These are documents for REGFORM’s Missouri Water Seminar, July 30-31, 2024

Download your certificate of attendance here

The agenda is here.

The attendee list is here.

Sponsor slides with sponsors’ contact information are here.

Presentation Slides

Tuesday, July 30

8:05 a.m.   Water Update—The Year in Review JOHN HOKE, MDNR, WPP, ROBERT BRUNDAGE, Brundage Law, DAVID CARANI, HDR, JAY HOSKINS, MSD, KEVIN PERRY, REGFORM

8:50 a.m.   PFAS Update and Future Impacts JIM PRICE, Spencer Fane

10:05 a.m. Water Protection Program Update, JOHN HOKE, MDNR WPP Director

11:10 a.m. Water Protection Program Update, continued JOHN HOKE, MDNR WPP Director

11:35 a.m. MOCWIS, ISIS, ECHO, & SNC BECKY CRIPE, MDNR WPP

12:40 p.m. Industrial Dischargers and Continuing Authority, ED GALBRAITH, Barr

1:10 p.m.   Re-Visiting the 2018 Missouri Lake Nutrient Criteria MIKE HOGAN, Geosyntec

2:10 p.m.   Ammonia:  Standards, Implementation, & Impacts SALLY ZEMMER, MDNR WPP, DAVID CARANI, HDR,  JAY HOSKINS, STL MSD

3:15 p.m.   Are Mussels Ubiquitous in Missouri? DARREN THORNHILL, MO Department of Conservation

 

Wednesday, July 31

7:35 a.m.   New ELGs for Coal-Fired Power Plants ROB MORRISON, Barr, AIMEE DAVENPORT, Stinson

8:15 a.m.   A View from the Field: 404 Permitting and AJDs under the Amended 2023 Rule KATIE ASTROTH, CEC, CODY LUEBBERING, Geosyntec, ED GALBRAITH, Barr

9:30 a.m.   Sites of Interest. Lessons Learned from an Intense Period of Public Input and Public Availability HEATHER PETERS, MDNR, WPP

10:40 a.m.  What are General or Narrative Water Quality Criteria?
CODY LUEBBERING, Geosyntec

11:15 a.m. Is Chevron Deference Really a Big Deal? BRITTANY BARRIENTOS, Stinson, CHUCK HATFIELD, Stinson

 

Speaker Bios

Katie Astroth, CEC
kastroth@cecinc.com
Katie Astroth is an ecologist and certified Professional Wetland Scientist with over 15 years of experience in environmental compliance, biological assessment, and environmental planning. She is the CEC St. Louis office’s Ecological Sciences Practice Lead and an Associate Corporate Practice Lead for the company.  She is skilled in waters delineations, Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permitting, Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 permitting, regulatory agency coordination, NEPA documentation, threatened and endangered species evaluations, and GIS mapping for both private and public sector clients. Ms. Astroth has served as the project manager and permitting specialist on many projects involving impacts to surface waters within Missouri, as well as other Midwest states. She is a past president of the Society of Wetland Scientists – Central Chapter. Ms. Astroth holds a master’s degree in biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and bachelor’s degrees in biology and environmental biology from Illinois College.

Brittany Barrientos, Stinson
brittany.barrientos@stinson.com
Brittany’s deep understanding of environmental, health and safety laws across the regulatory, transactional and litigation spectrums allows her to find well-rounded and practical solutions to complex issues. She has significant experience assisting clients with environmental, health and safety regulatory requirements arising under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, solid and hazardous waste laws, Superfund, OSHA and PHMSA, as well as state and local environmental laws and regulations. Brittany’s broad experience gives her the ability to issue-spot across media and type of issue, in a way that provides both continuity and efficiency for her clients. She has worked extensively with municipalities and electric-generating utilities, mobile sources, and clients in the chemical, manufacturing and real estate industries. Her journalism background and endless curiosity also serve her well as she navigates FOIA issues, inspections and information requests, and investigations across sectors. Brittany is also a recent graduate of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s esteemed two-year Centurions Leadership Program, and she is excited to continue to “Learn. Serve. Lead.” in the Community.

Robert Brundage, Brundage Environmental and Ag Law LLC
robert@brundagelawfirm.com
Mr. Brundage has represented clients on a wide variety of matters including litigation, administrative law, permitting, and land use issues. He represents clients in matters before the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). His clients include industrial, municipal, and agricultural clients who require guidance on environmental compliance, litigation, permitting, and lobbying the MDNR, the MDA, and the General Assembly. Mr. Brundage also represents clients under enforcement by MDNR, EPA, MDA and citizens’ lawsuits enforcing federal environmental laws.

