H-1547              _______________________________________________

                                    HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4407

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Nelson, Nutley, Walk, R. Fisher, H. Sommers, Rust, Valle, Hankins, McLean, Schoon, Winsley, Ferguson, Haugen and D. Sommers

Read first time 2/20/89 and referred to Committee on State Government. Referred 2/22/89 to Committee on Energy & Utilities.

WHEREAS, State seismic history and present geophysics research indicate the almost certain near future occurrence of a magnitude eight point zero or greater subduction zone earthquake, or fault zone earthquake, for the Puget Sound region; and

          WHEREAS, Such a major seismic event will invariably pose tremendous quake and postquake hazards to the Puget Sound region's buildings, structures, lifelines, and socioeconomic systems; and

          WHEREAS, Lifelines are defined as the water systems, sewer systems, fuel lines, electrical power supply lines, telecommunications systems, railroad lines, and highway roads and bridges; and

          WHEREAS, Intact lifeline systems assume a crucial and integral role in fulfilling our region's daily social, cultural, and economic needs, as well as being of paramount importance in assuring the effectiveness of response and recovery operations that follow major seismic disruptions; and

          WHEREAS, The seismic resistance of lifeline systems has not been specifically addressed by state statutes or other mandates; and

          WHEREAS, The Puget Sound region's lifeline infrastructure is vulnerable in the buildings we build, the ground we build on, and the structures we are reliant upon; and

          WHEREAS, The integrity of our lifeline networks is further jeopardized by the seismic vulnerability our lifeline controls and mechanisms face in our lifeline command center buildings; and

          WHEREAS, Mitigative engineering, design, and development measures and capabilities are often available, but not always effectively used, for enhancing the survivability of our energy, utility, and transportation lifelines;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That the state should take a leadership role in the protection of lifeline networks; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That there is created a Joint Select Committee on Seismic Events, whose task is to understand the seismic threat posed to lifeline networks and associated structures, to understand applicable mitigative measures, and to determine whether legislation in this area is required; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Joint Select Committee on Seismic Events will be comprised of one member each from the House and Senate Committees on Energy and Utilities, one member each from the House and Senate Committees on Transportation, one member from the House Committee on Local Government, one member from the House Committee on State Government, one member from the House Committee on Housing, one member from the House Committee on Environmental Affairs, one member from the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and one member from the Senate Committee on Governmental Operations; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Joint Select Committee on Seismic Events will be co-chaired by the chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Energy and Utilities; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Joint Select Committee on Seismic Events will report to the Legislature by December 1, 1989.