Resolve, To Analyze the Impact of Sea Level Rise
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1572
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: BLUME

Legislative Document
No. 1572
H.P. 1169
House of Representatives, April 27, 2021
Resolve, To Analyze the Impact of Sea Level Rise
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 23, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant 
to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BLUME of York.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
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 
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 3.9 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 3.9 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 3.9 
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 and the Department of Transportation 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 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 3.9 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.
SUMMARY
This resolve requires 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 and the Department of 
Transportation to review the laws and rules they are charged with administering and submit 
recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources 
by January 1, 2022 necessary to incorporate consideration of 1.5 feet of relative sea level 
rise by 2050 and 3.9 feet by 2100 into administration of those laws and rules and to 
implement the strategy designated as "Strategy F3" in the 2020 state climate action plan.