Water Rights Conference

The Changing Face of Water Rights in Texas

HELD May 8-9, 2008
Hyatt Lost Pines Resort
Lost Pines (Bastrop), Texas

Unique among water conferences, this program emphasized transaction-focused, practice-oriented topics and materials. Click here for the program. Among over two dozen topics, the agenda included:

• groundwater and surface water conveyances and deal points
• water and wastewater considerations for a developer, including a discussion of impact fees and tariffs
• the significant changes to "CCN" (utility service area) law
• regulation of groundwater by groundwater conservation districts
• navigating municipal and county regulations

The conference kicked off with an optional 2 ½ hour boot camp that covered the fundamentals of groundwater and surface water law.

Co-sponsored with the State Bar of Texas's Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, this seminar's planning committee worked to ensure that the agenda adds value to the environmental and real estate practitioner, attorney, real estate practitioner.

If you have questions, please contact the Program Co-Chair, Hunter Burkhalter, at HBurkhalter@kempsmith.com.

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Superconference

20th ANNUAL TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERCONFERENCE

August 6-8, 2008
Four Seasons Resort
Austin, Texas

The 20th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference will be held on Thursday and Friday -- August 7-8, 2008 -- as always, in Austin at the Four Seasons Hotel. This year’s theme, inspired by politics, is “Join the Party." And, on this 20th anniversary, party we will. Continuing a tradition begun three years ago, there also will be a Wednesday evening program, "A Brownfields Toolkit," with the political theme, “Digging up Dirt.” Click here for the program.

The conference routinely draws in excess of 500 attendees, from both the public and private sectors. Because the conference consistently sells out, we encourage you to register early. Click here to register. There will be no walk-in registration.

Featured speakers this year include Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) Commissioner Bryan Shaw, Railroad Commission of Texas Chairman, Michael Williams, Carl Bauer, Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, and, from EPA Headquarters, Chief of Enforcement Granta Nakayama and Director of Solid Waste Matt Hale, in addition to many other distinguished representatives from TCEQ and EPA Region 6 and from the private and public sectors. Topics include air quality (“California here we come”), water quality (“Tippecanoe and Tyler too”), energy planning (“Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow”), climate change (“Change we can believe in”), Internal Investigations (“You ain’t seen nothing yet”), enforcement (“Speak softly and carry a big stick”), lobbying ethics (“The buck stops here”), and natural resource damages (“A chicken in every pot”). Other topics include: environmental and administrative case law updates, municipal sustainability initiatives, solid waste, and EPA in the Next Administration. This year we will be having a series of point-counterpoint discussions with Professors Tom McGarity of the University of Texas School of Law and Victor Flatt of the University of Houston School of Law, on a variety of intriguing topics, including biofuels v. food, wind power v. birds and bats, nuclear v. carbon-based fuels, and chemical security v. confidentiality.

Unlike in prior years, the Wednesday evening session will not be a primer, but instead will entail "in-depth" discussions of key concepts relating to the remediation and development of contaminated properties in Texas. For those who like acronyms, this program will discuss a plethora of them, including the following: VCP, IOP, MSDs , TDCRP, USTs, and TRRP.

Have a question? Please contact Superconference@haynesboone.com.

Click Here to see 2008 Planning Committee Members >>>

The Texas Environmental Superconference recognizes its sponsors:

State Bar of Texas Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section

Aiir & Waste Management Association - Southwest Section

Water Environment Association of Texas

Texas Association of Environmental Professionals

The Auditing Roundtable

American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources.

Past Annual Environmental Superconference Highlights

		Highlights from the 19th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference: An Oscar Winning Performance Inspired by Academy Award Winning movies, this year's conference was entitled "An Oscar Winning Performance." There was plenty of excitement including a special appearance by Al Gore, tap dancing (literally) by a tuxedoed Jeff Civins, and a segwaying centurian. Read More >>
		Highlights from the 18th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference: The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades The theme of the 18th Annual Environmental Superconference, held August 3-4, 2006, was - "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades" - featured songs from the 80's. There was a surprise performance of the theme song by Pat MacDonald, lead singer and songwriter of Timbuk 3, the band that recorded this huge 80's hit. MacDonald opened by joking that while it was a great honor to be asked to perform, "It's also my greatest humiliation." Read More >>
		Highlights from the 17th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference: A Superconference The 17th Annual Environmental Superconference, was held at the Austin Four Seasons on August 4-5, 2005. With this year's theme of Superheroes, there were surprise visits from The Incredibles , Wonder Woman (aka Ann Klee, General Counsel of EPA); The Thing (David Whitten), Superman (Superconference Chair Jeff Civins), Lois Lane (Mary Sahs), Batman (Mike Nasi) and his trusty sidekick Robin (Bob Chapin), and the Invisible Man. Attendees vied to correctly match the Superheroes with their alter egos and arch enemies, and to complete the Superheroes trivia quizzes. Read More >>
		Highlights from the 16th Annual Environmental Superconference Over 500 people gathered at the 16th Annual Environmental Superconference, held in Austin on August 5-6, 2004. "Reality TV" was the theme of this year's Superconference. In addition to learning the latest in Texas Environmental law, attendees got to participate in the Superconference's own version of Reality TV. Read More >>
		Highlights from the 15th Annual Environmental Superconference Read More >> Section Members, Access the 15th Annual Environmental Superconference Materials Here!