Lloyd Gosselink News
Electric Market Redesign Efforts Continue at PUC and ERCOT
by Roslyn Dubberstein BackgroundSince Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (“PUC”) and Texas’s independent system operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”), have been laser-focused on evaluating and implementing reforms to… Read More
Municipal Corner
A commissioners court possesses implied authority to utilize recycling programs for discarding routine county waste. Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No. KP-420 (2022). The Cherokee County Attorney requested a Texas Attorney General Opinion regarding the authority of a county… Read More
“Ask Sarah” Column
Dear Sarah, We recently had a holiday party where an employee exhibited some bad behaviors, and we are concerned about our employees’ safety during other off-duty events in the future. We have a policy against harassment in the… Read More
In the Courts
Water Cases Tex. Comm’n on Envtl. Quality v. Save Our Springs All., Inc., No. 08-20-00239-CV, 2022 WL 17659907 (Tex. App.—El Paso Dec. 13, 2022, no pet. h.). This case involves an application for a Texas Pollution Discharge… Read More
Agency Highlights
United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Final Rule Codifying WOTUS Definition Announced. On December 30, 2022, EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) announced the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule. The revised… Read More
The Lone Star Current – October 2022 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… Read More
Increased Department of Labor Audits: What to Expect and Ways to Prepare
by Sheila B. Gladstone, Sarah T. Glaser, and Jessica A. Maynard On February 1, 2022, the United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (“DOL”) announced plans to hire 100 additional investigators to support its compliance… Read More
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions: Preparing for Major Deadlines Ahead
by Jessie M. Spears The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA’s”) recent Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (“LCRR”) have raised many implementation questions for drinking water utilities facing the first major change in the federal regulation since 1991. Read More
SCOTX to Decide ERCOT’s Sovereign-Immunity Claim
by James F. Parker On September 2, the Texas Supreme Court granted the petitions for review in two cases addressing Electric Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”) and its operation of the electric grid in Texas: CPS Energy v. Read More
Municipal Corner
Anonymous voted ballots are public information and available for inspection; however, personally identifiable information contained in election records remains confidential. Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No. KP-411 (2022). State Senator Kelly Hancock and State Representative Matt Krause submitted a… Read More