HCR 30: Creating an Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission.
00 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 30 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 thawing of the permafrost; and 07 WHEREAS the state has only one employee working on these issues; and 08 WHEREAS a comprehensive, preventative plan to address these issues will help save 09 lives, protect public health, preserve economic and resource development, and protect 10 valuable infrastructure; 11 BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that there is created an Alaska 12 Climate Impact Assessment Commission; and be it 13 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall consist of 13 members as 14 follows: 15 (1) two senators appointed by the president of the senate; 16 (2) two representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of 17 representatives; and 18 (3) nine public members appointed jointly by the president of the senate and 19 the speaker of the house of representatives consisting of 20 (A) one member who represents the Denali Commission; 21 (B) one member who represents the University of Alaska; 22 (C) one member who represents the Alaska Federation of Natives; 23 (D) one member who represents the Department of Transportation and 24 Public Facilities; 25 (E) two members who represent affected Alaska communities; 26 (F) two members who represent affected Alaska businesses; and 27 (G) one member knowledgeable in the area of fish and game; and be it 28 FURTHER RESOLVED that the public members of the commission may receive 29 compensation, per diem, or reimbursement for travel or other expenses incurred in serving on 30 the commission; and be it 31 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may meet during and between
01 legislative sessions; and be it 02 FURTHER RESOLVED that the House and Senate Resources Committees shall 03 assign committee staff to provide support services for the commission; and be it 04 FURTHER RESOLVED that the duties of the commission include the following: 05 (1) assess the effects of flooding, erosion, and climate changes across the 06 state; 07 (2) identify specific circumstances of flooding and erosion that affect life, 08 property, and economic and resource development in the state; 09 (3) examine the feasibility of alternatives to prevent and mitigate the effects of 10 flooding and erosion; 11 (4) develop a policy to guide infrastructure investments in Alaska villages, 12 cities, and boroughs that are most affected by flooding and erosion; 13 (5) recommend land use regulations, including area standards for designation 14 of land prone to flooding and erosion; 15 (6) investigate and assess issues involving permafrost and damage caused by 16 permafrost; 17 (7) recommend policies to decrease the negative effects of permafrost; and 18 (8) identify and coordinate efforts of mutual concern with federal agencies; 19 and be it 20 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall offer recommendations and 21 provide possible solutions and preventative measures that can be implemented by Alaska 22 communities and by the state and federal governments; and be it 23 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall deliver a report of its findings to 24 the legislature by the tenth day of the First Regular Session of the Twenty-Fifth Alaska State 25 Legislature, together with legislative proposals for consideration; and be it 26 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be terminated at the conclusion 27 of the second regular session of the Twenty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature.