109 HR 6010 IH: Accurate Great Lakes Flood Estimate U.S. House of Representatives 2006-07-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6010 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 28, 2006 Mrs. Miller of Michigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To ensure that flood level estimates in the Great Lakes basin represent true flood risk.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Accurate Great Lakes Flood Estimate Act of 2006.

2.

Great Lakes flood level study and limitation of flood elevation increases

Section 1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4101) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (k)

Great Lakes flood level studies

(1)

In general

Not later than the expiration of the 90-day period beginning upon the completion by the International Joint Commission of The Upper Great Lakes Study, and not later than every 15 years after the expiration of such period, the Director shall request the Corps of Engineers to complete an updated analysis of flood levels for areas surrounding the Great Lakes and their interconnecting channels to assist the Director in the development of maps identifying 100- and 500-year flood inundation areas for those areas. (2)

Requirements

The Director shall request the Corps of Engineers, in each determination of flood levels pursuant to paragraph (1), to— (A)utilize base data from The Upper Great Lakes Study conducted by the International Joint Commission; (B)utilize base data from the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study conducted by the International Joint Commission; (C)incorporate changes in the regulation of Lake Ontario water levels and outflows; (D)incorporate changes in the regulation of Lake Superior water levels and outflows; and (E)incorporate current and historical factors other than recorded water levels that may influence water levels and the determination of flood level estimates. (3)

Validity of study

The Director shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the flood levels determined pursuant to each request under paragraph (1) are valid and appropriate for use for purposes of the national flood insurance program. (4)

Completion of study

In making each request under paragraph (1), the Director shall request that the Corps of Engineers complete the updated flood level analysis not later than 24 months after the request is made. (5)

Limitation of elevation increases

The Director shall not increase the base flood elevation in any community in areas surrounding the Great Lakes and their interconnecting channels until the Corps of Engineers completes the first updated flood level analysis pursuant to a request under paragraph (1). (6)

Definitions

For purposes of this paragraph, the following definitions shall apply: (A)The term Great Lakes means Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. (B)The term interconnecting channels means, with respect to the Great Lakes, the St. Mary’s River, St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, the Niagara River, and the St. Lawrence River. .