The authors tell how to assess local environment conditions and create an action plan. They discuss the role of environmental law and economics, ethics, and ecology in decision-making. The core of the book covers planning for public health (water supply and quality, solid waste and recycling, and toxic waste), natural areas (landscapes, wildlife habitat, wetlands, coastal zones, and hazard and disaster mitigation), working landscapes (farming, ranching, forestry, and mining), and the built environment (transportation, energy, sustainability, and greenfield development).