SJ0073 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0073 LRB100 21736 MST 39884 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois seeks to support development that enhances public safety, agriculture, industry, environmental health, and the overall economy of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Levees are built with the intention of protecting against reoccurring flood damage; however, in some cases they can contribute to increased flood risks elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, The State should ensure that levees are designed and built in a more coordinated, systemic fashion; and

WHEREAS, The State currently has regulations that help ensure that levees are designed and built so as to not exacerbate the potential for flooding elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, Levees in Illinois and its neighboring states do not have uniform heights and no comprehensive policies provide a means to balance the impact of floodwater elevation fluctuations; and

WHEREAS, Comprehensive processes should be lawful and responsible so that economic growth can be feasibly accomplished while preserving the goal of this State to protect the people of Illinois from unmitigated flood damages; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois seeks to eliminate the need for costly flood fighting that often occurs during extreme flood events creating greater flood risk; creating a plan for water storage during flooding events to minimize damage and cost, recognizes the scientific evidence showing that major rain events that contribute to flooding are happening more frequently; and

WHEREAS, A streamlined process of state levee permitting needs to encourage and facilitate flood risk management and navigation improvements; and

WHEREAS, State regulatory processes should consider the regulatory processes of federal agencies; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Levee and Floodplain Review Task Force, whose purpose is the following:

1) Conduct a comprehensive review of State and federal laws and regulations establishing the oversight and management of levees, floodwalls, and planned water storage areas in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri; and

2) Develop recommendations to create and implement a plan for the long-term management of the State's levees, floodwalls, floodplains, and water storage areas that balances the needs of agriculture, industry, public safety, communities, the environment, and the overall economy of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Levee and Floodplain Review Task Force be comprised of 22 members in the following manner:

1) One member appointed by the Senate President, whom shall be designated as co-chairperson of the Task Force;

2) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

5) The Director of Natural Resources, or his or her designee;

6) The Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or his or her designee;

7) The Secretary of Transportation, or his or her designee;

8) The Director of Agriculture, or his or her designee; and

9) 13 members appointed by the Director of Natural Resources in the following manner:

a. One member representing the Association of State Floodplain Managers;

b. One member representing American Rivers;

c. One member representing Prairie Rivers Network;

d. One member representing the Illinois Environmental Council;

e. One member representing the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club;

f. One member representing Illinois municipalities bordering the Mississippi River;

g. One member representing Illinois municipalities bordering the Illinois River;

h. One member representing the State's largest agricultural association;

i. One member representing the Upper Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri Rivers Association;

j. One member representing levee districts in Illinois within the Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries project (MR&T);

k. One member representing levee districts in Illinois bordering the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Lock & Dam 19;

l. One member representing levee districts bordering the Mississippi River north of Lock & Dam 19;

m. One member representing levee districts boarding the Illinois River; and

n. One member representing the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Levee and Floodplain Review Task Force shall conduct its meetings in a public manner and complete its report by August 31, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Il. Admin Code Title 17, Chapter 1, Subchapter h, Part 3700, Administrative Rule Changes developed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources be delayed from the Joint Committee on Administrative Rule (JCAR) rulemaking process until August 31, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Natural Resources shall serve as facilitator for the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the report filed with the General Assembly shall be filed with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives in electronic form only, in the manner that the Secretary and Clerk shall direct; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the General Assembly and Director of Natural Resources.