Regulatory analysis from the field
Notes on Edwards Aquifer permitting, karst geology, and environmental due diligence, written by the geoscientist doing the work.
New TCEQ Rules Open the Door to Edwards Aquifer ASR Wells, and Raise Some Unresolved Questions
SB 616 created a targeted carve-out authorizing aquifer storage and recovery wells that transect the Edwards Aquifer in parts of Williamson and Medina Counties. The permitting pathway now exists. The recharge zone characterization and endangered species questions underneath it do not have answers yet.
How Do You Build a Bridge Over the Soul of a City?
The drill bit stopped, and the cuttings showed a void signature. Building the MoPac Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge over Austin's Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, where geology, endangered species, and Barton Springs hydrology are one system and the foundation design had to respect all three.
Phase I ESAs: Your First Line of Defense Against Environmental Liability
Under CERCLA you can be liable for contamination you did not cause. Three defenses exist, and every one of them requires a compliant Phase I ESA completed before you acquire the property. Close first and the defenses are gone.
The Modern Karst Geologist: Blending Tradition, Tech, and Expertise for Success
LiDAR, GIS, geophysics, and fluorescent dye tracing have transformed what a karst geologist can see. None of them replace the trained eye that reads a filled depression or a drainage pattern. The skill is knowing which tool a question calls for.
Why "Avoid and Minimize" Beats "Mitigate" Every Time
Avoiding an impact during siting keeps the developer in control of the footprint and the narrative. Mitigating it during permitting hands that control to the agency. A Central Texas case study where sinkhole buffers became a park.
What I've Learned from 500+ Projects: A Field-Tested Playbook for Smooth Permitting
Five rules, each paired with a project that got it wrong and one that got it right. Wetlands that sliced a site into pieces, a cave broken into mid-construction, and a tunnel where pre-agreed void classifications kept the boring machine moving.
AI, Energy, and the Permitting Bottleneck: Why the U.S. Risks Falling Behind
The AI race will be decided by data centers, and data centers are decided by megawatts, water, and permitting. Why environmental review belongs at the front of the strategy instead of the back of the line, and what it costs when it isn't.
Karst Doesn't Have to Mean Chaos
What actually happens when a karst feature turns up mid-project: void closure plans, protocol surveys, redesigns. The early warning signs most people miss, and how to evaluate karst risk before it becomes a schedule problem.
Uncovering Environmental Risks: Phase I Assessments Explained
What a Phase I ESA actually involves, from historical research and site inspection through interviews and the report, and the three CERCLA defenses it establishes. The plain-language version for anyone new to environmental due diligence.