Martin C. Rochelle

Principal
(512) 322-5810

Martin Rochelle is the Chair of the Firm's Water Practice Group and he is a member of the Government Relations Practice Group. His practice is focused on the development and implementation of sound water policy by the Texas Legislature and in representing clients in water quality, water supply, and water reuse matters before local, state and federal agencies.

Martin represents a broad array of water interests across the state, including cities, river authorities, regional water districts, and other political subdivisions of the state, as well as industrial and commercial interests, at the Texas Capitol and before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to joining the Firm in 1984, he served as Committee Counsel to the Texas Senate, 1978-79, and as Staff Attorney at the Texas Department of Water Resources (a predecessor agency of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality), 1979-1984. Martin has been a Principal of the Firm since 1990 and he currently serves on the Firm's three-member Executive Committee.

Martin is a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Water Conservation Association and he is the former Chair of TWCA’s Water Laws Committee.  In 2008, TWCA awarded Martin the President's Award for outstanding service to the Association.  Martin is also the current Chair of the Texas WateReuse Association’s Legislative Committee.

Areas of Practice

• Water
• Government Relations

Representative Experience

• Martin practices administrative law with an emphasis in the fields of environmental, water, and natural resources law.
• Specific areas of Martin's practice are water rights permitting, including the permitting of large reservoirs and water reuse projects, and water quality permitting, including the permitting of regional wastewater treatment facilities and stormwater permitting, Clean Water Act § 404 permitting, including NEPA compliance, as well as environmental counseling and compliance.
• Martin also represents his clients in formulating and pursuing sound water policies and other water-related initiatives before the Texas Legislature.

Professional Licenses and Education

• Admitted to State Bar of Texas (1977)
• J.D., University of Houston (1977)
• B.S., East Texas State University (1974)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• State Bar of Texas
• Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section
• Administrative and Public Law Section
• Austin Bar Association
• Texas Water Conservation Association (Board Member and former Water Laws Committee Chair)
• Texas WateReuse Association (current Legislative Committee Chair)
• Water Environment Association of Texas
• Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies
• Texas Municipal Utilities Association

Publications and Presentations

• Co-Author, “Meeting Water Supply Needs - Planning, Permitting, and Implementation,” Chapter 19, Texas Practice Guide,Texas Law of Water Resources, 2008.
• Author and Speaker, “From the Capitol: The 80th Texas Legislature,” Presented at the CLE International's 8th Annual SuperConference, Law of the Rio Grande, 2008;
• Speaker, “Water Supply Options and Challenges,” Presented at the Association of Water Board Directors Annual Meeting, 2008;
• Speaker, "Legislative Update," Presented at the 6th Annual North Central Texas Chapter of Texas American Water Works Association, Drinking Water Seminar Program, 2007;
• Speaker, "Water Reuse Projects in Texas," Presented at the Fort Bend Water Reuse Conference, 2006;
• Co-Author,“Texas Agency Structure,” Chapter 2, Vol. 45 Texas Practice, Environmental Law, 1997-2008 Supplements;
• Author and Speaker, “Water Law Update,” Presented at the Texas City Attorneys Association, 2005;
• Author and Speaker, “Wastewater Wars: Implications of Reuse Projects in Texas,” Presented at the Association of Water Board Directors Annual Conference, 2005;
• Author, “Environmental Flows: Competing for Limited Resources,” Texas Bar Journal, 2004;
• Author and Speaker, “Environmental Flows and Water Reuse,” Presented at the Texas Water Conservation Association/Texas Rural Water Association Water Law Conference, 2004;
• Author and Speaker, “Environmental Flow Considerations in Surface Water Rights Permitting,” Presented at the Texas Water Conservation Association Annual Conference, 2004;
• Author and Speaker, “Legislative Update,” Presented at the 15th Annual Environmental Superconference, 2003;
• Co-Author,“Watershed Management in Texas: A Survey of Local Government Authority to Regulate,” State Bar of Texas’ Environmental Law Journal, 1998;
• Author and Speaker,“Return Flows -- Permitting and Planning Implications,” Presented at the Water for Texas Conference, 1998;
• Author and Speaker, “Water Quality Update,” Presented at the Advanced Environmental Law Conference, State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, 1994;
• Author and Speaker,“Water Quality Update,” Presented at the State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, 1993;
• Author and Speaker,“Water for the 21st Century ‑ Extending a Finite Supply,” Presented at the State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, 1988;
• Speaker, “Advising Officers, Directors and Partners of Troubled Businesses,” Presented at the State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, 1987;

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