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. 22 Agenda (cid:131) Welcome and Self Introductions (cid:131) Protecting the Property Rights of All: No  Adverse Impact Floodplain Management Part I 3 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 4 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  55 Often… Mother Nature 66 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 77 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 88 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 99 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 10