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2012

Texas Water Law Institute

Austin Oct 31*, 1-2, 2012 AT&T Conference Center
*optional Wed Evening session
Conference Concluded
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Overview

Don’t miss the Texas Water Law Institute—hear the latest updates and what to expect in the 83rd Legislature from regulatory members, attorneys and experts from around the state.

The 2012 program features:

  • TCEQ Issues and Updates: Commissioner Carlos Rubenstein on the latest issues faced by the TCEQ, plus coverage of water curtailment rules and the priority system

  • Water law legislation in the 83rd Session with Sen. Kel Seliger, Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Eddie A. Lucio, III, Natural Resources Committee

  • Desired Future Conditions: Remixed, Remade and Remodeled (Available Groundwater)

  • Desalination: Technology, benefits, legal obstacles and success stories

  • GCDs: Survey of rules and regulatory approaches, procedural rules and contested cases, and governance issues

  • SB3: A mid-course evaluation of how it’s working, and resolving in-stream flow conflicts with ADR

  • Ground and Surface Water Issues in the Western States with Justice Greg Hobbs, Colorado Supreme Court

  • Wednesday evening’s Texas Water Law Overview with Jim Mathews and Doug Caroom
Earn up to 15.25 hours of CLE credit including 1.50 ethics hours.

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Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Day 1 October 31, 2012
  • Day 2 November 1, 2012
  • Day 3 November 2, 2012
  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Wednesday Evening, Oct. 31, 2012
  • OPTIONAL SESSION
    Included in conference registration fee.

  • 5:30 pm
    Registration Opens

  • 6:00 pm
    1.50 hrs
    Texas Water Law Overview
    An overview of Texas water law cases, statutes and regulations, including vocabulary and acronyms necessary to understanding Texas water law. This session is designed for practitioners unfamiliar with the subject area, as well as non-lawyers, governmental officials and engineers.

    Doug Caroom, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX

  • 7:30 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Morning, Nov. 1, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Doug Caroom, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
  • 8:00 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:50 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 9:00 am
    1.00 hr
    Water Legislation in the 83rd Session: An Insider's View
    Handling of interim charges and anticipated issues for the coming session.

    Eddie A. Lucio III, Texas House of Representatives - Austin, TX
    Kel Seliger, The Senate of Texas - Austin, TX

  • DESALINATION: BENEFITS, OBSTACLES AND DEVELOPMENTS
    How realistic is it to look at desalination as a major new source of water supply?

  • 10:00 am
    0.50 hr
    Desalination: Possible Benefits to Texas from This Innovative Technology
    An evaluation of the technology and potential benefits of desalination of brackish groundwater.

    Jorge A. Arroyo, Texas Water Development Board - Austin, TX

  • 10:30 am
    Break

  • 10:45 am
    0.50 hr
    Legal Obstacles to Successful Implementation of a Desalination Project
    What to do with the brine concentrate, Groundwater Conservations Districts and other challenges.

    William D. Dugat III, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX

  • 11:15 am
    0.50 hr
    A Desalination Success Story
    A look at El Paso's Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant, the world's largest inland desalination facility, serving El Paso and Ft. Bliss

    Edmund G. Archuleta, El Paso Water Utilities - El Paso, TX

  • 11:45 am
    Break to Pick Up Lunch
    Included in conference registration fee.

  • Thursday Afternoon, Nov. 1, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
  • Luncheon Presentation

  • 12:00 pm
    1.00 hr
    Current Issues at TCEQ
    TCEQ's drought curtailment rules, issues with the federal government and more.

    Carlos Rubinstein, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Austin, TX

  • 1:00 pm
    Break

  • 1:15 pm
    1.00 hr
    Water Districts: Legislation on Districts and TCEQ Update
    Different perspectives on the provision of water utility service and the benefits of changes made during recent legislative sessions, particularly the expedited decertification process.

