S-1282               _______________________________________________

                                          SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 8011

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Metcalf and Owen

Read first time 2/2/89 and referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.

TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, The state of Washington is a coastal state presently affected by sea level rise and land subsidence; and

          WHEREAS, An acceleration of sea level rise due to global warming caused by the greenhouse effect will aggravate existing as well as cause additional problems including:

          (1) An increased frequency and intensity of coastal storm surges and flooding, coastal erosion, and landsliding threatening life and property;

          (2) Loss of wetlands and shallow water habitat essential to the economic health of this state's fish and shellfish industry;

          (3) An eventual inundation of low-lying coastal lands causing an adverse financial and fiscal impact upon private and public coastal property and facilities owners; and

          WHEREAS, The Department of Ecology has initiated a sea level rise response program involving a cross-section of state agencies, local governments, businesses, industry, and environmental interests which is dependent upon certain federal activities such as:

          (1) Basic research into sea level rise scenarios and impacts by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

          (2) Funding for coastal zone management programs by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Zone Management; and

          WHEREAS, Sea level rise response must be a partnership of federal, state, and local government efforts;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress continue to support federal and international greenhouse effect and sea level rise research and management programs including technical assistance and funding support for state and local governments through the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Coastal Zone Management Program.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.