A summary of the report titled "Shale Gas Roundtable: Deliberations, Findings and Recommendations" issued by the Shale Gas Roundtable, a group of 26 individuals organized by the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute on Politics. The group's aim is to develop a framework to improve unconventional oil and gas production, transport, and use in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
This presentation was given on 26.11.15 at the Catchment Management Network Meeting in Tullamore.
The day included presentations on the approach to characterisation for the 2nd Cycle of the Water Framework Directive and how this would involve both the EPA and Local Authorities, along with other public bodies.
A key focus was the new Local Authority Water and Communities Office and its role in the 2nd cycle.
Presentations on integrating planning and the WFD, the UK 'Love Your River Telford' project and 'The Living Loobagh' from Limerick were also included.
FERC 101, continued - Robert Deibel - USDA Forest Service and Matt Rice, Amer...rshimoda2014
This session provides two critical perspectives on the relicencing process beyond that of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, that of the agencies who manage rivers affected by hydro facilities, and organizations representing environmental issues and the interests of recreational users.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an Independent Commission that sets and regulates the process and procedures for involvement during a formal license proceeding. The objectives of this overview are to
provide interested participants an understanding of: 1) WHO FERC is; 2) WHAT this strictly regulated process requires in terms of participation; and 3) HOW participants can prepare and participate to succeed in a proceeding.
The presentation will cover process as well and identify
key points in a proceeding to focus their time and effort in order to effectively participate.
A summary of the report titled "Shale Gas Roundtable: Deliberations, Findings and Recommendations" issued by the Shale Gas Roundtable, a group of 26 individuals organized by the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute on Politics. The group's aim is to develop a framework to improve unconventional oil and gas production, transport, and use in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
This presentation was given on 26.11.15 at the Catchment Management Network Meeting in Tullamore.
The day included presentations on the approach to characterisation for the 2nd Cycle of the Water Framework Directive and how this would involve both the EPA and Local Authorities, along with other public bodies.
A key focus was the new Local Authority Water and Communities Office and its role in the 2nd cycle.
Presentations on integrating planning and the WFD, the UK 'Love Your River Telford' project and 'The Living Loobagh' from Limerick were also included.
FERC 101, continued - Robert Deibel - USDA Forest Service and Matt Rice, Amer...rshimoda2014
This session provides two critical perspectives on the relicencing process beyond that of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, that of the agencies who manage rivers affected by hydro facilities, and organizations representing environmental issues and the interests of recreational users.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an Independent Commission that sets and regulates the process and procedures for involvement during a formal license proceeding. The objectives of this overview are to
provide interested participants an understanding of: 1) WHO FERC is; 2) WHAT this strictly regulated process requires in terms of participation; and 3) HOW participants can prepare and participate to succeed in a proceeding.
The presentation will cover process as well and identify
key points in a proceeding to focus their time and effort in order to effectively participate.
Best Practices for NEPA Compliance and Related Permitting for Projects on In...Trihydro Corporation
Regulatory framework for permitting wells and pipelines
Typical timeframes and hang-ups in the permitting process
Best practices for permitting
Programmatic approaches to well field development on tribal lands, including potential benefits to tribes, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and operators
The TCE Revolution and Its Permanent Impact on Environmental Due DiligenceEDR
EDR INSIGHT WEBINAR: THE TCE REVOLUTION AND ITS PERMANENT IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE
June 24, 2015
Presented by:
-David Gillay, Partner and Chair of Brownfields & Environmental Transactional Diligence Practice Areas, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
-Dr. Michael Dourson, Ph.D., Alliance for Risk Assessment
Following decades of studies, scrutiny and debate, the U.S. EPA updated its TCE’s toxicity profile in the IRIS database, dramatically lowering the toxicity value. For transactional due diligence, this more stringent limit has important implications, including markedly more extensive and expensive cleanup processes. Given the focus on vapor migration in the new ASTM Phase I ESA standard, environmental professionals need to be increasingly cautious when making REC determinations and recommendations to clients.
Adding to the confusion is the significant variability in how regulators are using the updated TCE toxicity profile when making closure decisions at contaminated properties. For instance, U.S. EPA Regions 9, 10 and states like Minnesota, Indiana and Massachusetts (among others) have implemented profoundly different approaches to address TCE risk at contaminated sites. Thus, it is critical for environmental professionals to stay abreast of the how TCE guidance is being interpreted and applied across the country. In the latest development, the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry is proposing a dramatic change to its TCE toxicity profile for the first time in 18 years. The comment period ended on March 16, 2015, and if the update is finalized in its current form, there will be more intense scrutiny on exposure risks which will further complicate transactional due diligence.
This timely webinar will bring together an attorney and a national subject matter expert to address the various impacts of TCE’s toxicity update on transactional due diligence. This panel will help EPs answer the following questions:
-Does TCE in groundwater constitute a VEC and/or a REC?
-How should an EP manage variability in TCE standards in multi-state transactions?
-How can an EP take steps to minimize exposure to potential liability?
