Silvia M. Alderman

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A former deputy general counsel of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (now DEP), Silvia Alderman is the chair of Akerman's Water Task Force, a team of multidisciplinary legal professionals and consultants advising on the regulatory and environmental challenges facing our clients. Recognized by Chambers USA, Silvia is praised for her "wealth of knowledge representing utilities" as well as being "very strong on administrative law."

Silvia represents regulated interests such as developers, agricultural businesses, industrial companies, public utilities and other governmental entities in environmental and land use law. She has served as state-wide wetlands and threatened and endangered species counsel for a Fortune 10 company, and is known for her work with water resources and wastewater regulation.

With extensive experience on environmental and land use matters, Silvia works on environmental permitting and enforcement negotiation and litigation, contracts, land development, state land leasing and easements, and growth management. She has local government comprehensive planning experience serving as contract board counsel for the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission. Silvia also represents clients in connection with numerous developments of regional impact (DRIs) and with comprehensive plan amendment litigation. She is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice.

Notable Work

Agricultural Client:

Represented client against third-party challenge to environmental permit.

Top 10 Fortune Company:

Represented client as state-wide wetlands and threatened and endangered species counsel.

Natural Gas Client:

Represented client in regulatory actions involving an 80-mile natural gas pipeline easement and related permits, crossing more than 50 wetlands and a national forest.

Agricultural Client:

Represented client as agent for processing of water use permits covering 178,000 acres of irrigation.

Treatment Facility:

Represented publicly owned treatment works in environmental regulatory issues involving state and federal agencies.

Farmers:

Represented farming clients with state and federal regulatory issues involving water quality discharges, water use and flood control at the State and Federal levels.

Water Use Litigation:

Representing a regional water supply entity in multi-district, multi-county litigation involving water use.

Energy Sector:

Representing cogeneration facilities in construction and Title V operation permits, including application and post permit communications with DEP pertaining to BACT.

Permitting:

Representing an international client with construction and operation permits (air and water pollution) for a ship unloading system and cement silo, including defense against third-party objections in administrative proceedings and circuit court and appeals thereof.

Siting:

Represented a client in proceedings for sitings of microwave towers.

Automotive Sector:

Represented an auto parts manufacturer in regulatory actions involving VOC issues.

Everglades National Park:

Represented client participating in Environmental Impact Statement and NEPA proceedings and litigation involving Everglades National Park and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Wastewater Facilities:

Represented clients in construction and operation permits issues for major industrial wastewater facilities.

Hazardous Waste:

Representing clients with hazardous waste self-audit, permitting, and litigation involving industrial, agricultural, and business interests.

Wastewater Master Plan:

Represented Monroe County in its Wastewater Master Plan for the Florida Keys by preparing the legal technical memorandum.

Solid Waste:

Represented a county in solid waste permitting and enforcement issues.

Show all

Katz, Kutter, Alderman & Bryant, P.A., Founding Partner, 1987-2004
Office of General Counsel, Department of Environmental Regulation, Deputy General Counsel for Permitting, 1983-1984
Office of General Counsel, Department of Environmental Regulation, Deputy General Counsel for Enforcement, 1981-1983
Office of General Counsel, Department of Environmental Regulation, Assistant General Counsel, 1977-1981

37th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Speaker, "Environmental Permitting and Enforcement Update," and "A Forum of Distinguished Speakers on Meeting Future Environmental Challenges," July 19 - July 20, 2023
36th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Speaker, "Environmental Permitting and Enforcement Update," July 19, 2022
Speaker, University of Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture and Natural Resources Law's 8th Annual Symposium: "Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act," 2022
Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, Author, Volume 14 – 2021-2022 Issue 3, “Agricultural Best Management Practices and a National Treasure: The Florida Experience,” 2022
35th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Speaker, "Environmental Permitting and Enforcement Update," July 20, 2021
Real Estate Finance Journal, Author, "Will Florida's Wetland Permitting Program Get Any Easier in 2019?" Fall 2018
Silvia has lectured and written extensively on environmental law issues and was Adjunct Professor of Florida Environmental and Land Use Law at Florida State University College of Law. Below is a sampling:
- Environmental Permitting Update, Annual Environmental Permitting Short-Courses, Author and Lecturer, Florida Chamber of Commerce
- Florida Water Quality Standards and Classifications, Environmental and Land Use Law Section, The Florida Bar
- American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists 40th Annual Joint Meeting Florida and Louisiana Divisions, Speaker, "Obama's EPA: Close Encounters with the Politics of Change"
- Contributing Author, Florida Chamber of Commerce Environmental Network
- Toxic Torts Practice Guide - Second Edition (Coauthor, Chapter 27 and Supplements), Shepards/McGraw-Hill
- An Outline For a Course in Florida Environmental and Land Use Law, Florida State University
- Environmental Permitting and Growth Management Handbook (Co-Author), The Florida Chamber of Commerce
- Is This the Year for FPDES?, The Florida Specifier
- The Warren S. Henderson Wetlands Protection Act of 1984: A Primer (Coauthored with Mary Smallwood and Martin R. Dix), Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law, Florida State University
- State of Florida Department of Environmental Regulation Enforcement Manual (Co-Author and Editor), Florida Department of Environmental Regulation
- Case Notes Reporter, Environmental and Land Use Law Section Newsletter
- Phosphate, Dredge and Fill and the Constitutionality of Chapter 403: The Occidental Cases, Fla. Bar Journal
- Case Digest of Administrative and Judicial Decisions, (Contributor, First Editor), Florida Department of Environmental Regulation
- Scientific Analysis in Environmental Regulation, National Association of Environmental Law Societies Conference, Florida State University College of Law
- How to Complete and Process a Permit Application, Florida Chamber Short Course
- Chaired Presentation, Native Americans: Regulating Gambling and Protecting the Environment - Continued Conflicts and Emerging Issues, Section on Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice of the American Bar Association, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Regulatory Team of the Central Florida Water Initiative, Member, 2014
The Florida Bar, State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice Board Certification Grade Review Panel, Member, 2011; Second Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, Member, 2011; Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, Florida Northern District, Member; Environmental and Land Use Law Section, Executive Council, Ex Officio Member, Past Chairman, 1986-1987; Past Chairman-Elect, 1985-1986; Past Secretary-Treasurer, 1984- 1985; Past Workshops Chairperson, 1982-1983; Past Executive Council, 1981-1988; Past Co-editor of the Section Reporter, 1981-1982
Natural Resources Committee, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Member
American Bar Association, Section on Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, Member, Executive Council, 1993-1995
Governor Lawton Chiles' Environmental Transition Task Force, Past Member, 1990-1991
Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Pastoral Council Member, Catechist, EM, Sacristan

The Best Lawyers in America, 2009-2024, Listed in Florida for Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental
Board Certified in State & Federal Government and Administrative Practice, The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
The Best Lawyers in America, 2015, Named as "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation - Environmental Law
Chambers USA, 2019-2023, Ranked in top tier in Florida for Environment; 2009-2018, Ranked in Florida for Environment
Lawdragon, 2021, 2023-2024, Listed in the "Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Environmental & Energy Lawyer Guide" for Environmental Law, esp. Water
Super Lawyers Magazine, 2013-2023, 2006-2010, Listed in Florida for Environmental
Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009-2010, 2020-2021 Listed in Florida as one of the "Top 50 Women Lawyers"
Florida Trend's Legal Elite, 2009, 2013, 2015-2016, 2018, Listed for Environment & Land Use; Legal Elite Hall of Fame, 2019-2022
Real Estate Florida, 2009, Recognized as "Woman of Influence"
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Dame 2023

Silvia M. Alderman

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