Presentation Abstract
In discussing challenges and opportunities for enforcing ecological protections, the four presenters discussed enforcement regimes generally and lessons learned from individual enforcement actions. The presentations covered attributes of successful enforcement and obstacles that arise, an ongoing review of permit compliance in King County, stormwater updates for consistency with the Clean Water Act, and challenges to enforcement in Canada. The presentations discussed methods for establishing effective programs and identifying obstacles for programs like shoreline master programs that apply broadly throughout a community. Such obstacles include a lack of political will at various stages in the enforcement hierarchy, incomplete or uncertain information about unpermitted activities, shifting baselines, inadequate enforcement authority or penalties, and the potential for political backlash. The presenters agreed that this issue will continue to play a critical role in determining whether communities can restore the ecological health of the Salish Sea.
Session Title
Enforcing Ecological Protections: Challenges and Opportunities
Keywords
Enforcement, Friends of the San Juans, Shoreline, Political will
Conference Track
SSE8: Policy, Management, and Regulations
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE8-599
Start Date
6-4-2018 8:30 AM
End Date
6-4-2018 8:45 AM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Shorelines--Law and legislation--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Shorelines--Monitoring--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Environmental protection--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--International cooperation; Water quality management--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Local government and enviremental policy--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Enforcement discretion and best practices for enforcement
In discussing challenges and opportunities for enforcing ecological protections, the four presenters discussed enforcement regimes generally and lessons learned from individual enforcement actions. The presentations covered attributes of successful enforcement and obstacles that arise, an ongoing review of permit compliance in King County, stormwater updates for consistency with the Clean Water Act, and challenges to enforcement in Canada. The presentations discussed methods for establishing effective programs and identifying obstacles for programs like shoreline master programs that apply broadly throughout a community. Such obstacles include a lack of political will at various stages in the enforcement hierarchy, incomplete or uncertain information about unpermitted activities, shifting baselines, inadequate enforcement authority or penalties, and the potential for political backlash. The presenters agreed that this issue will continue to play a critical role in determining whether communities can restore the ecological health of the Salish Sea.
