APPROVED CHAPTER
JUNE 16, 2021 67
BY GOVERNOR RESOLVES
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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H.P. 1169 - L.D. 1572
Resolve, To Analyze the Impact of Sea Level Rise
Preamble. Whereas, the scientific and technical subcommittee of the Maine
Climate Council determined it is likely that the sea level in Maine will rise between 3 and
5 feet by the year 2100 based on an intermediate sea level rise scenario, although scenarios
of higher rise are physically plausible; and
Whereas, a one-foot increase in sea level in the future will lead to a 15-fold increase
in the frequency of nuisance flooding and would cause a 100-year storm flood level to have
a probability of occurring once every 10 years; and
Whereas, communities with a strong dependence on waterfront and shorefront
industries such as tourism, ports and fishing will be heavily disrupted by increased flood
frequency; and
Whereas, sea level rise of 4 feet by 2100 is projected to cause more than $671,000,000
in cumulative building losses and $665,000,000 in gross domestic product losses in Maine;
and
Whereas, 1.5 feet of relative sea level rise by 2050 and 4 feet by 2100 would cause
immersion and submersion of land and accompanying materials, structures and facilities
that are not currently designed for those conditions and, therefore, present a threat of release
of pollutants to the environment; and
Whereas, the scientific and technical subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council has
recommended that the State manage for 1.5 feet of relative sea level rise by 2050 and 4 feet
by 2100; now, therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Department review of laws and rules. Resolved: That the Department
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Department of Defense, Veterans and
Emergency Management, Maine Emergency Management Agency, the Department of
Environmental Protection, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the
Department of Marine Resources, the Department of Transportation and the Office of the
Attorney General shall conduct a review of the laws and rules they are charged with
administering under the Maine Revised Statutes and, by January 1, 2022, shall recommend
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to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources any changes
necessary to:
1. Incorporate consideration of 1.5 feet of relative sea level rise by 2050 and 4 feet by
2100 into administration of those laws and rules; and
2. Implement the strategy designated as "Strategy F3" in the state climate action plan
issued by the Maine Climate Council in 2020 pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
38, section 577 to enhance community resilience to flooding and other climate impacts.
The Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources may report out
legislation to implement the recommendations to the Second Regular Session of the 130th
Legislature.
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