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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois seeks to support development
3that enhances public safety, agriculture, industry,
4environmental health, and the overall economy of Illinois; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Levees are built with the intention of protecting
6against reoccurring flood damage; however, in some cases they
7can contribute to increased flood risks elsewhere; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The State should ensure that levees are designed
9and built in a more coordinated, systemic fashion; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The State currently has regulations that help
11ensure that levees are designed and built so as to not
12exacerbate the potential for flooding elsewhere; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Levees in Illinois and its neighboring states do
14not have uniform heights, and no comprehensive policies provide
15a means to balance the impact of floodwater elevation
16fluctuations; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Comprehensive processes should be lawful and
18responsible so that economic growth can be feasibly
19accomplished while preserving the goal of this State to protect
20the people of Illinois from unmitigated flood damages; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois seeks to eliminate the need
2for costly flood fighting that often occurs during extreme
3flood events creating greater flood risk; creating a plan for
4water storage during flooding events to minimize damage and
5cost recognizes the scientific evidence showing that major rain
6events that contribute to flooding are happening more
7frequently; and
 
8    WHEREAS, A streamlined process of state levee permitting
9needs to encourage and facilitate flood risk management and
10navigation improvements; and
 
11    WHEREAS, State regulatory processes should consider the
12regulatory processes of federal agencies; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
14HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
15SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Levee and
16Floodplain Review Task Force, whose purpose is the following:
17        1) Conduct a comprehensive review of State and federal
18    laws and regulations establishing the oversight and
19    management of levees, floodwalls, and planned water
20    storage areas in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri; and
21        2) Develop recommendations to create and implement a
22    plan for the long-term management of the State's levees,

 

 

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1    floodwalls, floodplains, and water storage areas that
2    balances the needs of agriculture, industry, public
3    safety, communities, the environment, and the overall
4    economy of Illinois; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That the Levee and Floodplain Review Task Force
6be comprised of 22 members in the following manner:
7        1) One member appointed by the Senate President, who
8    shall be designated as co-chairperson of the Task Force;
9        2) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
10    Senate;
11        3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
12    Representatives, who shall be designated as co-chairperson
13    of the Task Force;
14        4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
15    House of Representatives;
16        5) The Director of Natural Resources or his or her
17    designee;
18        6) The Director of the Illinois Emergency Management
19    Agency or his or her designee;
20        7) The Secretary of Transportation or his or her
21    designee;
22        8) The Director of Agriculture or his or her designee;
23    and
24        9) 14 members appointed by the Director of Natural
25    Resources in the following manner:

 

 

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1            a. One member representing an association that
2        represents floodplain managers in the State;
3            b. One member representing a national advocacy
4        group working on Mississippi River issues;
5            c. One member representing an environmental
6        advocacy organization headquartered in Champaign;
7            d. One member representing a statewide
8        environmental group encompassing over 80 additional
9        environmental groups;
10            e. One member representing an environmental
11        organization with grassroots advocates across the
12        State;
13            f. One member representing Illinois municipalities
14        bordering the Mississippi River;
15            g. One member representing Illinois municipalities
16        bordering the Illinois River;
17            h. One member representing the State's largest
18        agricultural association;
19            i. One member representing a group that advocates
20        on behalf of the Upper Mississippi, Illinois, and
21        Missouri rivers;
22            j. One member representing levee districts in
23        Illinois downstream of East St. Louis;
24            k. One member representing levee districts in
25        Illinois bordering the Mississippi River between St.
26        Louis and Lock & Dam 19;

 

 

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1            l. One member representing levee districts
2        bordering the Mississippi River north of Lock & Dam 19;
3            m. One member representing levee districts
4        bordering the Illinois River; and
5            n. One member representing a group that advocates
6    on behalf of the Upper Mississippi River Basin; and be it
7    further
 
8    RESOLVED, That the Levee and Floodplain Review Task Force
9shall conduct its meetings in a public manner and complete its
10report by August 31, 2019; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That we urge Il. Admin Code Title 17, Chapter 1,
12Subchapter h, Part 3700, Administrative Rule Changes developed
13by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources be delayed from
14the Joint Committee on Administrative Rule (JCAR) rulemaking
15process until August 31, 2019; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That the Department of Natural Resources shall
17serve as facilitator for the Task Force; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
19delivered to the General Assembly and Director of Natural
20Resources.