Derek Seal

Education

Practice Areas

Environmental

Environmental and Water

Legislative & Governmental Relations

Water Law

Career

Derek is experienced in all aspects of administrative law but focuses his practice on assisting clients with environmental permitting and enforcement. Derek has experience advising clients on the following types of matters:

TCEQ contested case hearings

Regulatory enforcement orders

Water supply and water rights

Water utility and wastewater utility regulation

Wastewater discharge permitting, including municipal discharge permits, industrial wastewater discharge permits, and permits involving the land application of treated effluent

Air permitting, including amendments, modifications and permit alterations, and agency reviews of permit renewals

Regulatory requirement compliance, including the Texas Environmental, Health, and Safety Audit Privilege Act

Procurement of Innocent Owner Operation/Certificates

Environmental due diligence

Remediation of properties affected by underground petroleum storage tanks

Drafting legislative initiatives and formulating legislative strategies regarding natural resources and the environment

Low-level radioactive waste

Personal

Derek practices administrative and regulatory law with a focus on environmental permitting and enforcement. With more than 30 years of regulatory and legislative experience, Derek assists clients with a wide range of matters, including Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) contested case hearings and regulatory compliance, water supply and water rights, air, water, waste, and wastewater discharge permitting.

Derek previously held roles as General Counsel of the TCEQ, Counsel to former TCEQ Chairman Kathleen Hartnett White, General Counsel in the Texas Legislature for the House Committee on Environmental Regulation, and General Counsel and Chief of Staff for Representative Warren Chisum.