[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 180 (Monday, September 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54955-54958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18555]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Fee Schedule for Processing Requests for Map Changes, for Flood 
Insurance Study Backup Data, and for National Flood Insurance Program 
Map and Insurance Products

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency 
Preparedness and Response Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice contains the revised fee schedules for processing 
certain types of requests for changes to National Flood Insurance 
Program (NFIP) maps, for processing requests for Flood Insurance Study 
(FIS) technical and administrative support data, and for processing 
requests for particular NFIP map and insurance products. The changes in 
the fee schedules will allow FEMA to further reduce the expenses to the 
NFIP by recovering more fully the costs associated with processing 
conditional and final map change requests; retrieving, reproducing, and 
distributing technical and administrative support data related to FIS 
analyses and mapping; and producing, retrieving, and distributing 
particular NFIP map and insurance products.

DATES: The revised fee schedules are effective for all requests dated 
October 30, 2005, or later.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Bellomo, P.E., Hazard 
Identification Section, Emergency Preparedness and Response 
Directorate, FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472; by telephone 
at (202) 646-2903 or by facsimile at (202) 646-4596 (not toll-free); or 
by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains the revised fee 
schedules for processing certain types of requests for changes to NFIP 
maps, requests for FIS technical and administrative support data, and 
requests for particular NFIP map and insurance products.
    Effective Dates. The revised fee schedule for map changes is 
effective for all requests dated October 30, 2005, or later. The 
revised fee schedule supersedes the current fee schedule, which was 
established on September 1, 2002.
    The revised fee schedule for requests for FIS backup data also is 
effective for all requests dated October 30, 2005, or later. The 
revised fee schedule supersedes the current fee schedule, which was 
established on September 1, 2002.
    The revised fee schedule for requests for particular NFIP map and 
insurance products, which are available through the FEMA Map Service 
Center (MSC) is effective for all written requests, on-line Internet 
requests made through the FEMA Flood Map Store, and all telephone 
requests received on or after October 30, 2005. The revised fee 
schedule supersedes the current fee schedule, which was established on 
August 1, 2003.
    Evaluations Performed. To develop the revised fee schedule for 
conditional and final map change requests, FEMA evaluated the actual 
costs of reviewing and processing requests for Conditional Letters of 
Map Amendment (CLOMAs), Conditional Letters of Map Revision Based on 
Fill (CLOMR-Fs), Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMRs), Letters 
of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-Fs), Letters of Map Revision 
(LOMRs), and Physical Map Revisions (PMRs).
    To develop the revised fee schedule requests for FIS technical and 
administrative support data, FEMA evaluated the actual costs of 
reviewing, reproducing, and distributing archived data in seven 
categories. These categories are discussed in more detail below.
    To develop the revised fee schedule for requests for particular 
NFIP map and insurance products, FEMA: (1) Evaluated the actual costs 
incurred at the MSC for producing, retrieving, and distributing those 
products; (2) analyzed historical sales, cost data, and product unit 
cost for unusual trends or anomalies; and (3) analyzed the effect of 
program changes, new products, technology investments, and other 
factors on future sales and product costs. The products covered by this 
notice are discussed in detail below.
    Periodic Evaluations of Fees. A primary component of the fees is 
the prevailing private-sector rates charged to FEMA for labor and 
materials. Because these rates and the actual review and processing 
costs may vary

[[Page 54956]]

from year to year, FEMA will evaluate the fees periodically and publish 
revised fee schedules, when needed, as notices in the Federal Register.

Fee Schedule for Requests for Conditional Letters of Map Amendment and 
Conditional and Final Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill

    Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Year 2004 and 
portion of Fiscal Year 2005, FEMA established the following review and 
processing fees, which are to be submitted with all requests:
    Request for single-lot/single-structure CLOMA and CLOMR-F: $500.
    Request for single-lot/single-structure LOMR-F: $425.
    Request for single-lot/single-structure LOMR-F based on as-built 
information CLOMR-F previously issued by FEMA): $325.
    Request for multiple-lot/multiple-structure CLOMA: $700.
    Request for multiple-lot/multiple-structure CLOMR-F and LOMR-F: 
$800.
    Request for multiple-lot/multiple-structure LOMR-F based on as-
built information (CLOMR-F previously issued by FEMA): $700.

