SUMMARY

Kathleen Callison has over 30 years’ experience working with public and private sector clients to achieve goals relating to water, geothermal and mineral resources and energy. Services include negotiating and drafting contracts and agreements, developing laws and regulations, securing permits, completing property transactions, managing technical and legal consulting teams for US and international projects. She is a frequent speaker and instructor, and has published extensively. Ms. Callison holds a law degree and a master’s degree focusing on natural resources, and is a member of the Washington and Oregon Bar Associations.

HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT WORK

Water Rights | Water Supply & Water Systems | Wastewater
  • Currently assisting a commercial agricultural operation in securing water supply and addressing other utility and regulatory issues.
  • Counsel to district heating service provider in Seattle’s downtown business core; matters include securing water right permits and serving as co-counsel in litigation relating to Seattle Tunnel Project impacts on groundwater and water supply.
  • Assisting a commercial agricultural operation in negotiated settlement of a compliance order, resulting in a “zero-discharge” solution and eliminating the requirement for a wastewater discharge permit.
  • Ongoing representations of public and private sector clients in matters relating to water rights, water supply, wastewater and water service agreements. 
  • Assisted commercial client in preserving water rights and negotiating purchase and sale of water rights.
  • Prepared a legal and financial feasibility assessment for an innovative regional utility program, including recommendations for program design, relationships between local governments, identification of new revenue sources, and allocation of funds.
  • Represented the City of Yelm, Washington in a landmark 2011 Supreme Court case, JZ Knight v City of Yelm, dealing with water supply for subdivisions.
  • Represented the City of Buckley, Washington in negotiations and drafting of the landmark 2010 Lake Tapps Agreement for watershed management and water supply.​
Energy and Geothermal Resources
  • NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners) expert presenter/facilitator at Ethiopia Energy Regulatory Partnership--Partnership Exchange: Licensing & Permitting for Geothermal Resource Development, Part II, October–November 2018, Addis Ababa. Sponsored by USAID and Power Africa.
  • NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners) expert presenter/facilitator at Ethiopia Energy Regulatory Partnership--Partnership Exchange: Licensing & Permitting for Geothermal Resource Development, February 2018, Addis Ababa. Sponsored by USAID and Power Africa.
  • Counsel to a private energy utility for business and energy planning, permits and agreements.
  • Invited instructor for two professional capacity-building courses at the ARGeo-C6 Geothermal Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in October 2016, Best Practices for Legal and Regulatory Framework on Geothermal Development in East Africa, and Best Practices in Geothermal Drilling. Participants included leading energy and natural resource professionals from East African public-sector entities, private sector developers, and international nongovernmental organizations.
  • In 2015 and 2016, led a team of internationally recognized technical and legal experts to draft a geothermal regulatory framework for Ethiopia, with funding from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a branch of the World Bank. The draft regulatory framework included provisions relating to licensing and drilling, power plant licensing, power purchase, establishment of implementing institutions, and programs designed to support the government as it builds institutions and staff capacity. The draft framework incorporated international best practices and was completed within the aggressive timeframe established by the client.
  • In 2015, led a team to draft a geothermal law for Ethiopia, with funding from the US Energy Association. The law was developed in the context of existing constitutional and statutory frameworks, and was designed to implement national natural resources and energy plans and policies. The legislation was enacted by the Ethiopian Parliament in the summer of 2016.
  • Principal drafter revisions to Washington State’s geothermal law, enacted by the state legislature in 2013; led a working group including legislators, private-sector developers and representatives of regulatory agencies, incorporating public and private sector input.
  • Prepared legal and regulatory analyses for potential district energy project feasibility studies, for the City of Seattle (Seattle City Light), the University of Washington, and the City of Buckley, Washington.
  • Beginning in 1998 and continuing to the present time, secured permits and negotiated and managed technical services contracts for a Japanese-style onsen (spa) in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington State.
  • Special area of interest: Relationships and conflicts between geothermal laws, water laws and mineral laws in the context of resource development and energy projects.
Mineral Resources and Federal Indian Law
  • In 2018, prepared a feasibility study for potential mineral extraction projects for implementation in the US.
  • Currently representing a sand and gravel operation in matters relating to regulatory compliance and transfers of property interests.
  • Counsel to a Native American lessor in dispute relating to royalties; matters include review and comment relating to federal administrative oversight processes and Interior Board of Land Appeals.
  • Special area of focus: Mineral extraction from geothermal fluids.
Conveyance of Interests in Land and Natural Resources
  • Assisting a commercial agricultural company with purchase of land and permits for major new facility; addressing utility service and financing.
  • Ongoing assistance to multiple clients with purchase and sale agreements and conveyance of property interests.
  • Secured a street use permit from City of Seattle, at no charge, allowing a private client to construct improvements and protect property values in a landslide-prone area.
Contracts and Agreements
  • Counsel to public and private sector clients for a range of contracts and agreements.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Kathleen Callison, LLC 
Callison Legal Consulting
​Providing services in the US and internationally 
1998-present
Water Resources Program Manager
City of Tumwater, Washington, 1992-2005
As manager of water, wastewater, stormwater and reclaimed water programs for a municipal utility, Ms. Callison established innovative utility programs to meet water quality regulatory requirements and city goals. She was responsible for budgeting and rate setting, design and construction of capital projects, including drilling new wells, negotiation of regional agreements, and utility review for proposed development projects. 

