39th Environmental Permitting Summer School

This course was new in 2021 and is back by popular demand! Stream restoration projects can provide numerous benefits to the watershed and local communities; including pollutant attenuation, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, flood hazard reduction, erosion control, and improved quality of life and economic stimulus through enhanced recreation. This course focuses on the different components that encompass stream restoration projects, which include project siting and acquisition, stream classification, feasibility, design and permitting, construction and post-construction monitoring, and more. This session will highlight case studies with innovative stream restoration techniques specifically suited for Florida conditions. Circumstances favoring turnkey and watershed solutions, versus modular and local services, will be discussed. In addition, panelists will share how stream restoration as a BMP could provide water quality credits for BMAPs and future banking opportunities. Come prepared with your questions for this panel of experts! Audience participation is highly encouraged!

The continued population growth in our State has triggered substantial challenges regarding land use, availability of water (quantity and quality), and clean, developable land with ready infrastructure. As part of an urban infill approach to preserve green lands, some of the alternatives to accommodate population growth are closed golf courses and available former agricultural land located near urban areas. However, these options present a unique set of challenges ranging from soil and groundwater contamination on and off property boundaries to comp plans changes, to administrative challenges by affected parties to land development. Another challenge is achieving environmental closure on contamination using Institutional Controls. Even in the face of these seemingly difficult challenges, opportunities to redevelop golf courses and former ag land exist. How can some of these issues be resolved? What does it take to achieve land development that is environmentally sustainable and protective of human health? This is a timely topic, and the class was standing-room only in 2023. . The class is designed so the audience can learn to navigate the process and how some of these challenges are currently being met. The round table forum allows for plenty of audience participation and feedback.

Extremely timely and informative course will “cover the bases” from NEPA to permitting; critical environmental issues including ESA protected marine species and essential fish habitat, corals, sea turtles, and marine mammals; use of UMAM and HEA for determining mitigation requests; examples of lessons learned in dealing with and applying federal and state requirements to seaports, beach renourishment, and coastal development; discussion of emerging issues. Audience participation is encouraged!

Florida has been at work, especially with the advent of the Resilient Florida program, and has dramatically advanced resilience efforts and capabilities. During this time, Floridians have been tested by major storms affecting both inland and coastal communities. This panel is organized as a “How-To,” with experts discussing the latest tools and emerging programs at the State and Federal levels to promote resilience projects. In this refreshed version of the panel, the group will reflect upon last year’s storm season with a discussion of lessons learned, new understandings, and resilience measures that reduced impacts. They will review important funding programs and resilience frameworks for planning and project implementation, along with case studies and recommended best practices. Come prepared with your questions for the panel as we grapple with Florida’s future in an ever-changing climate.

Join us for an exciting, in-depth two-part 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!

Join us for an exciting, in-depth two-part 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!

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!

The USFWS and FWC carry out their responsibilities for the conservation and management of imperiled species through established regulations, policy, and guidance. These foundations and practices affect the way in which we conduct business while minimizing impacts from known threats, improving habitat, strengthening conservation and recovery efforts and, ultimately, improving the status of Florida’s imperiled species. Comprehensive planning and collaboration are essential to the process and agencies often work in partnership with stakeholders, landowners, and project proponents to achieve these goals. Members of the panel will review the regulations, policy, and programs in place for imperiled species while offering perspective from their role (e.g., agency, landowner, industry, consultant) in discussing creative and new strategies for addressing complex business and conservation challenges, their successes, and future implications. We hope to inspire the audience by contemplating the big picture.

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.

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.