David Carani, HDR
David.Carani@hdrinc.com

Becky Cripe, MDNR
Rebecca.Cripe@dnr.mo.gov
Becky Cripe – Database Management Unit Chief Department of Natural Resource Clean Water Program. Becky has worked for the Department for 14 years and have been the data management unit chief for the last 9 years. Taking on roles in Watershed Protection Section and Operating Permits Section. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelors and Masters in Atmospheric Science. Before working for the Department, Becky worked for the National Weather Service, Reno NV and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Air Pollution Program. Becky lives in Holts Summit with her husband Don and two teenage daughters.

Aimee D. G. Davenport, Stinson
aimee.davenport@stinson.com
Aimee assists public and private clients in energy, environmental and administrative law matters to help them manage new requirements and to resolve issues with governmental agencies and third-parties. Aimee’s practice involves an in-depth knowledge of administrative agencies and the legal authority under which they operate.

Prior to entering private practice, she served as deputy general counsel to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources where she advised the department in governance, contract, environmental, employment and other matters as assigned. Prior to her time with the department, Aimee served as an attorney for the Missouri Public Service Commission where she advised the commissioners and chief law judge in tariff and rate cases. Her experience representing public bodies and serving as in-house counsel for governmental agencies gives her an intricate understanding of how agencies function in areas of rulemaking, permitting/licensing and enforcement.

Ed Galbraith, Barr
EGalbraith@barr.com
Ed Galbraith has over 30 years’ experience in environmental regulatory matters, including two decades with the Missouri DNR, most recently as Director of the Division of Environmental Qualtity. He now helps manufacturing, mining, power, and municipal clients achieve successful outcomes with their water and hazardous waste compliance challenges, including permitting, compliance assistance, planning, evaluations, and studies.

Chuck Hatfield, Stinson
chuck.hatfield@stinson.com
The Missouri Times newspaper says: Chuck Hatfield’s “time at the highest levels of state government have made him very sought after as an attorney in private practice. There is probably no attorney who knows more members of the judiciary and the executive branch in the State. He is also known for his quick wit on social media and willingness to take on tough cases.” He has personally handled numerous cases before the Missouri Supreme Court. Chuck regularly appears before administrative agencies, as well as trial and appellate courts at both the state and federal levels.

In his regulatory practice, Chuck has handled matters involving every department of Missouri government. As an outgrowth of his regulatory-based litigation, Chuck is a highly-rated commercial litigator. He defends complex high-stakes litigation, including class actions involving regulated industries such as securities, insurance and merchandising practices. He chairs the firm’s Financial Services and Class Action Litigation division and its Government Solutions group.

Mike Hogan, Geosyntec
MHogan@geosyntec.com
Mike is a Project Scientist with ten years of experience as an environmental consultant and scientist with Geosyntec’s St. Louis, Missouri office. Areas of expertise include surface water quality sampling and data management/interpretation, environmental permitting, natural resource investigations, hydrologic monitoring and data collection, and aquatic ecology. Mike supports projects in these subject matters throughout the Midwest.
Mike’s regulatory experience includes: NPDES permitting, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) sections 401, 404, and 408 permitting for impacts to waters of the U.S. and levees, and protected species consultations with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and state agencies.

John Hoke, MDNR
john.hoke@dnr.mo.gov
John Hoke became director of the Water Protection Program in April 2023. John has over two decades of experience with the Department of Natural Resources in the protection, preservation and restoration of water quality. Most recently, he served as chief of the Water Pollution Control Branch of the Water Protection Program, where he was responsible for managing and coordinating the clean water permitting, compliance and enforcement and water quality protection activities of the Branch. Before taking on the role of Branch Chief, John was chief of the Watershed Protection Section where he helped lead efforts to revise Missouri’s Water Quality Standards regulation, monitor and assess Missouri waters and develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for impaired waters. Earlier in his MoDNR career, John was chief of the TMDL Unit, an Environmental Scientist conducting water quality reviews in the Operating Permits Section and a water quality modeler in the TMDL Unit.

Before working for the State of Missouri, John was a project geologist with a private environmental consulting firm in Houston, Texas. John holds a Master’s degree in geology, with an emphasis in karst hydrology and pollutant transport, from the University of Missouri – Columbia, and a Bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Illinois – Urbana.

Jay Hoskins, MSD
jshosk@stlmsd.com
Jay Hoskins is the Assistant Director for Environmental Compliance at the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD), the St. Louis, Missouri, sewer and stormwater utility. Jay oversees MSD’s environmental compliance programs, environmental laboratory operations, and water quality monitoring program. Jay is also WEF Government Affairs Institute Member Association Engagement Director. Jay has a BS in Civil Engineering from the Missouri University of Science & Technology, and a MS in Environmental Engineering & Science from Clemson University.

