2020 -- S 2112

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LC003729

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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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, McCaffrey, Euer, Conley, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 23.3

THE CLIMATE CHANGE COASTAL ADAPTATION TRUST FUND

     46-23.3-1. Purpose and findings.

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

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

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

     (b) Findings:

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

herein;

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

environment;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

coastal and marine wildlife resources;

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

implement projects to protect it;

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

quality of life of the citizens of the state; and

     (9) The state, and its cities and towns, need assistance in addressing the impacts of

climate change including protecting infrastructure.

     46-23.3-2. Definitions.

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

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

following definitions shall apply:

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

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

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

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

or securing lateral access along the shoreline.

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

rise, coastal erosion, flooding and storm surge.

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

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

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

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

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

remnants of coastal development.

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

dedicated to public use.

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

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

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

     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

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

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

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

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

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

limited to:

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

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

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

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

coastal resources management program and the department of environmental management

regulations;

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

adaptation project;

     (3) Whether the project will enhance public access;

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

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

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

approved;

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

that benefit fish and wildlife resources;

     (8) Potential water quality improvements;

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

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

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

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

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

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

     46-23.3-4. Ineligible projects.

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

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

destroy coastal or estuarine habitats;

     (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

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

reconstructing structural shoreline protection facilities or for structures associated with upgrades

to existing roadways.

     46-23.3-5. Allocation of the trust.

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

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

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

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

of the program;

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

projects as described in this chapter; and

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

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

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

     46-23.3-6. Technical advisory committee.

     Members of the technical advisory committee shall include representatives from the

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

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

the program staff throughout this process.

     46-23.3-7. Disbursement process.

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

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

chapter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

     46-23.3-8. Financing of the fund.

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

     (1) Sums the legislature may appropriate;

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

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adaptation;

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

trust fund; and

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

     46-23.3-9. Regulations.

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

administration and enforcement of this chapter.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

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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

***

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

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

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

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2020.

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