[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 48222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24160]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


National Flood Insurance Program; Call for Issues

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: FEMA's Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) and Mitigation 
Directorate (MT) give notice inviting the public to recommend how the 
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) may be made more effective.

DATES: Comments should be submitted by November 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your comments in the requested format to: 
National Flood Insurance Program, Call for Issues Project, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., room 430, Washington, DC 
20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: H. Joseph Coughlin, Jr., Assistant to 
the Federal Insurance Administrator, the Federal Insurance 
Administration, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-3449, 
or Michael Robinson, Program Specialist, Program Assessment and 
Outreach Division, the Mitigation Directorate, 500 C Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-2716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA is providing an opportunity to partners 
and customers of the NFIP to provide input on how to improve the 
effectiveness of the program through a ``call for issues.'' Comments 
may focus on but are not limited to: the NFIP's laws, its regulations, 
and its policies; the language of the Standard Flood Insurance Policy; 
the flood insurance manual; the NFIP's procedures or forms; flood 
hazard mapping guidelines, specifications, or procedures; the NFIP's 
floodplain management requirements, policies, and technical guidance; 
and marketing, training, and public information efforts. FEMA will also 
consider any recommendations on reinventing the NFIP through innovative 
approaches.
    Anyone wishing FEMA to consider recommendations to improve the 
NFIP's effectiveness should use the following format:
    Issue: Briefly state the nature of the issue, concern, or problem.
    Description: Identify the specific program reference, that is, 
where the issue is found in statute, regulations, insurance manuals, 
insurance policy, form, procedure, etc. Cite any applicable references 
to section, sub-section, page, paragraph number, line, etc. Explain 
also why the issue is a problem for NFIP's customers and why it should 
be changed.
    Suggestion: Offer a specific suggestion on how the issue may be 
addressed. Include specific language changes, where appropriate, and 
where such changes should be made. Explain also the benefits to the 
NFIP's customers.
    FEMA will evaluate each submission on its costs and benefits, the 
overall impact on the NFIP, service to its policyholders, and ease of 
adoption. FEMA's decisions will be reflected in a report to be 
published in the third quarter of fiscal year 1999.

    Dated: August 31, 1998.
Jo Ann Howard,
Administrator, Federal Insurance Administration.
Michael J. Armstrong,
Associate Director, Mitigation Directorate.
[FR Doc. 98-24160 Filed 9-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-03-P