Cody Luebbering, Geosyntec
CLuebbering@geosyntec.com
Cody has 17 years of experience specializing in rivers, streams, and lakes water quality, biological, and hydrological assessments. He is experienced in U.S. Army Corps, Clean Water Act (CWA) and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting. He has a B.S in Natural Resources Management, along with Scientific Wildlife Collection permits in several states and is SCUBA certified.

Rob Morrison, Barr
RMorrison@barr.com
Rob has over 30 years of experience in water resources & environmental engineering. His background includes water permitting, water quality science, total maximum daily load studies, anti-degradation procedures, and compliance assistance. He has assisted clients with NPDES permit renewals ranging from coal combustion power plants to municipal wastewater treatment facilities. He has led & participated in the design of domestic wastewater & industrial water treatment projects. Rob worked for 24 years at MDNR, where he led RCRA Permits & Corrective Action Section & the Water Pollution Control Branch.

Allison Pearson, Barr
apearson@barr.com
Allison Pearson is an environmental engineer with over 13 years of experience in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, water-quality-based toxics control, stormwater management, municipal pretreatment permitting, environmental review, and general regulatory assistance. She coordinates with clients, public officials, and regulatory agencies at the state and federal level to facilitate complex permitting projects for construction, industrial, and mining facilities at the state, local, and federal level. Allison is involved in a variety of permitting and regulatory projects including antidegradation analysis; groundwater quality monitoring for contaminated sites; pretreatment program evaluation; stormwater permitting; and surface water quality analysis. She enjoys the challenges of permitting new discharges and has recently been involved in such projects for nitrogen fertilizer facilities, biofuels facilities, and non-metallic mineral underground mines. Allison is currently involved in projects for private industry clients in mining, power, manufacturing, ethanol production, and oil pipelines as well as municipal clients.

Kevin Perry, REGFORM
kperry@regform.org
Kevin is Assistant Director at REGFORM, a Missouri association focused entirely on State and Federal environmental regulations & policies. He is a registered lobbyist & holds a BS degree in biology. He has over 30 years of experience, including work as a biologist at US EPA Office of Water. He sings in the choir at church.

Heather Peters, MDNR
heather.peters@dnr.mo.gov

James Price, Spencer Fane
jprice@spencerfane.com
Jim Price is a partner and co-chair of the Environment and Energy practice group at the Kansas City, Missouri, office of Spencer Fane LLP, where his practice concentrates in environmental law, regulation, litigation, and business transactions. Jim represents clients in environmental compliance, environmental management, transactions, and disputes. He frequently writes and speaks on environmental law and has contributed to several books on environmental law. Jim has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for many years and has been named one of the Super Lawyers and Best of the Bar in Kansas City. Jim received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, and he graduated with honors from Harvard Law School.

Jeff Robichaud, U.S. EPA, Region 7
robichaud.Jeffery@epa.gov
Jeffery Robichaud is a second generation EPA scientist who has worked for the Agency since 1998. He is the Director of the Water Division. After three years with an environmental consulting firm, Jeff joined EPA as an engineer in EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water in D.C. In 2001, he moved to Kansas City and has served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Regional Administrator, Chief of the Environmental Assessment and Monitoring Branch, Deputy Director of the Environmental Sciences and Technology Branch, Acting Assistant Regional Administrator, and Deputy Director of the Water, Wetlands, and Pesticides Division. Jeff hails from Redmond, WA and earned his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and his Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas.

Darren Thornhill, MDC
Darren.Thornhill@mdc.mo.gov
Darren Thornhill is the Science Supervisor for the Aquatic Diversity and Game Fish Unit at the Missouri Department of Conservation. Darren earned a BS from the University of Missouri in Fisheries and Wildlife Management and an MS from the University of Idaho in Fisheries Resources. Darren began his 21-year career with the Department of Conservation as a Fisheries Management Biologist in the Kirksville office, assisting private landowners with stream erosion and pond fish management in the Northeast Region and then promoted to Watershed Ecologist, studying impacts of best management practices on headwater streams. In his current position, Darren supervises Scientists leading Amphibian and Reptile, Aquatic Invertebrate, Mollusk, Rare Fishes, and Sport Fishes programs within the State of Missouri.

Sally Zemmer, MDNR
sally.zemmer@dnr.mo.gov
Sally Zemmer is an Environmental Program Specialist in the Watershed Protection Section at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. She has been with the department for six years, primarily focused on Missouri’s Water Quality Standards. She holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Virginia Tech where her research combined community ecology, parasitology, and freshwater biology. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.