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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - THE CLIMATE CHANGE COASTAL

ADAPTATION TRUST FUND

     

     Introduced By: Senators Lynch Prata, Gallo, Sosnowski, Miller, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 46 of the General Laws entitled "WATERS AND NAVIGATION" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 23.3

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THE CLIMATE CHANGE COASTAL ADAPTATION TRUST FUND

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     46-23.3-1. Purpose and findings.

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     (a) Purpose. To enable cities and towns and the state to apply for grants awarded for

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projects that invest in measures that adapt infrastructure on public lands to the impacts of climate

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change to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity of the citizens of the state.

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     (b) Findings.

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     (1) The findings and purpose set forth in §46-23.1-1 are fully applicable and adopted

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herein.

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     (2) The production, transport and use of fossil fuels have significant impacts on the

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environment.

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     (3) The impacts of climate change upon Rhode Island’s built and natural environments

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are wide-ranging, discernible and documented, and, in many cases growing in severity and

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include sea level rise, coastal erosion, flooding and storm surge.

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     (4) As of 2016, the range in sea level rise change is projected by the National Oceanic

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and Atmospheric Administration to be a maximum of approximately one foot (1') in 2035, two

 

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feet (2') in 2050 and up to nine feet (9') by 2100.

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     (5) Climate change has and will continue to pose significant risks for state and municipal

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infrastructure and our environment, public health, welfare, and economic well-being.

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     (6) Providing areas for coastal and estuarine habitats to migrate is essential to preserving

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coastal and marine wildlife resources.

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     (7) Rhode Island coastal infrastructure is at risk and the state must begin to plan and

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implement projects to protect it.

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     (8) Reducing the vulnerability of our infrastructure is vital to the economic prosperity and

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quality of life of the citizens of the state.

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     (9) The state, and Rhode Island cities and towns, need assistance in addressing the

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impacts of climate change including protecting infrastructure.

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     46-23.3-2. Definitions.

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     The definitions set forth in §46-23.1-2, unless modified herein, shall also apply to the

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interpretation of this chapter as if fully set forth herein. For the purposes of this chapter, the

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following definitions shall apply:

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     (1) "Adaptation" means a response to sea level rise, flooding, storm surge and coastal

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erosion and includes reducing the vulnerability of low-lying infrastructure on public land through

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measures that include removal, relocation, and redesign of infrastructure, regrading of banks and

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revegetation, acquisition of that area of land necessary to maintain public access, and preserving

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or securing lateral access along the shoreline.

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     (2) "Climate change impacts" in Rhode Island includes, but are not limited to, sea level

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rise, coastal erosion, flooding and storm surge.

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     (3) "Council" means the coastal resources management council.

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     (4) "Department" means the department of environmental management.

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     (5) "Director" means the director of the department of environmental management.

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     (6) "Infrastructure" means and includes roads, parking lots and other paved surfaces,

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structural shoreline protection facilities, buildings, water control structures, other structures, and

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remnants of coastal development.

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     (7) "Public land(s)" means property owned by state or municipal governments and lands

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dedicated to public use.

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     (8) "Structural shoreline protection facilities" means and includes revetments, bulkheads,

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seawalls, groins, breakwaters, jetties, and other structures, the purpose or effect of which is to

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control the erosion of coastal features, and includes any sheet pile walls, concrete or stone walls.

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     46-23.3-3. The Rhode Island climate change coastal adaptation trust fund.

 

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     (a) Establishment. There is established within the department, and the council, the Rhode

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Island coastal adaptation trust fund (the "adaptation trust").

