Katie Bennett Hobson

Transcription

1 Katie Bennett Hobson Associate Austin p Practices FOCUS: Environmental and Litigation and Dispute Resolution White Collar, Investigations and Compliance Major Accident and Incident Response and OSHA Environmental Crimes and Internal Investigations Environmental Civil Litigation Environmental Regulatory and Permitting Environmental and Coalitions Real Estate Industries Energy Education JD, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law BM, Hope College Catherine "Katie" Bennett Hobson advises clients on environmental issues, focusing on environmental regulatory matters with an emphasis on compliance obligations under federal and state air quality, water quality and waste rules. She also counsels clients on workplace safety and health matters, particularly where workplace safety issues and environmental issues intersect. Her representation includes a broad range of environmental permitting, compliance, transactional and litigation matters. Prior to joining Katten, Katie served as a law clerk for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Office of Legal Services in both the Litigation Division and the Environmental Law Division. She also worked for an environmental and energy firm in Austin, Texas, focusing on state environmental permitting and oil and gas issues. Additionally, Katie interned with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Office of Public Interest Counsel as well as with the State Office of Administrative Hearings. In 2012, Katie received the Jimmy Alan Hall Student Note Award for her note on Texas groundwater legislation. She is a frequent contributor to the Katten Environmental Advisory Group and Katten Safety Advisory Group. Selected Experience Regulatory compliance counsel for major chemical and midstream energy companies, including refineries, chemical manufacturers, and gas plants and terminals, regarding air, water and waste rules, workplace safety rules, environmental permitting matters, and environmental due diligence on potential transactions. Representation of companies in citation actions by federal and state environmental and occupational safety and health agencies. Representation of a pipeline company in relation to potential EPA enforcement actions and involving consideration of jurisdiction issues under the Waters of the US Rule and prior law and guidance. Representation of a recycled crushed concrete supplier and demolition contractor in an administrative contested case hearing on an application for a concrete batch plant standard permit under the Texas Clean Air Act. Representation of major chemical company in settling federal Superfund litigation involving a former barge-cleaning facility.

2 Bar Admissions Texas Representation of a municipal utility district and one of the nation's largest homebuilders in a contested case hearing on a municipal wastewater discharge permit proceeding that settled prior to the hearing on the merits. Representation of a municipal utility district in successfully negotiating settlement of administrative proceedings, involving a contested case hearing, on an application for a municipal wastewater discharge permit. Representation of integrated energy companies and industry groups in process safety and environmental regulatory rulemakings by federal and state agencies. Representation of a major oil company regarding RMP and PSM applicability and compliance issues at a refinery. Representation of an industry trade association for U.S. chemical companies on developing materials related to the myriad permitting requirements necessary to authorize the construction and operation of new chemical plants in the United States for use in legislative advocacy before Congress regarding a pending bill to expedite the environmental permitting process. Representation of a Houston-based energy company in an assessment of the scope of environmental remediation associated with the potential acquisition of real property with soil and groundwater contamination. Pro bono representation of an individual in a tax fraud and identity theft case before the Western District of Texas resulting in imposition of a significantly lower sentence than the recommended US Sentencing Guideline range. Pro bono representation of an individual before the Social Security Administration (SSA) in an overpayment case, successfully reinstating social security income benefits after demonstrating the SSA's miscalculation of assets. Advisories Suit Challenges OSHA Policy Allowing Non-Employee Representatives to Accompany OSHA Inspections (September 19, 2016) OSHRC to Review Case Regarding PSM Interconnectivity (July 8, 2016) Congress Creates "Presumption of Openness" through FOIA Legislation (June 29, 2016) President Obama Signs TSCA Reform Bill Into Law (June 23, 2016) OSHA Launches Whistleblower-Severe Violator Enforcement Pilot Program in Kansas City Region (June 13, 2016) Supreme Court Rules that Corps Section 404 Jurisdictional Determinations Can Be Challenged (June 1, 2016) Texas Supreme Court Rules Houston Ordinance Preempted by Texas Environmental Laws (May 10, 2016) Sixth Circuit Will Not Rehear WOTUS Jurisdiction Case (April 22, 2016)

