HOME | Monday, September 6th, 2010
Attorneys - Emily Rogers
Emily Rogers
Associated Practice Areas
Biography
Emily practices in the areas of environmental law, water quality, water and wastewater utilities, and water rights. She represents municipalities, river authorities, water districts, school districts, and private entities in these and related matters before state and federal agencies and in state court. Her practice focuses on client counseling and administrative hearings for industrial, commercial and governmental clients in matters involving water rights, groundwater, water rates, water and wastewater utility matters, water quality matters, industrial and municipal solid waste, and hazardous waste cleanup and disposal.
Representative Experience
Emily assists various city clients, water district and river authority clients, and other local government and private entities in matters related to water and wastewater service, including assisting clients on matters relating to certificates of convenience and necessity, wastewater discharge permits, water quality matters, and the purchase and transfer water and wastewater facilities, service territory, and surface and groundwater rights. Emily has represented clients in contested case hearings before Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and negotiated and drafted service territory agreements, wholesale water contracts, settlement agreements, and extension policies.
Emily has also counseled clients on matters relating to municipal solid waste permitting, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and air quality matters and has advised her clients on regulatory compliance matters, represented clients before the TCEQ on enforcement matters, and negotiated supplemental environmental projects.
Prior to joining Bickerstaff, Heath in 2000, Emily was a Staff Attorney at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, predecessor agency to the TCEQ. While at the agency, Emily represented the agency in contested cases involving wastewater permit applications and assisted the agency in its efforts to obtain authorization to implement the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System under the Clean Water Act and provided legal counsel to the states' Superfund program and participated in the drafting and adopting of the Texas Risk Reduction rules.
Emily has also counseled clients on matters relating to municipal solid waste permitting, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and air quality matters and has advised her clients on regulatory compliance matters, represented clients before the TCEQ on enforcement matters, and negotiated supplemental environmental projects.
Prior to joining Bickerstaff, Heath in 2000, Emily was a Staff Attorney at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, predecessor agency to the TCEQ. While at the agency, Emily represented the agency in contested cases involving wastewater permit applications and assisted the agency in its efforts to obtain authorization to implement the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System under the Clean Water Act and provided legal counsel to the states' Superfund program and participated in the drafting and adopting of the Texas Risk Reduction rules.
Career Highlights, Honors and Appointments
Board Certified - Administrative Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Former Staff Attorney at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (predecessor agency to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)
Former Staff Attorney at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (predecessor agency to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)
Publications, Papers, and Presentations
Fireflow: Legislative Preview and the Interplay between Cities, Rural Water Utilities, Developers and Firefighters, Author/Co-Speaker for the 9th Annual TRWA/TWCA Water Law Seminar (January 2009).
Case Law Update, Co-Author/Speaker for the 10th Annual Changing Face of Water Rights Advanced Course (April 2-3, 2009)
Fire Hydrants - Are They Really Fire Hydrants? Speaker for the 20th Annual Local Government Seminar (April 30 - May 1, 2009).
Complying with Water Quality Laws and Regulations, Author/Speaker for the Texas Water Laws and Regulations Seminar, Half Moon Seminars (July 31, 2008).
Current Issues of Concern to Cities & Counties: Drainage, Flooding, & Storm Water, Author/Speaker for the 19th Annual Local Government Seminar (April 17-18, 2008).
Water and Sewer Service Issues Outside The City Limits: Issues Affecting The Decision To Annex, Co-Author for the 19th Annual Local Government Seminar (April 17-18, 2008).
Extending Utilities to Rural Areas, Texas Leadership Institute (November 12, 2007).
Water Law - Recent Developments, Texas City Attorney Association, Semi-Annual Meeting In Conjunction with the Texas Municipal League Annual Conference (November 8, 2007).
Environmental Legislation from the 80th Texas Legislature That Will Impact Environmental Professionals, Annual STEP Joint DFW Meeting (July 17, 2007).
Extending Water Utilities to Rural Areas, Author/Speaker for the 8th Annual The Changing Face of Water Rights in Texas (June 2007).
Groundwater Districts: The Municipal Perspective, Author/Speaker for the 18th Annual Local Government Seminar (April 26 - 27, 2007).
Regulatory and Legislative Changes in the Laws Affecting Water and Sewer Certificates of Convenience and Necessity, 17th Annual Local Government Seminar (June 1-2, 2006).
Negotiations and Transactions in Groundwater: Utility/Municipal Perspective, Author/Speaker, 7th Annual The Changing Face of Water Rights in Texas (May 18-19, 2006).
Whiskey Is for Drinking - Water Is for Fighting: Water Planning, Speaker, Texas Leadership Institute's From Vision to Reality - Growth Management Strategies (May 9, 2006).
Did the Attorney General Shine Light on the Confusion in Texas' Sunshine Law? Interpreting Open Meetings Act Provision § 551.143, Co/Author, Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal, Vol. 7, Book 1 (Spring 2006).
Texas Open Meetings Act: A List of Compliance Tips, Author, Confluence: Newsletter for the Texas Water Conservation Association (2nd Quarter 2005).
Regulatory Issues Related to Water and Wastewater Planning,Speaker, Texas Leadership Institute: Planning and Zoning Training for Texas Cities (May 20, 2005).
Environmental Regulation and Land Use and Development, Co-Author, William "King" Cole Effective Local Government Series - Session II (Advanced)(April 2005).
