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NC Planners May Be Barred From Using Speculative Sea Level Rise Predictions

Posted by timothy on from the individual-frames-can-imply-motion dept.

ideonexus writes "Republicans in North Carolina are floating a bill that would force planners to only consider historical data in predicting the sea-level rise (SLR) for the state as opposed to considering projections that take Global Warming into account. NC-20, the pro-development lobbying group representing twenty counties along the NC coast, is behind the effort and asserts that the one-meter prediction would prohibit development on too much land as opposed to SLR predictions of 3.9 to 15.6 inches." Scientific American has an acerbic take on the bill.

10 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. Insurance? by Lester67 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How about passing a law that also states that insurance companies are forbidden to use that data as well. I can totally see them raking folks over the coals on insurance premiums for building in the "One meter zone".

    1. Re:Insurance? by UnknowingFool · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It was so long ago that the Republicans had this philosophy of less government--wait that's still their current stance but only on certain things like business, oil, the environment. For things like science and gay rights, it's their purview to interfere as much as possible.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    2. Re:Insurance? by Alomex · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Remember, it isn't socialism if the money is taken to the poor and given to the rich.

      It's only "bad" when it happens the other way around. I mean, surely the poor don't need the money, since they are used to having none. The rich in contrast have amply proven their unbounded need for more money, so it is only logical that the government should strive to give them as much moolah as possible (e.g. bailouts, income tax cuts, state tax cuts, capital gains tax cuts, oil exploration subsidies, free land for mining within federal parks, etc.)

    3. Re:Insurance? by jkauzlar · · Score: 4, Insightful

      When he says 'interfere', he means 'stop it from happening.' Please stop thinking in absolutes. Funding science as a security to our country's future has often been a good thing. Problem is, it doesn't pay off right away.

  2. Insurance? by Kenja · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wouldn't this force such developments to require flood insurance that would be backed by FEMA, thus pushing the cost onto the federal government and tax payers in the rest of country?

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  3. Engineering Standards by AB3A · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This bill seeks to do for the state what should be done through Engineering guidelines.

    A sea-level rise estimate would have to take in to consideration all sorts of issues, not the least of which is potential for Tsunamis, Storm surges, and the like.

    This is what happens when lawyers write technical documents...

    --
    Nearly fifty percent of all graduates come from the bottom half of the class!
    1. Re:Engineering Standards by tinkerghost · · Score: 5, Insightful
      They already have the engineering report. They don't like the results. It's inconvenient for the developers to have the water rise 1M, so they are trying to prohibit people from planning for it.

      This way, developers can make piles of cash today and soak the public for FEMA flood insurance payouts later. Oh it won't hurt that they might get to build the replacement houses too.

  4. Now that's conservative! by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    An actual law to prevent looking forward. For North Carolina Republicans, the entire world is in the rear view mirror.

    1. Re:Now that's conservative! by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I find it kinda funny that you think James Hansen (who do you think the J Hansen is, there?) is an authority to be believed when he finds negative forcings, but a total eugenic crackpot who is paid off by the EcoMafia when he finds positive forcings.

      All models are wrong. Some are more useful than others. Which ones are useful, and why? Show your work.

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
  5. Bad idea by skyraker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Remember Fukishima? Their problem was that they didn't go back far enough with their historical data when they designed their tsunami wall. Now, in what amounts to the same thinking, people do not want to overstate any possibility of water levels going too high for the sake of the almighty dollar. So when the ocean levels rise, or a 'once-in-a-lifetime' hurricane swells the sea up high enough, will those who support these lower levels be responsible for the cost?