July 2009

Planning to attend the Texas Environmental Superconference? The Superconference will be held on Thursday and Friday -- August 6-7, 2009 -- as always, in Austin at the Four Seasons Hotel. Register now or you may miss your chance. The 21st Annual Environmental Superconference is well on its way to being sold out. Click here to register. There will be no walk-in registrations. Also, there are only a few rooms left at the Four Seasons at the discounted block rate. If you haven’t reserved your room, you should do so quickly.

This year’s theme, given the conference is "21 and Counting," is inspired by Las Vegas and is titled "Viva Las Vegas." Continuing a tradition begun four years ago, there also will be a Wednesday evening program, Climate-change related statutes, with the Las Vegas theme, "Tropicana."

Co-sponsored by the State Bar of Texas Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, the Air & Waste Management Association – Southwest Section, the Water Environment Association of Texas, the Texas Association of Environmental Professionals, The Auditing Roundtable, and the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, the conference routinely draws in excess of 500 attendees, from both the public and private sectors.

Featured speakers this year include Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Dale Klein, high level officials from EPA Headquarters and Region 6, including Acting EPA Regional Administrator Larry Starfield, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) officials, including Commissioner Larry Soward, and State Senator Kirk Watson. Other speakers include distinguished representatives from the private and public sectors. Click here for the program.

Topics include Legislative Update (“Circus Circus”), Catastrophic Releases (“When the chips are Down”), Rebirth of Nuclear Power (“What are the Odds?”), Water Supply and Energy (“Oceans 11”), Case Law Update (“House Rules”), View from Washington/The New Administration (“The Golden Nugget”), Climate Change – Hot Issues (“The Sahara”), Water Quality (“Royal Flush”), Pipelines – A Pressure Packed Presentation (“Going Down The Tubes”), REACH and its Domestic Implications (“Monte Carlo”), Clean Tech (“A Gamble That Could Pay Off”), Solid Waste Update (“What’s the Deal?”), The Future
of Environmental Regulation in Texas (“Texas Hold’Em”), Environmental Ethics (“What Happens in Vegas...”), Environmental Issues in Bankruptcy (“Going for Broke”), Vapor Intrusion (“The Mirage”), Enforcement (“The House Always Wins”), and Using EPA’s New Owner Audit Policy in Acquisitions (“CSI”).

The Wednesday evening program will discuss climate change-related topics, including an overview, proposed greenhouse gas reporting requirements, the applicability of the Clean Air Act, regulation of CO2 injection, and the relevance of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.

As always, there are steep discounts for governmental attendees. Although registration must be made online, participants have the option of paying online by credit card or by mailing a check, payable to “State Bar of Texas – Texas Environmental Superconference.” Checks may be sent to: Texas Environmental Superconference, 600 Congress, Suite 1300, Austin, TX 78701. For further information, please contact Superconference@haynesboone.com.