Water Rights and Issues Impacting Water Use, Author/Speaker, National Business Institute's Fundamentals of Water Law in Texas (July 21, 2004).
Water and Sewer Certificates of Convenience and Necessity: When and How They Apply to Cities, Texas City Attorneys Association Newsletter, Spring 2004.
Meeting Water and Wastewater Needs and Ensuring Regulatory Compliance of Water and Wastewater Systems, Author/Speaker, 16th Annual Local Government Seminar (July 2003).
Case Law Update, Co-Author/Speaker for the 10th Annual Changing Face of Water Rights Advanced Course (April 2-3, 2009)
Fire Hydrants - Are They Really Fire Hydrants? Speaker for the 20th Annual Local Government Seminar (April 30 - May 1, 2009).
Complying with Water Quality Laws and Regulations, Author/Speaker for the Texas Water Laws and Regulations Seminar, Half Moon Seminars (July 31, 2008).
Current Issues of Concern to Cities & Counties: Drainage, Flooding, & Storm Water, Author/Speaker for the 19th Annual Local Government Seminar (April 17-18, 2008).
Water and Sewer Service Issues Outside The City Limits: Issues Affecting The Decision To Annex, Co-Author for the 19th Annual Local Government Seminar (April 17-18, 2008).
Extending Utilities to Rural Areas, Texas Leadership Institute (November 12, 2007).
Water Law - Recent Developments, Texas City Attorney Association, Semi-Annual Meeting In Conjunction with the Texas Municipal League Annual Conference (November 8, 2007).
Environmental Legislation from the 80th Texas Legislature That Will Impact Environmental Professionals, Annual STEP Joint DFW Meeting (July 17, 2007).
Extending Water Utilities to Rural Areas, Author/Speaker for the 8th Annual The Changing Face of Water Rights in Texas (June 2007).
Groundwater Districts: The Municipal Perspective, Author/Speaker for the 18th Annual Local Government Seminar (April 26 - 27, 2007).
Regulatory and Legislative Changes in the Laws Affecting Water and Sewer Certificates of Convenience and Necessity, 17th Annual Local Government Seminar (June 1-2, 2006).
Negotiations and Transactions in Groundwater: Utility/Municipal Perspective, Author/Speaker, 7th Annual The Changing Face of Water Rights in Texas (May 18-19, 2006).
Whiskey Is for Drinking - Water Is for Fighting: Water Planning, Speaker, Texas Leadership Institute's From Vision to Reality - Growth Management Strategies (May 9, 2006).
Did the Attorney General Shine Light on the Confusion in Texas' Sunshine Law? Interpreting Open Meetings Act Provision § 551.143, Co/Author, Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal, Vol. 7, Book 1 (Spring 2006).
Texas Open Meetings Act: A List of Compliance Tips, Author, Confluence: Newsletter for the Texas Water Conservation Association (2nd Quarter 2005).
Regulatory Issues Related to Water and Wastewater Planning,Speaker, Texas Leadership Institute: Planning and Zoning Training for Texas Cities (May 20, 2005).
Environmental Regulation and Land Use and Development, Co-Author, William "King" Cole Effective Local Government Series - Session II (Advanced)(April 2005).
Water Rights and Issues Impacting Water Use, Author/Speaker, National Business Institute's Fundamentals of Water Law in Texas (July 21, 2004).
Water and Sewer Certificates of Convenience and Necessity: When and How They Apply to Cities, Texas City Attorneys Association Newsletter, Spring 2004.
Meeting Water and Wastewater Needs and Ensuring Regulatory Compliance of Water and Wastewater Systems, Author/Speaker, 16th Annual Local Government Seminar (July 2003).
Educational and Professional Background
University of Houston Law Center (J.D. - cum laude); Southwest Texas State University (M.A. - History, with honors); The University of Texas (B.A. - History)
Admitted to Practice: Supreme Court of Texas, 1997; United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Member of the Planning Committee for the Changing Face of Water Rights Advanced Course 2009, to be held April 2 -3, 2009 by the Texas Bar CLE.
Reporter on Water Law Developments in Texas for The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation's Water Law Newsletter
Water Quality and Water and Wastewater Utility Recent Development Columnist for the State Bar of Texas Environmental Law Journal
State Bar of Texas (Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section and Administrative and Public Law Section); Austin Bar Association (Administrative Law Section and Natural Resources, Environmental, and Water Law Section)
Houston Law Review, Articles Editor
Texas Water Conservation Association - Member
Board of Directors Member - Circle C Child Development Center
Volunteer, Meals on Wheels
Admitted to Practice: Supreme Court of Texas, 1997; United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Member of the Planning Committee for the Changing Face of Water Rights Advanced Course 2009, to be held April 2 -3, 2009 by the Texas Bar CLE.
Reporter on Water Law Developments in Texas for The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation's Water Law Newsletter
Water Quality and Water and Wastewater Utility Recent Development Columnist for the State Bar of Texas Environmental Law Journal
State Bar of Texas (Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section and Administrative and Public Law Section); Austin Bar Association (Administrative Law Section and Natural Resources, Environmental, and Water Law Section)
Houston Law Review, Articles Editor
Texas Water Conservation Association - Member
Board of Directors Member - Circle C Child Development Center
Volunteer, Meals on Wheels
Environmental Regulation and Land Use and Development
