Laws and rules

Shoreline Management Act | Shoreline Hearings Board | Growth Management Act | Aquatic Lands Act | State Environmental Policy Act | Floodplain Management | Watershed Planning Act | Salmon Recovery and Enhancement Acts | Legal Research Sites | Public Trust Doctrine | Federal

Shoreline Management Act (SMA)

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

Rules:

• Permits for oil or natural gas exploration: WAC 173–15
• SMA-regulated streams and rivers: WAC 173–18
• SMA-regulated lakes: WAC 173-20
• Designation of shorelands and associated wetlands: WAC 173–22
• Shoreline Master Programs: WAC 173–26,
  • Approval – Amendment Procedures,  Parts I and II
  • Shoreline Master Program Guidelines: Part III
  • Ocean Management guidelines: Part IV
  • 1972 SMP Guidelines: WAC 173-16 (for historic reference only)

• Permit and Enforcement Procedures: WAC 173–27

Introduction to the Shoreline Management Act

Shorelines Hearings Board (SHB)

• SHB Home Page (includes recent decisions)
• Rules: 
  • Environmental Hearings Office (Title 461-08)
  • Practice and procedure - review of the granting, denying or rescinding of substantial development permits - hearings (Ch. 461-08 WAC)

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Growth Management Act

• Laws:
  • Growth Management Act - RCW 36.70A and RCW 36.70B
  • Land Use Petition Act, RCW 36.70C

• Rules: Visit Community Trade and Economic Development Web page.

• Growth Management Hearings Boards rules (Title 242 WAC)

• Growth Management Hearings Board Web site

Aquatic Lands

• Law: Aquatic Lands (See Title 79 RCW)
• Rule: Aquatic Land Management (Chapter 332-30)

SEPA

• Law: State Environmental Policy Act (Chapter 43.21C RCW)
• Rule: SEPA Rules (Chapter 197-11 WAC)

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Floodplain management

• Law: Chapter 86 RCW: Flood Control
• Rule: Floodplain Management, WAC 173-158
• Rule: Flood Control Assistance Account Program, WAC 173-144

Watershed Planning

• Law: Watershed Planning Act (Chapter 90.82 RCW)

Salmon Recovery and Enhancement Acts

• Law: Salmon Recovery Act (Chapter 77.85 RCW)
• Law: Salmon Enhancement Program (Ch. 77.95 RCW)

Legal research sites

• Washington State Office of the Code Reviser: Links to all state laws and rules, and the State Register
• LegalWA.org: research State Supreme Court (1939 - present) and Appellate Court (1969 - present) cases by name, subject or citation, includes older cases.
• Washington State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals: posts new decisions for 90 days
• Shorelines Hearings Board
  • Shoreline Hearings Board appeal procedures – WAC 461-08
• Growth Management Hearings Board

Public Trust Doctrine

• Introduction and links for more information about the application of this common law doctrine in Washington State.

Federal

• Law: Coastal Zone Management Program US Code Title 16, Chap. 33, § 1451
• Rule: Code of Federal Regulations Title 15, Chapter IX, Part 923
• Washington's Coastal Zone Management Program

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