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     (b) Climate change coastal adaptation trust fund grants. Factors to be taken into account

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by the technical committee for the purposes of granting monies to municipalities and the state for

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coastal adaptation grants, determining the eligibility of projects for financial assistance, and in

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prioritizing the selection of projects by the technical committee shall include, but need not be

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limited to:

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     (1) Consistency with the following where applicable: the council's projections for sea

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level rise, the coastal habitat restoration strategy, the state coastal nonpoint pollution control plan,

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Federal Flood Risk Management Standards, pertinent elements of the state guide plan, the goals

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of the executive climate change coordinating council (EC4), and strict compliance with the

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coastal resources management program and the department of environmental management

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regulations,

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     (2) The ability and authority of the applicant to carry out and properly maintain the

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adaptation project;

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     (3) Whether the project will enhance public access;

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     (4) The severity of the risk and/or extent of degradation to infrastructure on public land;

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     (5) The extent of the use by the public of the land;

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     (6) The proposed milestones to ensure that the project is completed as designed and

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approved;

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     (7) Whether the adaptation project can also be shown to create or replace habitat losses

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that benefit fish and wildlife resources;

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     (8) Potential water quality improvements;

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     (9) Potential improvements to fish and wildlife habitats for species which are identified

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as rare or endangered by the Rhode Island natural history survey or the Federal Endangered

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Species Act [16 U.S.C. §1531 et seq.];

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     (10) The level and extent of collaboration by partners (e.g., municipality, nongovernment

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organization, watershed council, federal agency, etc.); and

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     (11) Overall potential benefits to the public and estimated length of time frame of benefit.

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     46-23.3-4. Ineligible projects.

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     Funds in the climate change coastal adaptation trust fund shall not be used for:

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     (1) Mitigating any current, planned or future projects that degrade, fill, or otherwise

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destroy coastal or estuarine habitats;

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     (2) Fulfilling any liability for restoration required by any local, state or federal agency

 

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pursuant to an environmental or public health enforcement action; or

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     (3) Elevating or replacing infrastructure in a vulnerable area, constructing or

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reconstructing structural shoreline protection facilities or for structures associated with upgrades

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to existing roadways.

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     46-23.3-5. Allocation of the trust.

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     Funds from the trust shall be used to carry out the purposes of this chapter as follows:

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     (1) The administrative, personnel and equipment expenses required to carry out the

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activities of the program as described in this chapter. The department and the council shall be

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responsible for submitting annual budget requests for its administrative and implementation costs

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of the program;

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     (2) The design, planning, engineering, construction, and monitoring of adaptation

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projects as described in this chapter; and

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     (3) The climate change coastal adaptation projects that are approved by the department

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and the council upon recommendation of the technical advisory committee. Only grants approved

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through the process established by the agencies shall be eligible for funding under this program.

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     46-23.3-6. Technical advisory committee.

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     Members of the technical advisory committee shall include representatives from the

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department, the council, statewide planning, and Rhode Island emergency management authority.

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The technical advisory committee shall serve as an advisory board to the department, council and

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the program staff throughout this process.

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     46-23.3-7. Disbursement process.

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     (a) The department and the council shall establish and execute an annual process for the

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solicitation, evaluation and award of grants for projects that meet the requirements set forth in in

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this chapter.

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     (b) The department and the council shall submit to the governor and the general assembly

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during annual budget preparations a list of adaptation project proposals that have received a

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positive review by the technical advisory committee and require funds from the trust to proceed

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with the design, planning, construction and/or monitoring during the ensuing year.

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     (c) Nothing contained in this chapter is intended to abrogate or affect the existing powers

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of the department of environmental management or the coastal resources management council.

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     46-23.3-8. Financing of the fund.

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     (a) The fund shall consist of the following sources:

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     (1) Sums the legislature may appropriate;

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     (2) Monies received from federal, state, or other sources for the purpose of coastal

 

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adaptation;

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     (3) Monies received from any private donor for the climate change coastal adaptation

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trust fund; and

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     (4) Any interest earned on the monies in the fund.

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     46-23.3-10. Regulations.

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     The council and the director may adopt all rules and regulations necessary for the

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administration and enforcement of this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - THE CLIMATE CHANGE COASTAL

ADAPTATION TRUST FUND

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     This act would establish the Rhode Island coastal adaptation trust fund. The trust would

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enable cities and towns and the state to apply for grants to fund projects that invest in measures

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that adapt infrastructure on public lands to address the impacts of climate change.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2017.

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