HJ0011 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0011 LRB101 06856 MST 51887 r

HOUSE 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE 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, who 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, who shall be designated as co-chairperson of the Task Force;

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

a. One member representing an association that represents floodplain managers in the State;

b. One member representing a national advocacy group working on Mississippi River issues;

c. One member representing an environmental advocacy organization headquartered in Champaign;

d. One member representing a statewide environmental group encompassing over 80 additional environmental groups;

e. One member representing an environmental organization with grassroots advocates across the State;

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 a group that advocates on behalf of the Upper Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri rivers;

j. One member representing levee districts in Illinois downstream of East St. Louis;

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 bordering the Illinois River; and

n. One member representing a group that advocates on behalf of the Upper Mississippi River Basin; 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, 2019; 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, 2019; 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 suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the General Assembly and Director of Natural Resources.