Susan L. Stephens
123 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850.222.7500
sstephens@hgslaw.com
Experience
- Represents clients before various federal, state, regional, and local environmental agencies in connection with obtaining and defending environmental permits for regulated activities, including handling administrative challenges to proposed and final permits, with particular emphasis on wetlands/resource extraction, natural resources, land reclamation, water resources, wastewater, and stormwater.
- Represents clients before state and federal wildlife agencies concerning threatened and endangered wildlife.
- Represents clients before the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on various rulemaking and policy development initiatives, including development of Florida’s Title V Air Operating Permit Program, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Wastewater Permitting Program, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Impaired Waters Rule Programs, as well as rulemakings addressing wellhead protection, surface waters regulation, sovereign submerged lands, phosphate mine reclamation, and wetland regulation.
- Represents clients before various federal, state, and local environmental agencies on compliance and enforcement matters associated with environmental permits and regulated industrial and commercial activities.
- Provides counsel and advice regarding the applicability and interpretation of various federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
- Experience includes work with residential/commercial development enterprises, various mining operations, phosphoric acid and fertilizer manufacturing operations, power generation and transmission operations, paper mill operations, and chemical blending and manufacturing, among others.
Education
- Ohio Northern University, B.A. with High Distinction, 1989
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D., with Highest Honors, 1993
Bar and Court Admissions
- Florida Bar, 1993
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, 2003
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Florida Bar Association
- Member, Environmental and Land Use Law Section (ELULS)
- Member, Administrative Law Section (ALS)
- Member, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2005-2008
- Member, Florida Bar Journal Editorial Board, 1998-2000
- Member, Order of the Coif, 1993
Publications and Presentations
- Has served as speaker/lecturer on environmental issues at a number of conferences and seminars, including presentations on wetland regulations and case law, compliance issues, Florida environmental regulatory developments, and environmental due diligence matters.
- “On Appeal”, a regular column appearing in the ELULS Reporter, which highlights the appeal of significant environmental cases (co-author) (current)
- “Florida Waters: Significant Cases in the Works” (2005)
- “TMDLs and Impaired Water Listings: The Saga Continues” (2003)
- “Florida DEP Sends Out MACT Hammer Letters” (2002)
- “SWANNC Revisited: Is Rulemaking in the Works or Must the Corps Regional Offices Make It Up As They Go?” (2002)
- “Florida Department of Environmental Protection Rulemaking Activities” (2001)
- “Corps Jurisdiction Narrowed” (2001)
- “New ‘Tulloch Rule’” (2001)
- “Florida TMDL Rulemaking Efforts” (2000)
- “Reissuance of Storm Water Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Activities” (2000)
- “Supremes to Review Two Environmental Cases” (2000)
- “Florida DEP Addresses TMDLs” (2000)
- “EPA Proposes Economic Benefit Penalty Policy” (1999)
- “Ozone and PM 2.5 Air Standards” (1999)
- “Florida Impaired Waters” (1999)
Community Involvement
- Tutor, Wesson Elementary School, 2000—2003
- Coordinator, Reading is Fundamental program for Wesson Elementary School, 2001—2002
- Director, Sonshine Players (drama/puppet troupe), Killearn United Methodist Church, 2001—2007
- Large Group Leader/Puppeteer, Living Stones Children’s Sunday School, Killearn United Methodist Church, 2003—present
- At-Large Member, Executive Children’s Council, Killearn United Methodist Church, 2005—2006
- Den Leader, Cub Scout Pack 23, Boy Scouts of America, 2005-present
- Board of Trustees, Killearn United Methodist Church, 2008-present
Susan L. Stephens Practices in: Administrative Law, Due Dilligence and Regulatory Compliance, Endangered and threatened Species Protection, Litigation, Water and Wastewater Utility Regulation, Water Resources, Wetland Regulation and Mitigation Banking