Laws, Rules, and Cases

Shoreline Management Act | Shoreline Hearings Board | Growth Management Act | Coastal Zone Management | Aquatic Lands Act | State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) | Floodplain and Flood Hazard Management | Watershed Planning Act | Salmon Recovery and Enhancement Acts | Wetlands | Water Quality and Stormwater | Public Trust Doctrine | Case Law | Legal Research Sites

Shoreline Management Act

Background:

• Introduction to the Shoreline Management Act
• Negotiated rule adoption process 2001-2003
• Parties to the settlement agreement
• 2009-2010 Amendments to the SMA and GMA
• 2011 Shoreline Management Act Amendments
• 2012 Shoreline Management Act Amendments

Law: The Shoreline Management Act of 1971 (RCW 90.58)

Rules:

• Shoreline Management Act: Rulemaking 2010-11 - Amendments to Chapter 173-18, 173-20, 173-22, 173-26, and 173-27 WAC (effective date March 14, 2011)
• Permits for oil or natural gas exploration (WAC 173-15)
• Regulated streams and rivers (WAC 173-18)
• Regulated lakes (WAC 173-20)
• Designations of shorelands and wetlands (WAC 173-22)
• State master program approval\amendment procedures and master program guidelines (WAC 173-26)
  •  Amended 2011 (effective March 14, 2011)
  • Amended 2003 (effective January 17, 2004) (PDF)
• Permit and enforcement procedures (WAC 173-27)
   

Shorelines Hearings Board (SHB)

Background:

• Shorelines Hearings Board
• Environmental Hearings Office decisions (includes Shorelines Hearings Board)

Laws:

• RCW 90.58.170, 175, 180, 185
• Appeals (RCW 90.58.190)

Rule: WAC 461-08
 

Growth Management Act

Background:

• WA Department of Commerce's Growth Management Services
• Growth Management Act: An Overview

• Growth Management Hearings Boards

• Recent Amendments to the SMA and GMA
• WA Department of Fish and Wildlife GMA/SMA Technical Assistance

Laws:

• Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A and RCW 36.70B)
• Shorelines of the state (RCW 36.70A.480)
• Judicial review of land use decisions (Land Use Petition Act, RCW 36.70C)

Rules:

• Growth Management Hearings Boards (Title 242 WAC)

• Criteria for adopting comprehensive plans and development regulations (WAC 365-195)

• Project consistency (WAC 365-197)
   

Coastal Zone Management

Background:

• Washington State Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program

• Federal Consistency

• Managing Washington’s Coast: Washington's Coastal Zone Management Program (Ecology Publication #00-06-029, February 2001)

Law: Coastal Zone Management Act (US Code Title 16, Chap. 33, § 1451)

Rule: Code of Federal Regulations (Title 15, Chapter IX, Part 923)
 

Aquatic Lands Act

Law: Aquatic Lands Act (RCW 79.105 through 140)
Rule: Aquatic Lands Management (WAC 332-30)
 

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

Background: SEPA Handbook (Ecology Publication #98-114, Revised January 2004)
Law: State Environmental Policy Act (RCW 43.21C)
Rule: SEPA Rules (WAC 197-11)
 

Floodplain and Flood Hazard Management

Laws:

• Floodplain Management (RCW 86.16)
• Flood Control Assistance Account Program (RCW 86.26)

Rules:

• Floodplain Management (WAC 173-158)
• Flood Control Assistance Account Program (WAC 173-145)
   

Watershed Planning Act

Law: Watershed Planning Act (RCW 90.82)
 

Salmon Recovery and Enhancement Acts

Laws:

• Salmon Recovery Act (RCW 77.85)
• Salmon Enhancement Program (RCW 77.95)
   

Wetlands

Background:

• Wetlands: Nature’s Sponges, Nurseries, and Water Filters
• Interagency Guidance on Wetland Mitigation in Washington State
• Wetland Mitigation Banking – General Information
• GMA and Local Wetland Regulations
• Isolated Wetlands Information
• Prior Converted Croplands

Laws:

• Wetlands Mitigation Banking (RCW 90.84)
• Water Pollution Control Act (RCW 90.48)

Rules:

• Wetland mitigation banks (WAC 173-700)
• Water Quality regulations (WAC 173-201A)
   

Water Quality and Stormwater

Background: Developing Low Impact Development (LID) Standards
Law: Water Pollution Control Act (RCW 90.48)
Rule: Water Quality regulations (WAC 173-201A)
 

Public Trust Doctrine

Background:

• The Public Trust Doctrine
• Public Trust Doctrine E-Learning (NOAA web page)
   

Additional Information

Attorney General

• Avoiding Unconstitutional Takings of Private Property Memorandum, 2006
• Attorney General Opinions
  • Attorney General Opinion 2007, No. 1 - Geoduck aquaculture (HPA, shoreline permits)

Case Law

• Part 1: Selected Washington Supreme Court Decisions Pertaining To Land Use Law (PDF)
• Part 2: Selected Washington Appeals Court Decisions Pertaining To Land Use Law (PDF)
• Futurewise et al v. Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board and City of Anacortes et al Supreme Court opinion (PDF)
  • Futurewise v. Anacortes Decision: EHB 1653 clarifies relation of critical area regulations and shorelines (March 2010)
  • Legal decisions bolster state, local efforts to update shoreline rules (Ecology News Release, May 15, 2009)
• Citizens for Rational Shoreline Planning and R. Jepson and Building Industry Association of Whatcom County vs. Whatcom County and WA Department of Ecology (May 10, 2010) (PDF) (Affirmed by the Supreme Court, Case No. 84675-8, August 18, 2011)

Legal Research Sites

Federal:

• Federal 9th Circuit Court
• U.S. Code Collection

State:

• Washington State Office of the Code Reviser: All state laws and rules and the State Register.
• Washington Courts: State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals site that posts new decisions for 90 days.

Other:

• Municipal Research & Services Center (MSRC)
  • Washington State Court Decisions
  • LegalWA.org: Research State Supreme Court (1939 - present) and Appellate Court (1969 - present) cases by name, subject or citation. Includes older cases.
  • City and Town web sites
  • County web sites
• Findlaw.com: All federal & state courts, codes, laws & regulation.

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