3 OSHA Issues Final Silica Exposure Standard (March 28, 2016) PHMSA Proposes Safety Regulations for Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines (March 22, 2016) OSHA Prepares to Finalize Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines (March 16, 2016) Sixth Circuit Denies Motions to Dismiss Challenges to Waters of the US Rule (February 23, 2016) Texas Supreme Court Denies Petition for Review in Texas Farm Bureau Case (February 19, 2016) EPA Issues Order Objecting to MSS Provisions in a Title V Operating Permit (February 10, 2016) U.S. Chemical Safety Board: PSM Reform and Pressure on Alkylation Catalysts (January 14, 2016) Senate Passes TSCA Reform Legislation (December 21, 2015) US Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Issue of Whether Wetlands Determinations Are Subject to Judicial Review (December 14, 2015) EPA Agrees to Expand Scope of Toxic Release Reporting Requirements (October 29, 2015) Judicial Panel Rejects Request to Consolidate District Court Challenges to Waters of the U.S. Rule (October 14, 2015) FWS Declines to List Greater Sage-Grouse (September 22, 2015) Judge Limits Scope of Preliminary Injunction Blocking Waters of the U.S. Rule (September 8, 2015) Federal Judge Vacates Lesser Prairie-Chicken Listing Decision (September 4, 2015) Parties File Arguments Regarding Breadth of Preliminary Injunction Blocking Waters of the US Rule (September 2, 2015) Federal Judge Grants Injunction Blocking Implementation of Waters of the US Rule (August 28, 2015) White House and EPA Propose Rule to Reduce Methane and Ozone-Forming VOC Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Sector (August 18, 2015) EPA Issues Final Rule Amending GHG Regulations After Supreme Court's UARG Decision (August 17, 2015) FWS Seeks Information About the Texas Hornshell in Preparation for Listing Decision (July 24, 2015) Texas Governor Signs Bill Placing Limits on Local Government Enforcement (June 17, 2015)

4 EPA Finalizes Environmental Justice Guidance (June 4, 2015) EPA Issues Final Rule Prohibiting SSM Affirmative Defense Provisions in SIPs (May 28, 2015) Thirteenth Court of Appeals Affirms Ruling That TCEQ's Curtailment Rules Are Invalid (April 2, 2015) Proposed Bills Aim to Streamline Contested Case Hearings in Texas (April 2, 2015) Fourth Circuit Affirms Corps Wetlands Determination (March 13, 2015) Supreme Court Holds Public Notice is Not Required for Interpretive Rule Revisions (March 10, 2015) EPA Files Brief Defending its Approval of Texas Flexible Permitting Program (March 6, 2015) Fifth Circuit Denies Petition for Rehearing in Whooping Crane Case (December 18, 2014) EPA Issues Revised Memo on Regulation of Storm Water Discharges (December 5, 2014) TCEQ Commissioners to Consider Proposed HGB Redesignation Substitute SIP Revision for HGB Area for the One-Hour Ozone NAAQS at the November 19, 2014 Agenda (October 31, 2014) D.C. Circuit Upholds EPA's Withdrawal of Section 404 Permit Specifications (October 3, 2014) Circuit Courts Split on Whether 60-Day Time Limit For Filings on Rule Challenges "Non-Jurisdictional" (September 8, 2014) FWS Proposes Habitat Designation for Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (August 18, 2014) EPA Proposes Revisions to Oil and Gas NSPS (July 17, 2014) Federal Agencies Establish Critical Habitat for Sea Turtle (July 11, 2014) Fifth Circuit Finds TCEQ is Not Liable Under the Endangered Species Act for Deaths of Whooping Cranes (July 2, 2014) D.C. District Court Upholds 2011 ESA Listing Settlement Agreements (April 2, 2014) FWS Lists the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as Threatened (March 28, 2014) Environmental Appeals Board Denies Review of La Paloma Greenhouse Gas Permit (March 17, 2014) La Paloma Energy Center Files Motion to Expedite Appeal of GHG Permit (January 13, 2014) EPA Region 6 and La Paloma Energy Center File Reply Briefs in Administrative Appeal of GHG Permit (January 2, 2014)

5 FWS Endorses Conservation Plan for Lesser Prairie Chicken (October 24, 2013) Texas ESA Developments (August 19, 2013) FWS Proposes to List Two Texas Minnows as Endangered (August 6, 2013) Environmental Groups File Notice of Intent to Sue EPA Over Recreational Water Quality Criteria (June 25, 2013) Environmental Groups Challenge Withdrawal of Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Listing Proposal (June 21, 2013) Environmental Groups Sue EPA to Compel Ozone NAAQS Review (June 20, 2013) EPA Announces Extension of National Enforcement Priorities for FY (June 18, 2013) ECOS Comments on EPA Draft Civil Rights Act Policy Papers, Proposing to Revoke Position that Compliance with NAAQS Creates a Rebuttable Presumption Against Discrimination Claims (June 7, 2013) EPA Agrees to Review Impact of Oil Dispersants on Species (June 3, 2013) Speaking Engagements & Presentations Speaker Round Table Discussion with Environmental Attorneys at Baker Botts and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Austin, Texas (February 29, 2016) Co-presenter Waters of the US Rule: Overview and Recent Challenges Environmental Law Section CLE Austin, Texas (October 1, 2015)