By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Growth Management Act,Land Use,UncategorizedThe Washington Conservation Commission’s Office of Farmland Preservation recently published Planning the Future of Your Farm, a workbook for families who want to keep their farmland in production and/or “in the family” as it passes to the next generation. Among other tools, the publication addresses how to navigate the challenges families face in managing the … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in UncategorizedThe Washington State Department of Ecology just re-issued the general permits that regulate discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) in Western Washington. The re-issued permits will require local governments in Western Washington to make changes in their regulation and management of polluted stormwater runoff. As explained by Ecology, the agency re-issued the permits … Continue Reading
By Saira Rhodes on Posted in Climate Change,Energy,Environmental,UncategorizedOn May 6, the White House released the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment, the most authoritative and comprehensive source of scientific information to date about climate-change impacts across all U.S. regions and on critical sectors of the economy. The report, co-authored by VNF Partner, TC Richmond, is a key deliverable of President Obama’s Climate Action … Continue Reading
By Saira Rhodes on Posted in UncategorizedToday, Governor Inslee signed an executive order establishing a Carbon Emissions Reduction Taskforce to provide recommendations on the design and implementation of a carbon emission limits and market mechanisms program to reduce carbon pollution and stimulate clean energy development in Washington State. The Taskforce will include Governor-appointed representatives of business, labor, public interests, and public … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Land Use,Municipal,UncategorizedIt appears that getting the green light to operate a marijuana business depends on your zip code. Some local governments in Washington are taking action to ban medical and recreational marijuana operations, while others are permitting or even attempting to encourage marijuana businesses. Jurisdictions permitting marijuana businesses may be welcoming decisions by others to adopt marijuana bans, … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in UncategorizedOn October 2, 2013, the Washington State Supreme Court denied review of a Court of Appeals opinion that affirmed a zoning decision by the City of Tacoma, allowing the Court of Appeals opinion and the City’s zoning decision to stand. In Northshore Investors, LLC v. City of Tacoma, 301 P.3d 1049 (2013), the Court of … Continue Reading
By Saira Rhodes on Posted in UncategorizedThe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is soliciting comments on a new proposed rule that could make Federal disaster recovery funding much more accessible to Indian tribes. The new rulemaking may result in a breakthrough for Indian tribes that wish to work with FEMA, depending on the strength of public comments and FEMA’s efforts to … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in UncategorizedOn August 7, 2012, the Office of Fossil Energy of the Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a Final Opinion and Order, Order No. 2961-A, granting long-term authorization to Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC (“Sabine Pass”) to export liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana to non-Free Trade Agreement (“non-FTA”) … Continue Reading
By Saira Rhodes on Posted in UncategorizedAfter Merger, Keeping Focus, a recent article by the National Law Journal, discusses the expanded services and practice area offerings with the merger of GordonDerr and Van Ness Feldman… Continue Reading
By T.C. Richmond on Posted in UncategorizedOn March 7, 2012, Governor Gregoire signed E2SSB 5292, which amends the definition of critical areas under the GMA to exclude certain irrigation and drainage structures that lie within and are maintained by a port district, or an irrigation district or company. The amendment to the definition of critical areas in RCW 36.70A.030 has an effective … Continue Reading
By Saira Rhodes on Posted in UncategorizedPartner Molly Lawrence was named Best Lawyers’ 2012 Seattle Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers, the oldest and one of the most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession. Congrats Molly!! … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in UncategorizedGeography professor emeritus, Richard Morrill from the University of Washington posted an article describing trends in population growth across the state between 2000 and 2010, based on a look at 2010 census data. One striking observation stands out, particularly for GMA advocates who emphasize the importance of setting tight urban growth boundaries inside which growth … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in UncategorizedEnvironmental leaders from Washington and British Columbia are working together to fight against and prepare for climate change, including promoting public awareness of sea level rise and impacts on coastal areas. With the increasing likelihood, if not certainty of sea level rise in the Puget Sound over the next few decades, local governments and shoreline … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in UncategorizedMany jurisdictions either already have, or would like to consider adopting, ordinances that impose minimum open space requirements and/or require protection of a specified number of trees or amount of tree canopy to retain the benefits that open space and tree preservation provide. In many cases, to keep compliance and implementation simple and predictable, ordinances … Continue Reading