-How can an EP make sense of the science and available guidance?
-How should an EP communicate potential risks associated with TCE to clients?
New TxDOT ENV Processes To Reduce Time to Deliver Projects by 50%Kristen Carney
This presentation was presented at the CTAEP February meeting and is titled "FHWA Every Day Counts Initiative and Related TxDOT Efforts". The presenter was Dianna Noble, Director of TxDOT’s Environmental Affairs Division.
You can check out my notes on the presentation here: http://www.cubitplanning.com/blog/2011/02/txdot-env-processes-to-reduce-time-to-deliver-projects-by-50/
For more great presentations like this one, check out Austin's Central Texas Association of Environmental Professionals: http://ctaep.wordpress.com/
Hydro 101 - A primer on the hydropower relicensing process - Allyson Conner, ...rshimoda2014
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an Independent Commission that sets and regulates the process and procedures for involvement during a formal license proceeding. The objectives of this
overview are to provide interested participants an understanding of: 1) WHO FERC is; 2) WHAT this
strictly regulated process requires in terms of participation; and 3) HOW participants can prepare and participate to succeed in a proceeding.
The presentation covers process as well and identifies key points in a proceeding to focus their time and effort in order to effectively participate.
Managing Cultural Resources in Water Infrastructure through the Framework of the TRWD/DWU IPL Project by: Mason D. Miller, M.A. AmaTerra Environmental, Inc. Austin, TX - Las Cruces, NM - TWCA Annual Convention 2015
Ronald T. Green, Ph.D., P.G., F. Paul Bertetti, P.G.,
and Nathanial Toll Geosciences and Engineering Division Southwest Research Institute® Presented on behalf of the Irrigation Panel - TWCA Annual Convention 2015
Finding Balance Between Regulation, Management and Property Rights in the Cen...
The Toledo Bend FERC licensing process - So you want to add hydo-electric!
1. or
So you want to add hydro-electric!
Melvin Swoboda
March 5, 2014
2. Identify what type of facility you will
have:
◦ Stand Alone
◦ Tied to an existing structure
◦ Tied to an existing water release
3. Water Quality
Terrestrial
Cultural
Land Management
Threaten and Endangered Species
4. Your key staff
◦ Manager
◦ Public Affairs
◦ Biologist and Engineers
Licensing Process consultant (Hydro
experience)
Legal firm (FERC Hydro experience)
5. State –TCEQ, TWDB, TPWD, GLO, THC
Federal – USFS, USFWS, NOAA (NMFS), NPS
NGOs
Local and state groups
Adjacent landowners
Tribes, federally recognized
7. What are the choices?
◦ Integrated License Process (ILP) 5- 7
years
◦ Traditional License Process (TLP)
(timing uncertain)
8. Designed to move through the licensing
process in a defined manner
Limits studies for study sake
Places time constraints on EVERYONE
involved
Designed to support the settlement of
issues
9.
10. Pre Application Document
Study Phase
Draft License Application
Final License Application
Environmental Impact Statement or
Environmental Analysis
◦ Draft
◦ Final
401 Water Quality Certification
11. Contains existing information relevant to
the project proposal that is in the
potential applicant’s possession or that
the potential applicant can obtain with the
exercise of due diligence.
12. Geology and Soils
Water resources
Fish and aquatic
resources
Wildlife and botanical
resources
Rare, threatened and
endangered species
Recreation and land
use
Aesthetic resources
Cultural resources
Social-economic
Resources
Tribal resources
River basin
descriptions
Preliminary issues
and studies list
13. Two year period
Designed to allow for completion of
studies that fill gaps that are:
◦ Identified in the PAD
◦ Identified by agencies and the public
Study requests must meet a strict set
of criteria
14. Describes Goals & Objectives
Provides relevant resource management
goals to agencies
Supports the need for additional
information
Shows a nexus between project
operations and effects
Considers level of effort and cost
15. Designed to include PAD and information
from studies
Applicant’s analysis of the project effects
on the environment
Opportunity for applicant to propose
PM&E measures
Period to consider settlements for parties
16. Initially issued in draft for public
comments (includes proposed PM&E’s)
Final EIS or EA - FERC Staff’s
recommendation on the license
application and includes:
◦ PM&E’s and Draft License Articles
◦ 4e Articles if Federal lands are involved
◦ 10j Fish Prescriptions if needed
17. Articles to include operations of the facilities
Potential 4e articles if appropriate
Fish prescriptions (10j)
Shoreline Management Plan
Recreation Management Plan
Historical Properties Management Plan
New federal requirements for Dam Safety
18. 6 – 7 years for a license of 30 – 50 years
◦ Length of license depends on the cost of the
project using FERC-anomics
Currently FERC has launched an initiative
for small Hydro Projects with compressed
process time (2-3 years completion)
Includes geology and Soils, water resources, Fish and aquatic resources, wildlife and botanical resources, Rare, threatened and endagered species, recreation and land use, aesthetic resources, cultural