Fee Schedule for Requests for Conditional Map Revisions

    Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Year 2004 and 
portion of Fiscal Year 2005, FEMA established the following review and 
processing fees, which are to be submitted with all (CLOMR) requests 
that are not otherwise exempted under 44 CFR 72.5:
    Request based on new hydrology, bridge, culvert, channel, or 
combination thereof: $4,400.
    Request based on levee, berm, or other structural measure: $5,000.

Fee Schedule for Requests for Map Revisions

    Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Year 2004 and 
portion of Fiscal Year 2005, FEMA established the following review and 
processing fees, which are to be submitted with all requests that are 
not otherwise exempted under 44 CFR 72.5, requesters must submit the 
review and processing fees shown below with requests for LOMRs and PMRs 
dated October 30, 2005, or later that are not based on structural 
measures on alluvial fans.

    Request based on bridge, culvert, channel, hydrology, or 
combination thereof: $4,400.
    Request based on levee, berm, or other structural measure: $6,000.
    Request based on as-built information submitted as followup to 
CLOMR: $4,000.

Fees for Conditional and Final Map Revisions Based on Structural 
Measures on Alluvial Fans

    Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Year 2004 and 
portion of Fiscal Year 2005, FEMA has revised the initial review and 
processing fee for requests for PMRs, LOMRs and CLOMRs based on 
structural measures on alluvial fans, from $5,000 to $5,600. FEMA also 
will continue to recover the remainder of the review and processing 
costs by invoicing the requester before issuing a determination letter, 
consistent with current practice. The prevailing private-sector labor 
rate charged to FEMA ($50 per hour) has been revised to $60 per hour 
and will continue to be used to calculate the total reimbursable fees.

Fee Schedule for Requests for Flood Insurance Study Backup Data

    Non-exempt requesters of FIS technical and administrative support 
data must submit fees shown below with requests dated October 30, 2005, 
or later. These fees are based on the complete recovery costs to FEMA 
for retrieving, reproducing, and distributing the data, as well as 
maintaining the library archives, and for collecting and depositing 
fees. Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Year 2004 and 
portion of Fiscal Year 2005, FEMA has revised the initial non-
refundable fee for Categories 1, 2, and 3 from $120 to $135 and 
Category 6 to include digital Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) attachment 
files.
    All entities except the following will be charged for requests for 
FIS technical and administrative support data:
     Private architectural-engineering firms under contract to 
FEMA to perform or evaluate studies and restudies;
     Federal agencies involved in performing studies and 
restudies for FEMA (i.e., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological 
Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Tennessee Valley 
Authority);
     Communities that have supplied the Digital Line Graph base 
to FEMA and request the Digital Line Graph data (Category 6 below);
     Communities that request data during the statutory 90-day 
appeal period for an initial or revised FIS for that community;
     Mapped participating communities that request data at any 
time other than during the statutory 90-day appeal period, provided the 
data are requested for use by the community and not a third-party user; 
and
     State NFIP Coordinators, provided the data requested are 
for use by the State NFIP Coordinators and not a third-party user.
    FEMA has established seven categories into which requests for FIS 
backup data are separated. These categories are:
    (1) Category 1--Paper copies, microfiche, or diskettes of 
hydrologic and hydraulic backup data for current or historical FISs;
    (2) Category 2--Paper or mylar copies of topographic mapping 
developed during FIS process;
    (3) Category 3--Paper copies or microfiche of survey notes 
developed during FIS process;
    (4) Category 4--Paper copies of individual Letters of Map Change 
(LOMCs);
    (5) Category 5--Paper copies of Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate 
Map or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map panels;
    (6) Category 6--Computer tapes or CD-ROMs of Digital Line Graph 
files, Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map files, or Digital LOMR 
attachment files; and
    (7) Category 7--Computer diskettes and user's manuals for FEMA 
computer programs.
    FEMA established the initial non-refundable fee for non-exempt 
requesters of FIS technical and administrative support data pay a non-
refundable fee of $135 to initiate their request under Categories 1, 2, 
and 3 above. This fee covers the preliminary costs of research and 
retrieval. If the data requested are available and the request is not 
cancelled, the final fee due is calculated as a sum of standard per-
product charge plus a per-case surcharge of $93, designed to recover 
the cost of library maintenance and archiving. The total costs of 
processing requests in Categories 1, 2, and 3 will vary based on the 
complexity of the research involved in retrieving the data and the 
volume and medium of data to be reproduced and distributed. The initial 
fee will be applied against the total costs to process the request, and 
FEMA will invoice the requester for the balance plus the per-case 
surcharge before the data are provided. No data will be provided to a 
requester until all required fees have been paid.
    No initial fee is required to initiate a request for data under 
Categories 4 through 7. Requesters will be notified by telephone about 
the availability of the data and the fees associated with requested 
data.
    As with requests for data under Categories 1, 2, and 3, no data 
will be

