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Setting up a PostGIS server
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- Written by charlie
- Category: GIS & Mapping
Setting up a postgres and PostGIS server is not always easy, especially on an headless server, but I found the following instructions helpful, even though the instructions were designed to install Mapnik. I just followed the Ubuntu instructions, and it worked flawlessly.
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Mapnik/PostGIS
The PostGIS 2.0 shp2pgsql Command Line Cheatsheet was also helpful with importing shapefiles.
http://www.bostongis.com/pgsql2shp_shp2pgsql_quickguide_20.bqg
Sackett v. EPA and Wetland Map
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Latest
In this weeks Supreme Court case, Sackett, et al., v. EPA , the Sackett's, landowners backed by a "veritable who's who in American mining, oil, utilities, manufacturing and real estate development, as well as groups opposed to government regulation." argued that the EPA has overstepped its authority by forcing property owners into an administrative nightmare with no recourse or chance of appealing an EPA administrative order despite knowingly filling wetlands.
According to the Natural Resources Defense council, documents obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Freedom of Information Act, show that the landowners disregarded the opinion of a wetlands expert they hired to evaluate their property in 2007 as well as ignoring overtures by the Army Corps of Engineers to file for a permit relatively easily and inexpensively.
Out of curiosity, I wondered if the property in question does contain wetlands as claimed by the EPA. An April 2011 NY Times article identifies a neighboring plot, so it was just a matter of plugging the address in the Wetland Mapper and freehanding the property boundaries in red. As seen below, the property is almost entirely comprised of Freshwater Forested wetlands (The code Code PSS1C is partially obscured by the box), and is also surrounded on three sides by wetlands.
While that the case also revolves around other issues than filling wetlands, it's apparent that the claim that wetlands weren't present is scarcely convincing at best.
Suggested reading:
Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (Excellent General Summary)
When Property Rights, Environmental Laws Collide
Mike Sackett, Idaho Man, Fights EPA Compliance Order
Idaho couple's permit fight drags wetlands back to high court
Idaho couple puts wetlands rules to the test in U.S. Supreme Court
Wetlands in the News
18 May 2024
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Harbor Wetlands, a new outdoor exhibit, recreates salt marsh habitat from Baltimore's past
It's part of the National Aquarium's newest outdoor exhibit called Harbor Wetland, which is an effort to help keep our waterways clean and healthy.
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Why wetlands are important
By the fall of 1992, the stage had been set for what is called the Great Flood of 1993, the largest flood ever recorded by this country.
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How Hong Kong’s Mai Po wetlands are under threat again, and past battles the ‘bird paradise’ has faced
A magnet for diverse species of birds, the Mai Po wetlands are a target of government plans to build part of an IT hub for its Northern Metropolis As the tide rises on a winter's day, thousands of...
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Mark Clark Extension, if built, could impact nearly 40 acres of wetlands in Charleston
SCDOT applied to continue construction of the Mark Clark Extension. The pending project in Charleston County could temporarily or permanently impact wetlands.
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Westport wants fresh eyes on wetlands
Wetlands dot many parts of Westport, and the growing city wants a scientist to provide a deciding opinion on their current character, and how they came to be.