    Bill Callegari, Texas House of Representatives - Houston, TX
    Ronald Jay Freeman, Freeman & Corbett - Austin, TX
    Todd Galiga, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Austin, TX

  • 2:15 pm
    0.50 hr
    TCEQ Water Curtailment Rules: How Meaningful Is the Priority System?
    New TCEQ drought rules jeopardize senior water right holders' water supply during drought and add new requirements for water right enforcement.

    Michael Jon Booth, Booth, Ahrens & Werkenthin, P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 2:45 pm
    Break

  • 3:00 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    A Case Study of Federal Intrusion through the Endangered Species Act
    TAP v. Shaw: will the ESA determine water allocation in the Guadalupe-San Antonio River Basin?

    Molly Cagle, Baker Botts L.L.P. - Austin, TX

  • 3:45 pm
    1.50 hrs
    Development of SB3 Environmental Flows
    How well is it working? A mid-course evaluation.

    Moderator:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Todd D. Chenoweth, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Mary Elizabeth Kelly, Parula LLC - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Suzanne B. Scott, San Antonio River Authority - San Antonio, TX

  • 5:15 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Nov. 2, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
  • 8:00 am
    Conference Room Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

  • 8:30 am
    0.50 hr
    Survey of Groundwater Conservation District Regulatory Approaches
    A review of substantive rules, approaches to demand management, and permitting, as well as GCD responses to new contested case requirements.

    Stacey Allison Steinbach, Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts - Austin, TX

  • 9:00 am
    0.50 hr
    Practicing before a GCD: Procedural Rules and Contested Cases
    An exploration of procedural rules, specifically contested case procedures and the changes required by the 2011 amendments.

    Gregory M. Ellis, Attorney at Law - League City, TX

  • 9:30 am
    0.50 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    GCD Governance Issues
    Voting rights, conflicts of interest as well as legislative and judicial limitations on GCDs.

    Renea Hicks, Attorney at Law - Austin, TX

  • 10:00 am
    Break

  • 10:15 am
    0.75 hr
    Water for Your Project: A Walkthrough
    A "nuts and bolts" presentation for the general practitioner covering options for obtaining water for a new project, including what is involved, and may prove challenging, for each option.

    Emily Willms Rogers, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX

  • 11:00 am
    0.50 hr
    Edwards Aquifer v. Day: Where Do "We" Go Now?
    The implications of Day for groundwater management. How can/should the GCDs respond?

    Jane Cohen, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

  • 11:30 am
    Break for Buffet Lunch
    Included in conference registration fee.

  • Friday Afternoon, Nov. 2, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Doug Caroom, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
  • Luncheon Presentation

  • 11:50 am
    0.75 hr
    Ground and Surface Water Issues in the Western States: How Does Texas Compare?
    An experienced water law practitioner-turned-State Justice addresses the subject of surface water, tributary groundwater and non-tributary groundwater, with a comparison of the various ways western states are addressing significant constitutional, statutory and case law issues.

    Hon. Gregory J. Hobbs Jr., Colorado Supreme Court - Denver, CO

  • 12:35 pm
    Break

  • 12:45 pm
    1.00 hr
    Groundwater Management: Is It Working?
    Perspectives on the effectiveness of Texas's "preferred method of groundwater management" from the regulator, regulated community and legislative views.

    Moderator:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Arturo Ballesteros, Office of Senator Juan (Chuy) Hinojosa - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Steve Kosub, San Antonio Water System - San Antonio, TX
    Panelists:
    Deborah Clarke Trejo, Kemp Smith, LLP - Austin, TX

  • 1:45 pm
    1.00 hr
    A Streetcar Named Desired Future Conditions: Remixed, Remade and Remodeled (Available Groundwater)
    Discussion of the roots of desired future conditions, the current status, what changed with the process last session and what the Texas Water Development Board thinks still needs to be changed. The presentation also explores the procedural and substantive pitfalls of the DFC appeal process.

