Operation of the STAs is governed by permits and consent orders that include a stringent water quality-based effluent limit (WQBEL) for phosphorus. 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.

Advanced Best Management Practices (BMPs) can provide multiple benefits of runoff and pollutant load reduction, aquifer recharge, flood mitigation, reduced freshwater discharges, temperature moderation, reduced water supply consumption for irrigation, shade and habitat, and life cycle cost savings. Traditional stormwater BMPs have varying effectiveness in reducing runoff and nutrient discharges to Florida’s surface waters. Increases in freshwater runoff and nutrient discharges contribute to the list of Florida’s surface waters that are designated as impaired. Excess nutrients also feed harmful algae blooms. Advanced stormwater treatment BMPs can be used in conjunction with, or in lieu of traditional stormwater treatment practices in a BMP Treatment Train to increase runoff capture and nutrient reduction efficiencies. Some local governments and private developers are already implementing these advanced stormwater treatment BMPs. This session will provide an update to policymakers, developers, designers, and other community stakeholders on applications of both green LID and advanced stormwater treatment BMPs that can help reduce excess nutrients in stormwater and better protect Florida’s surface waters.

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.