CSHCR 30(RES): Creating an Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission.
00 CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 30(RES) 01 Creating an Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission. 02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 WHEREAS recent weather patterns have created warming trends that have 04 jeopardized the health and well-being of residents of communities and the natural resources 05 on which they rely; and 06 WHEREAS flooding and erosion affects 184 coastal and river communities, or 86 07 percent of Alaska communities, in both rural and urban areas of the state; and 08 WHEREAS communities on the coast are affected by flooding and erosion from the 09 sea because of the delayed formation of protective shore ice in the fall; and 10 WHEREAS communities along riverbanks or in river deltas are susceptible to 11 flooding and erosion caused by ice jams, snow and glacial melts, rising sea levels, changing 12 river patterns, and heavy rainfall; and 13 WHEREAS permafrost is found beneath approximately 80 percent of the state; and 14 WHEREAS, in recent years, there has been widespread thawing of permafrost in 15 some areas, causing land to slump and erode and causing serious damage to infrastructure; 16 and
01 WHEREAS the thawing of the permafrost is likely to continue across the state and 02 will have an effect on future structures and development; and 03 WHEREAS fish and wildlife habitats are changing, affecting the accessibility and 04 viability of certain species; and 05 WHEREAS resource development and the revenue it generates are potentially 06 affected by the effects of climate change; and 07 WHEREAS the rapidly retreating sea ice affects polar route navigation and security 08 concerns; and 09 WHEREAS the state has only one employee working on these issues; and 10 WHEREAS, although the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment provides the necessary 11 scientific foundation in assessing current effects of climate change in the Arctic, it does not 12 address the economic effects on the State of Alaska; and 13 WHEREAS a comprehensive, preventative plan to address these issues will help save 14 lives, protect public health, preserve economic and resource development, and protect 15 valuable infrastructure; 16 BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that there is created an Alaska 17 Climate Impact Assessment Commission; and be it 18 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall consist of 15 members as 19 follows: 20 (1) two senators appointed by the president of the senate; 21 (2) two representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of 22 representatives; and 23 (3) 11 public members appointed jointly by the president of the senate and the 24 speaker of the house of representatives consisting of 25 (A) one member who represents the Denali Commission; 26 (B) one member from the University of Alaska with expertise in 27 climate impact effects; 28 (C) one member who represents the Alaska Federation of Natives; 29 (D) one member from the Department of Natural Resources; 30 (E) one member knowledgeable in the engineering requirements for 31 public highway and facility construction and maintenance;
01 (F) two members who represent affected Alaska communities; 02 (G) two members who represent affected Alaska businesses; 03 (H) one member knowledgeable in the area of fish and game; and 04 (I) one member who represents Alaska youth, based on the 05 recommendation of the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska; and be it 06 FURTHER RESOLVED that the public members of the commission may receive 07 compensation for per diem or reimbursement for travel or other expenses incurred in serving 08 on the commission; and be it 09 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may meet during and between 10 legislative sessions; and be it 11 FURTHER RESOLVED that the House and Senate Resources Committees may 12 assign committee staff to provide support services for the commission; and be it 13 FURTHER RESOLVED that the duties of the commission include the following: 14 (1) assess the current and potential effects of climate warming trends on the 15 citizens, natural resources, public health, and economy of the state, in particular the adverse 16 effects on natural resource development, forest safety, fish and game utilization, and 17 transportation and community infrastructures; 18 (2) estimate costs to the state and its citizens of adverse effects associated with 19 climate warming; 20 (3) identify specific circumstances of flooding and erosion that affect life, 21 property, and economic and resource development in the state; 22 (4) examine the feasibility of alternatives to prevent and mitigate the effects of 23 flooding and erosion; 24 (5) develop a policy to guide infrastructure investments in Alaska villages, 25 cities, and boroughs that are most affected by flooding and erosion; 26 (6) recommend land use regulations, including area standards for designation 27 of land prone to flooding and erosion; 28 (7) investigate and assess issues involving permafrost and damage caused by 29 permafrost; 30 (8) recommend policies to decrease the negative effects of climate change; 31 and
01 (9) identify and coordinate efforts of mutual concern with federal agencies; 02 and be it 03 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall offer recommendations and 04 provide possible solutions and preventative measures that can be implemented by Alaska 05 communities and by the state and federal governments; and be it 06 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall conduct eight hearings 07 throughout the state to fulfill its purpose; and be it 08 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall deliver a preliminary report of its 09 findings to the legislature on March 1, 2007, and make a final report to the legislature on 10 January 10, 2008, together with legislative proposals for consideration; and be it 11 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be available for legislative 12 hearing on its recommendations; and be it 13 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be reevaluated at the conclusion 14 of the second regular session of the Twenty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature.