No Adverse Impact Floodplain Management

277 Pages·2010·11.68 MB·English

Protecting the Property Rights of All
State of Montana
2010 FLOODPLAIN RESOURCE SEMINAR 
“FLOODPLAIN LEGAL WORKSHOP”
Edward A. Thomas Esq.
Land Use Regulations Are Local
Within A State and Federal Context
The Views Expressed Are Those of the Author 
and Do not Necessarily Reflect Approval Of 
Any Organization.
(cid:131) This is Not Legal Advice – It is a Lecture on 
General Principles of Law.
For Legal Advice see a Lawyer Licensed in Your 
Jurisdiction.
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Agenda
(cid:131) Welcome and Self Introductions
(cid:131) Protecting the Property Rights of All: No 
Adverse Impact Floodplain Management Part I
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Agenda
(cid:131) Protecting the Property Rights of All: No Adverse 
Impact Floodplain Management Part II
(cid:131) Professional Liability for Construction in Hazardous 
Areas 
(cid:131) Liability for Failed Dams and Levees
(cid:131) Avoiding a Taking: Discussion 
(cid:131) Final Comments/Questions/Complete Course 
Evaluation
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To Set the Stage For Our Discussion on Land
Use-Sustainability-Liability and Water
Resources
(cid:131) Lets Discuss Some Basics of Law
(cid:131) In the Law‐Especially Criminal Law 
Attorneys Often Seek to Identify Someone 
Else to Take the Blame
(cid:131) Often Called SODDI‐Some Other Dude Did It
(cid:131) On the TV show “The Practice” it Was Called 
“Plan B”
(cid:131) The SODDI for Increased Flood Damages is 
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Often…
Mother Nature
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Does Nature Cause Disasters?
(cid:131) Some Folks Say: Global Warming Sea Level Rise-
Causes Harm: Mother Nature is at Fault
(cid:131) Are Natural Disasters “Natural”?
(cid:131) Dr. Gilbert White Stated The Facts:
(cid:131) “Floods are Acts of Nature; But Flood Losses Are
Largely Acts of Man”
(cid:131) Excellent Lecture by Dr. Roger Pielke Jr. at Natural
Hazards Conference:
Cause of Increased Flood Loss Is Changes in Density
and Cost/Type of Buildings in Hazardous Areas
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Introduction: Can We All Agree?
(cid:131) Among of the Most Clear Lessons of The 
Horrific Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: 
(cid:131) There Is No Possibility of A Sustainable 
Economy Without Safe Housing and Safe 
Locations for Business and Industry to Occupy
(cid:131) We Need Housing for Employees to Have 
Businesses and Industry – to Have an 
Economy at All
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Must Sustainability Or “Smart-
Growth” Have A Foundation in Hazard
Mitigation?
(cid:131) The Spring 2007 Edition of The Urban Lawyer Contains 
an Article Which Summarizes the Views of 16 of the 
Leading Gurus of the “Smart Growth” Movement
(cid:131) A Total of 135 Separate Principles
(cid:131) None Refer to Hazards Specifically
(cid:131) A Very Few Refer to Protecting Natural Resources
(cid:131) Gabor Zovanyi is the Author; Article is The Role of 
Smart Growth Legislation in Advancing the Tenets of 
Smart Growth
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But There Is Hope!
(cid:131) APA Initiatives
(cid:131) FEMA Initiatives
(cid:131) Louisiana Smart Growth
(cid:131) This Conference and Group
(cid:131) Many, Many Points of Light
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