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Thomas G. Mason

Of Counsel

Administrative & Regulatory Litigation, Environment and Natural Resources: Oil, Gas, Land & Water, Water Law

Direct Phone: 512.480.5654

Direct Fax: 512.480.5854

Email:

Tom Mason has 30 years of experience as an environmental lawyer. Most recently, he served as general manager of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) from 2007 until July 2011. Prior to that, Mason was the LCRA’s general counsel.

Before joining the LCRA in 1987, Mason served as assistant general counsel for the Texas Department of Water Resources and director of the Water Quality Division of the Texas Water Commission. He was also a partner in a law firm with a statewide practice in environmental and administrative law.  Mason's experience includes administrative, regulatory, litigation, and legislative matters associated with water, energy, and utilities.

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PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Admitted to bar: 1980, Texas

Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., Plan II Honors Program, magna cum laude, 1975), Phi Beta Kappa, Special Honors in English; University of Texas School of Law (J.D., with Honors, 1980), Articles Editor, the Review of Litigation.

Lower Colorado River Authority

  • General Manager, 2007 to 2011
  • General Counsel, 1999 to 2007
  • Deputy General Counsel, 1989 to 1998
  • Associate General Counsel, 1987 to 1989

 

Texas Water Commission

  • Director, Water Quality Division, 1985 to 1987

 

Henry, Lowerre & Mason

  • Partner in civil law practice, 1983 to 1985.

 

Texas Department of Water Resources

  • Staff attorney, then Assistant General Counsel, 1980 to 1983
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REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Mason has extensive experience with regulatory, legislative and litigation matters related to water supply projects, water/wastewater utilities, and electric generation and transmission projects.

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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Member, State Bar of Texas, Austin Bar Association
  • Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Board Member, Texas Water Foundation
  • Water Laws Committee, Texas Water Conservation Association
  • Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (2000-2008) (former Board President)
  • Board Member, Texas Public Power Association (2008-2011)
  • Board Member, Large Public Power Council (2008-2011)
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AWARDS AND HONORS

  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating, Martindale.com
  • Award of Special Merit, Texas Bar Foundation 1990
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COMMUNITY

  • Austin Area Research Organization, Member
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Advisory Council
  • Texas Advisory Board, Environmental Defense Fund (former Board chair)
  • Board Member, Phi Beta Kappa Association of Greater Austin
  • Former Member, University of Texas Environmental Science Institute Advisory Council
  • Former member, City of Austin Water & Wastewater Commission
  • Member, University United Methodist Church
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Publications and Presentations

  • Panelist, Texas Tribune Festival, Austin, Texas 2011, The Coming Crisis Over Water.
  • Panelist, University of Texas Law School Conference on Carbon & Climate Change. 2009,What's Ahead for Texas Utilities in a Lower Carbon Future.
  • Speaker, State Bar Annual Environmental Superconference, Austin 2008, Providing Water for the Environment.
  • Panelist, Austin Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, 2007,The Practical Side of Open Records and Open Meetings Requirements.
  • Panelist, Texas Ethics Commission/LBJ School of Public Affairs Annual Ethics Conference, Austin 2005, Drafting and  Using an Ethics Policy.
  • Author/Speaker, Texas Water Conservation Association Water Law Seminar, Austin, Texas 2002, Surface Water Authority Powers in Texas.
  • Speaker, Texas Public Power Association Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas1999, Senate Bill 7 changes to Texas Open Records and Meetings Laws.
  • Speaker, Texas Water Laws Institute, Austin, Texas 1997, Interbasin Transfers  -  Basin of Origin Protection.
  • Author/Speaker, American Public Power Association Legal  Seminar, Santa Fe, New Mexico 1991, EMF  -  Legal and Regulatory Developments.
  • Author/Speaker, South Texas College of Law Environmental Litigation Conference, Houston, Texas 1990, Regulation of Nonpoint Source Pollution in Texas.
  • Author/Speaker, Hazardous and solid Waste Management Institute, Austin, Texas 1989, Effective Client Representation in Agency Permitting, Rulemaking, and Enforcement Proceedings.
  • Author/Speaker, State Bar Professional Development Program, Working with State Environmental Agencies –  Insights for the Regulated Community, Austin, Texas 1986, Elements of Proof  -  Texas Water Commission Discharge Permits.
  • Author/Speaker, State Bar Profesasional Development Program  -  Enforcement of Environmental Laws, Houston, Texas 1985, Enforcement of Water Quality Laws.
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