Houston is the energy and natural resource capital of the United States, with some 3,700 energy-related companies located in the greater Houston area, including 23 Fortune 500 companies. Many of these companies expect to invest more than $100 billion in capital projects on the Gulf Coast in the next five years. These new and expanded facilities can trigger a wide range of federal environmental requirements. Not only are the individual environmental requirements complicated and ever-changing, the sheer number of environmental issues and necessary government approvals and reviews can dramatically impact project development.
ELI held a “master class” in the environmental permitting and review of complex facilities in Houston on April 27, 2015. This master class was case-study driven, and was limited to 15 participants who prepared ahead of time to engage in a day-long program with deeply and practically experienced technical and legal class leaders.
The class used an LNG export terminal as a case study, with interactive and engaging discussions in the following areas: air quality permitting; treatment of greenhouse gases in air permits and NEPA analyses; wetlands and water quality permitting; cross-cutting statutes like the Endangered Species Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act; and others.
Faculty:
Patrick Traylor, Partner, Hogan Lovells LLP
Adam Babich, Director, Environmental Law Clinic, Tulane University Law School
Elizabeth Dolezal, NRG, LLC
Bill Miller, Principal, NRG, LLC
Alicia Smith, Texoma District Managing Partner, ERM