Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and partners have kindly shared a link to a video recording of their latest webinar “Legal Implications of Climate Change – Regulatory Takings.” You can watch the whole presentation (vide and audio) here. Among other things, Stephanie Showalter Otts provides a good overview of the case history that guides decisions today, and […]
Tag Archives | legal
Rolling Easements: Finally, a Long-Term Approach for Rising Seas and Coastal Erosion?
Posted on June 21, 2011
It’s not hard to get overwhelmed when considering your community’s current flood and erosion problems. Add in projections for what future climates will bring and it’s enough to make you want to just stay at home (at least until the sea comes into your home). Unfortunately, nobody has found a silver bullet to save coastal […]
Coming to the ASFPM Conference? Join the StormSmart Crew
Posted on May 10, 2011
Coming to the ASFPM (Association of State Floodplain Managers) Annual Conference in Louisville, KT next week? If so, I hope you’ll considering joining a group of us to discuss how to use the No Adverse Impact approach to floodplain development in your community. Speakers include Ed Thomas (Baker), Terri Turner (Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission, GA), […]
Sea Level Rise and Beaches: Not a Pretty Combination
Posted on March 4, 2011
Orrin Pilkey, always a lightening-rod for coastal climate change issues, has written a gloomy forecast for the world’s beaches, and has the photos to justify his positions. He acknowledges that predicting the effects of sea level rise on beaches is complex, and that results will vary greatly depending on many factors. But overall, the picture […]
Model Bylaw for Managing Coastal Floodplain Development
Posted on November 5, 2010
Any of us who have worked in more than one coastal community know this simple truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all activity to make communities safer from storms and flooding. Geography and geology vary. Community goals and political climates vary. Organizational structures within communities vary (Do you have a mayor? A town manager? A Board of Selectmen?). […]
Oak Bluffs Passes Forward-Thinking Floodplain Regulation
Posted on November 2, 2010
The community of Oak Bluffs has joined Chatham (PDF) in passing a progressive bylaw that should help guide safe development in their coastal floodplains. Here’s the blurb from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s ever-useful CZ-Mail: On September 16, the Oak Bluffs Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to adopt special permit regulations (PDF, […]
Training: Basic Concepts for Floodplain Management [December 14-15, Virginia]
Posted on September 23, 2010
First, the bad news: the course is in Virginia. The good news: it sounds like a good spot to get an overview of what it means to manage a floodplain. From the organizer’s description: This training course will present the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) concepts in flood management, damage prevention terminology, and protocols from […]
Webinar Series Includes Presentation on "Sea Level Rise and Property Rights"
Posted on September 8, 2010
The International Submerged Lands Management has announced its new conference dates. Unlike most conferences, this one takes place on your computer, so those of us with limited travel budgets can still participate. You can find a schedule of all the conference’s events on their website (and we’ll add the lot to the StormSmart Coasts Calendar), […]
Federal Flood Insurance Will Cover Flood-Related Oil Damage [FEMA Memo]
Posted on June 11, 2010
FEMA has released a memo clarifying that in the event of a declared flood disaster, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage will apply even if oil is mixed with flood waters. The brief memo suggest that the NFIP will bill the party that caused the oil damage (in this case, British Petroleum) for the damages. […]
Texas Appellate Court Finds No Taking in State's Open Beaches Act
Posted on February 16, 2010
From the always useful Ocean and Coastal Case Alert Newsletter: “A Texas appellate court struck down a challenge from several beachfront property owners to the Texas Open Beaches Act. The homeowners filed the action seeking a declaratory judgment for their right to repair, maintain, and access their houses, as well as for damages for the […]