Enrolled HCR 30: Creating an Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission.
00Enrolled HCR 30 01 Creating an Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission. 02 _______________ 03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 WHEREAS recent weather patterns have created warming trends that have 05 jeopardized the health and well-being of residents of communities and the natural resources 06 on which they rely; and 07 WHEREAS flooding and erosion negatively affect coastal and river communities in 08 both rural and urban areas of the state; and 09 WHEREAS coastal communities are negatively affected by flooding and erosion 10 because of delayed formation of protective shore ice in the fall; and 11 WHEREAS communities along riverbanks or in river deltas are more susceptible to 12 flooding and erosion caused by ice jams, snow and glacial melts, rising sea levels, changing 13 river patterns, and heavier rainfall; and 14 WHEREAS permafrost is found beneath approximately 80 percent of the state; and 15 WHEREAS, in recent years, there has been widespread thawing of permafrost in 16 some areas, causing land to slump and erode, which in turn has caused serious damage to 17 roads, buildings, and other infrastructure; and
01 WHEREAS the thawing of the permafrost is likely to continue, which will have a 02 continuing negative 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 negatively affected by the effects of climate change; and 07 WHEREAS the rapidly retreating sea ice affects polar route navigation and has raised 08 security 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 to assess current effects of climate change in the Arctic, it does not 12 address the economic effects of climate change on the State of Alaska; and 13 WHEREAS a comprehensive plan to address these issues, prevent or mitigate 14 negative effects of climate change, and address economic effects on the state will help save 15 lives, protect public health, preserve economic and resource development, and protect 16 valuable infrastructure; 17 BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that there is created an Alaska 18 Climate Impact Assessment Commission; and be it 19 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall consist of 11 members as 20 follows: 21 (1) two senators appointed by the president of the senate; 22 (2) two representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of 23 representatives; and 24 (3) seven public members appointed jointly by the president of the senate and 25 the speaker of the house of representatives consisting of 26 (A) one member with expertise in climatology or knowledgeable in the 27 area of oceanography; 28 (B) one member who is knowledgeable about Alaska's economy; 29 (C) one member who is knowledgeable in the area of land 30 management or restoration of wildlife and natural resources; 31 (D) one member experienced in arctic and sub-arctic engineering
01 requirements for public highway and facility construction and maintenance; 02 (E) a recognized local expert representing affected Alaska 03 communities; 04 (F) one member who represents affected resource development 05 industries; 06 (G) one member who represents the affected tourism industries; and be 07 it 08 FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall select a chairperson from among 09 members of the legislature; and be it 10 FURTHER RESOLVED that the public members of the commission may receive 11 compensation for per diem or reimbursement for travel or other expenses incurred in serving 12 on the commission; and be it 13 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may meet during and between 14 legislative sessions; and be it 15 FURTHER RESOLVED that the House and Senate Resources Committees may 16 assign committee staff to provide support services for the commission; and be it 17 FURTHER RESOLVED that the duties of the commission include the following: 18 (1) assess the current and potential effects of climate warming trends on the 19 citizens, natural resources, public health, and economy of the state, in particular the adverse 20 effects on natural resource development, forest safety, fish and game utilization, 21 transportation, community, and resource development infrastructures; 22 (2) estimate costs to the state and its citizens of adverse effects associated with 23 climate change; 24 (3) identify specific circumstances of flooding and erosion that have affected 25 life, property, and economic and resource development in the state; 26 (4) examine alternative measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of 27 flooding and erosion; 28 (5) develop policies to guide infrastructure investments in Alaska villages, 29 cities, and boroughs that are most affected by flooding and erosion; 30 (6) recommend land use regulations, including area standards for designation 31 of land prone to flooding and erosion;
01 (7) investigate and assess issues involving permafrost and damage caused by 02 permafrost; 03 (8) recommend policies to decrease the negative effects of climate change; 04 and 05 (9) identify and coordinate efforts of mutual concern with federal, state, and 06 local agencies; and be it 07 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall offer recommendations and 08 provide possible solutions and preventative measures that can be implemented by Alaska 09 communities and by the state and federal governments; and be it 10 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall conduct eight hearings 11 throughout the state to fulfill its purpose; and be it 12 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall deliver a preliminary report of its 13 findings to the legislature on March 1, 2007, and make a final report to the legislature on 14 January 10, 2008, together with legislative proposals for consideration; and be it 15 FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be available for legislative 16 hearing on its final report and recommendations; and be it 17 FURTHER RESOLVED that the continuation or termination of the commission 18 shall be reevaluated at the Second Regular Session of the Twenty-Fifth Alaska State 19 Legislature.