During her tenure, Ms. Callison managed the assessment and response to contamination identified in the City’s water supply, including water shortage response protocols and long-term conservation programs, and successfully secured state and federal resources to assess the problem and implement treatment. She drafted cutting-edge ordinances requiring elimination of pollutants in areas surrounding City wells, and worked with a major beverage bottler to comply with regulatory pretreatment requirements. Ms. Callison doubled the city’s water rights.

Water Policy Analyst
Washington Water Research Center, WSU, 1988-1991
​
Ms. Callison provided analyses of proposed laws, regulations and policies, provided recommendations relating to key policy issues, and represented the Director in state-level interagency policy discussions.

President & Executive Director
Puget Sound Alliance, 1986-1991

As leader of a community-based environmental organization, Ms. Callison analyzed and commented on proposed laws, regulations and permits, served on advisory committees for development of state and national water quality regulations, and testified before a U.S. Congressional subcommittee on water quality issues.

During Ms. Callison’s leadership, the organization’s membership tripled. She raised the profile of the organization—and its effectiveness—by establishing the Puget Soundkeeper, a citizen watchdog group, with funding and marketing support from Starbucks, Horizon Air, Anthony’s Restaurants, KING-TV and Coors Brewing Company. Ms. Callison recruited Howard Schultz, President and CEO of Starbucks, to the Board of Directors.

Consultant
Puget Sound Water Quality Authority
1986 and 1988
​
Ms. Callison organized a conference on U.S. and Canadian programs for restoration of habitat and water quality, and the First Annual Conference on Puget Sound Research. She participated in the development of the first Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Ms. Callison has published and spoken extensively and has been an invited speaker in the U.S. and internationally.

Presenter and Author
Legal and Regulatory Issues in Geothermal Mineral Extraction​ in the Western US
Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting and Proceedings
Reno, NV, October 2018

Presenter
Geothermal Drilling: Drafting a Geothermal Law and Regulation for Ethiopia 
Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Seattle, October 2017

Presenter and Author
Barriers to Geothermal Development and Solutions in Drafting a Legal and Regulatory Framework
Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting and Proceedings
Salt Lake City, October 2017

Instructor
National Plans for Energy and Resource Development: Framework for Geothermal Development
ARGeo 6th African Rift Geothermal Conference, Addis Ababa, Oct - Nov 2016

Instructor
Best Practices in Geothermal Drilling: Drafting a Robust Geothermal Regulatory Framework
ARGeo 6th African Rift Geothermal Conference, Addis Ababa, Oct - Nov 2016

Author
Drafting a Geothermal Law and Regulatory Framework for Ethiopia: Laying the Groundwork for Resource Development
Proceedings of ARGeo 6th African Rift Conference, United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016
​
Panel Chair and Speaker
Leases, Water Rights & Unitization
Geothermal Resources Council annual meeting, 2014

Instructor
Online courses in Water Law, LawLine and AccessMCLE, 2014

Presenter
Washington Sets the Stage for Geothermal Development
Geothermal Energy Association, Reno, 2013

Presenter
Never the Twain Shall Meet: Water and Development
Green Meets Blue conference, Seattle, 2013

Presenter 
Presentations of Geothermal Law and Regulations
Reno, Los Angeles, Bend, Calgary, 2009 – 2013

Panel Chair and Speaker
Environmental and Water Issues in Enhanced Geothermal Systems
San Jose, May 2011

Other Presentations and Papers

Geothermal Resource Law and Regulation in the State of Washington
Washington State Bar Association, Land Use and Environment Newsletter, 2010

Legal and Regulatory Challenges in Water and Geothermal Resources Development
McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Energy and Law Journal, 2010, presented at Water and Energy Conference, Calgary 2009

Water Issues in Land Transactions
Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Law Journal, 2007

Washington Water Law Update
Oregon Water Law Conference, Portland, 2006

New Approach to Water Resource Management in the Columbia River Basin
Washington State Bar Association, 2006

Water Trading and Marketing: Recent Developments
Oregon Water Law Conference, 2004

Miller Brewery: Water Rights & Beyond
Thurston County, Washington, Bar Association Land Use & Environmental Law Group, 2003

Water Right Changes and Transfers, an Update on Water Conservancy Boards
Washington State Bar Association, 2002

Co-Chair
Washington State Bar Association Water Law Conference, 2004 and 2005

EducatioN AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Mining Law Course, Boulder, Colorado, 2009
  • Juris Doctor, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, 1997; special recognition in water law and federal Indian Law
  • Master of Marine Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle Washington, 1989, focus on natural resources law, administrative law and regulation, economics, planning and engineering.
  • First Aid and CPR
  • Scuba 
  • Private pilot