Your Trusted Partner in Environmental Solutions

A former CK team member, Evan returns with more than 13 years of environmental consulting and industry experience, including recent leadership roles overseeing environmental compliance, permitting strategy, and regulatory programs for refining and industrial operations. Her expertise spans air permitting, Title V compliance, environmental reporting, and multi-media environmental compliance.

Throughout her career, Evan has demonstrated strong leadership in managing complex compliance programs, supporting capital projects, and partnering with operations teams to deliver practical, business-focused environmental solutions.

We are thrilled to welcome Evan back to CK Associates. Her combination of consulting expertise, industry leadership experience, and familiarity with our culture will be a tremendous asset to our clients and our team.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued a draft renewal of the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) TXR050000. The current MSGP was issued with an effective date of August 14, 2021, and is scheduled to expire on August 13,2026. The renewed MSGP will be effective on August 14, 2026. Prior to submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under the renewed MSGP permittees must update their SWP3 to address MSGP revisions as well as any facility changes. The NOI or No Exposure Certification (NEC) must be submitted in the State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS) after August 14, 2026, but no later than November 12, 2026. The renewed MSGP has decreased allowable benchmark concentrations for phosphorus, ammonia, iron, cyanide, nitrate-nitrite, and zinc that are applicable to numerous industrial sectors.

How CK Associates Can Help

CK Associates (CK) can provide support in updating a facility SWP3 and preparing the NOI or NEC in STEERS for electronic signature by an authorized signatory. CK can also provide related MSGP services including:

·       Conducting annual training on SWP3 and MSGP requirements

·       Collecting stormwater samples for compliance with effluent limitations (sector-specific and hazardous metals) as well as evaluation with benchmark concentrations

·       Performing inspections required under the MSGP

Our Practitioners

Alex Sheffield is Program Manager for CK’s Water Program. Mr. Sheffield has over 40 years of experience focused on industrial wastewater/stormwater issues, His work is primarily comprised of Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting/studies, enforcement/compliance and litigation support, wastewater engineering and modeling, and compliance plan development.

Mary Strecker is an environmental scientist with CK’s Water Program. Ms. Strecker oversees NPDES program management for several offshore clients. Ms. Strecker also has experience with water quality permitting and compliance for onshore clients in Texas and Louisiana, including TPDES and LPDES permitting, STEERS and NetDMR submittals, and SWP3’s.  

Jesse Bertrand, M.S., is an environmental scientist with CK’s Water Program. Mr. Bertrand has multi-media experience including water quality and ecological services. Mr. Bertrand’s water quality experience includes LPDES permit applications/renewals, compliance sampling, and cross-connection surveys for multiple industrial sectors. Mr. Bertrand has prepared and developed compliance reports and plans including Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plans, Lead Service Line Inventories, SWP3’s, and Discharge Monitoring Reports for several facilities and industry types.

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CK Associates is pleased to welcome Todd Higginbotham. Todd brings more than 25 years of experience in air quality permitting and compliance, supporting complex industrial facilities across the United States.

Throughout his career, Todd has provided regulatory strategy, permitting, and compliance support for a wide range of industries, including petroleum refining, chemical and petrochemical manufacturing, natural gas processing, steel production, fertilizer manufacturing, and wood products facilities. His expertise includes New Source Review (NSR) permitting, Title V permitting, emissions inventories, regulatory applicability assessments, and air quality compliance audits.

Todd has extensive experience supporting capital projects at major industrial facilities, coordinating with engineering and operation steams, preparing environmental documentation, and managing regulatory reviews with state agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality(LDEQ). He has also supported clients in complex regulatory matters involving NSPS, NESHAP, and Clean Air Act investigations, including technical analyses related to enforcement actions, mediation, and settlement negotiations.

Todd earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University and has held senior consulting roles with several national environmental consulting firms. His depth of regulatory expertise and industry knowledge strengthens CK Associates’ ability to help clients navigate challenging air quality permitting and compliance requirements.

We are excited to have Todd on board and look forward to the value he brings to our clients and our team.

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