POLICY ANALYST FROM EPA TO SPEAK AT DRAKE THURSDAY Lynn Richards, from US EPA's Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation will discuss how communities are grappling with, and addressing, the environmental, economic and social impacts of how and where they are growing. Smart growth is development that serves the economy, the community, and the environment. It changes the terms of the development debate away from the traditional growth/no-growth question to "how and where should new development be accommodated?" Smart growth is EPA's effort to help the development industry, states, cities and towns create healthy, sustainable communites. Lynn A. Richards, a policy analyst for the Environmental Protection Agency, will discuss "Smart Growth: Providing Communities More Choices" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, in the Honors Lounge of Medbury Hall at Drake, 1317 28th St. in Des Moines. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will address the economic, environmental and social impact of community development. Richards will focus on the concept of "smart growth" - development that stimulates the economy, builds strong neighborhoods and provides citizens with a clean, healthy environment. Richards recently published an article titled "Alternatives to Subsidizing Edge Development: Strategies for Preserving Rural Landscapes" in the Terrain Journal. Prior to working with the EPA, she concentrated on sustainable development, environmental justice and long-term stewardship at ICF Consulting. She also worked in government in the Bahamas to establish a Ministry of Environmental Protection. For more information, contact Daniel Spencer, associate professor of religion and ethics, at x2885 or send an e-mail message to [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]