Autumn 2012
Land Use Planning and Permitting in Practice
ENVIR 495 C – (4 credits)
MW 10:30-12:20
SLN 21324
What do the UW intramural sports fields, the largest solar project in the Northwest, and the proposed coal port in Bellingham have in common? Each one requires a land–use permit and people who know how to work with permitting processes—resource managers, project developers, and environmental consultants. This course takes a case-study approach to understanding some of the most commonly encountered planning and permitting regulations in the state of Washington and beyond. Topics include the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Washington Growth Management Act, local and regional planning requirements, and the complex interactions of land–use regulations with other environmental management regulations (e.g., the Endangered Species Act, state and federal clean-water laws). The course is targeted at upper level undergraduate students and graduate students.
**This course will count towards Policy and Decision Making for Perspectives and Experiences**