Lloyd Gosselink News
Agency Highlights
United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) EPA’s Revised WOTUS Rule. EPA faced a range of options after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA narrowed the definition of the “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”). EPA’s initial… Read More
The Lone Star Current – July 2023 Edition
Don’t forget – if there is ever a topic that you would like for us to cover, please reach out to our Managing Editor, Sara Thornton, at 512.322.5876 or sthornton@lglawfirm.com. Otherwise, enjoy our latest issue! If you would like to… Read More
A Wrap on the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature but Special Sessions Continue
by Madison Huerta and Ty Embrey While the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature ended when the state legislators adjourned Sine Die on May 29, the work for the state legislators appears to be far from over. Read More
Municipal Corner
A municipality may not use maintenance and operations property tax for debt service, nor may it obligate itself to transfer funds to a local government corporation indefinitely. Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No. KP-0444 (2023). The Chairman of the… Read More
Utility Takeaways from the 88th Legislative Session
by Roslyn Dubberstein Two years after Winter Storm Uri—the February 2021 winter weather event that left millions without power—utility issues remained a frontrunner during this year’s legislative session. Legislators filed approximately 300 bills relating to electric and gas… Read More
U.S. Supreme Court Significantly Reduces Federal Waters Jurisdiction
by Jessie Spears and Nathan Vassar Nearly two years after its decision in County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund regarding “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”), the United States Supreme Court issued a decision curtailing the reach… Read More
Summer Checklist for TCEQ Compliance/Protection
by Nathan Vassar As the calendar has now moved to summer, there are several tools utilities and other regulated entities should consider for their own enforcement protection, particularly as some options only become available in the late summer… Read More
“Ask Sarah” Column
Dear Sarah: We employ a community relations manager whose main duty is to go out into the community, attend functions, meet with various groups, and other outside activities. This employee has just informed us that his chronic illness… Read More
In the Courts
Water cases San Antonio Water Sys. v. Matiraan, Ltd., No. 04-22-00138-CV, 2023 WL 2290301 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Mar. 1, 2023, no pet. h.). The San Antonio Water System (“SAWS”) was granted a conservation easement (the “Easement”) for… Read More
Agency Highlights
United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) EPA Proposes More Stringent Effluent Limits for Coal-fired Power Plants. EPA issued a proposed rule that would strengthen wastewater discharge standards for coal-fired power plants through tightened effluent limitation guidelines (“ELGs”). ELGs… Read More