    Marvin Winston Jones, Sprouse Shrader Smith P.C. - Amarillo, TX
    Robert E. Mace, Texas Water Development Board - Austin, TX

  • 2:45 pm
    1.00 hr ethics
    Mediation and SB3: Resolving In-Stream Flow Conflicts
    Alternative dispute resolution as a means of addressing complex water issues.

    Suzanne Schwartz, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

  • 3:45 pm
    Adjourn

  • Day 1 October 31, 2012
  • Day 2 November 1, 2012
  • Day 3 November 2, 2012
Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Edmund G. Archuleta

El Paso Water Utilities
El Paso, TX

Jorge A. Arroyo

Texas Water Development Board
Austin, TX

Arturo Ballesteros

Office of Senator Juan (Chuy) Hinojosa
Austin, TX

Michael Jon Booth

Booth, Ahrens & Werkenthin, P.C.
Austin, TX

Molly Cagle

Baker Botts L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Bill Callegari

Texas House of Representatives
Houston, TX

Doug Caroom

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

Todd D. Chenoweth

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Austin, TX

Jane Cohen

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

William D. Dugat III

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

Gregory M. Ellis

Attorney at Law
League City, TX

Ronald Jay Freeman

Freeman & Corbett
Austin, TX

Todd Galiga

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Austin, TX

Renea Hicks

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Hon. Gregory J. Hobbs Jr.

Colorado Supreme Court
Denver, CO

Marvin Winston Jones

Sprouse Shrader Smith P.C.
Amarillo, TX

Mary Elizabeth Kelly

Parula LLC
Austin, TX

Steve Kosub

San Antonio Water System
San Antonio, TX

Eddie A. Lucio III

Texas House of Representatives
Austin, TX

Robert E. Mace

Texas Water Development Board
Austin, TX

Jim Mathews

Mathews & Freeland LLP
Austin, TX

Emily Willms Rogers

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

Carlos Rubinstein

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Austin, TX

Suzanne Schwartz

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Suzanne B. Scott

San Antonio River Authority
San Antonio, TX

Kel Seliger

The Senate of Texas
Austin, TX

Stacey Allison Steinbach

Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
Austin, TX

Deborah Clarke Trejo

Kemp Smith, LLP
Austin, TX

Planning Committee

Doug Caroom—Co-Chair

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

Jim Mathews—Co-Chair

Mathews & Freeland LLP
Austin, TX

Tom Bohl

Attorney General's Office
Austin, TX

Timothy L. Brown

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Todd D. Chenoweth

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Austin, TX

Leonard H. Dougal

Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Gregory M. Ellis

Attorney at Law
League City, TX

Ronald Jay Freeman

Freeman & Corbett
Austin, TX

Renea Hicks

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Mark McPherson

McPherson LawFirm, PC
Dallas, TX

Kenneth L. Petersen

Texas Water Development Board
Austin, TX

Suzanne Schwartz

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Michelle M. Turner

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 15.25 hrs  |  1.50 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Administrative Law, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Real Estate Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number  provided on your certificate of attendance.
Toggle view California – 15.25 hrs  |  1.50 hrs Ethics
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov.  UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  
Other Credit
Toggle view TX Accounting CPE – 18.00 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.
Toggle view TX Professional Engineer – 0.00 hr
This course may qualify for self-reporting credits with PELS (TX Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors) - please use the link below to find information on how to track your credit with PELS. When you select this credit type, you will receive a downloadable Certificate of Attendance with date and course information for your records.

https://pels.texas.gov/pecep.htm

Key Dates

Austin – Oct 31*, 1-2, 2012 – AT&T Conference Center
*optional Wed Evening session
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
Standard Registration
Last day for $495.00 Regular pricing: Oct 24, 2012

$545.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Oct 26, 2012

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Oct 29, 2012

Venue

speaker

AT&T Conference Center

The University of Texas at Austin
1900 University Avenue
Austin, TX
877.744.8822 (reservations)
Map

Parking Information

Free daily self-parking at UT garages. Separate fees apply for valet and overnight parking.

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