[[Page 54957]]

provided to requesters until all required fees are paid. A flat user 
fee for each of these categories of requests, shown below, will 
continue to be required.
    Request Under Category 4 (First Letter): $40.
    Request Under Category 4 (Each additional letter): $10.
    Request Under Category 5 (First panel): $35.
    Request Under Category 5 (Each additional panel): $2.
    Request Under Category 6 (per county/digital LOMR attachment 
shapefiles): $150.
    Request Under Category 7 (per copy): $25.

Fee Schedule for Requests for Map and Insurance Products

    The MSC distributes a variety of NFIP map and insurance products to 
a broad range of customers, including Federal, State, and local 
government officials; real estate professionals; insurance providers; 
appraisers; builders; land developers; design engineers; surveyors; 
lenders; homeowners; and other private citizens. The MSC distributes 
the following products:
     Paper (printed) copies of Conversion Letters;
     Paper (printed) copies of Flood Hazard Boundary Maps 
(FHBMs);
     Paper (printed) copies of Flood Insurance Rate Maps 
(FIRMs);
     Paper (printed) copies of Digital Flood Insurance Rate 
Maps (DFIRMs);
     Printed copies of Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), 
including the narrative report, tables, Flood Profiles, and other 
graphics;
     Paper (printed) copies of Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps 
(FBFMs), when they are included as an exhibit in the FIS;
     Digital Q3 Flood Data files, which FEMA developed by 
scanning the published FIRM and vectorizing a thematic overlay of flood 
risks;
     Digital Q3 Flood Data files for Coastal Barrier Resource 
Areas (CBRA Q3 Flood Data files);
     Community Status Book, which is a report generated by 
FEMA's Community Information System database that provides pertinent 
map status information for all identified communities;
     Flood Map Status Information Service (FMSIS), through 
which FEMA provides status information for effective NFIP maps;
     Letter of Map Change (LOMC) Subscription Service, through 
which FEMA makes certain types of LOMCs available biweekly on CD-ROM;
     Paper (printed) and CD copies of NFIP Insurance Manual 
(Full Manual), which provides vital NFIP information for insurance 
agents nationwide;
     Paper (printed) copies of NFIP Insurance Manual 
(Producer's Edition), which is used for reference and training 
purposes;
     Community Map Action List (CMAL), which is a semimonthly 
list of communities and their NFIP status codes;
     Digital copies of Conversion Letters, downloadable from 
the Web;
     Digital copies of Flood maps, available on CD-ROM and 
downloadable from the Web; which can be purchased by panel or in 
community, county or state kits;
     Digital copies of FISs and FBFMs (where applicable), 
including the narrative report, tables, Flood Profiles, and other 
graphics, on CD-ROM and downloadable from the Web;
     DFIRM Database (DB), with and without orthographic photos, 
on CD-ROM and downloadable from the Web;
     FIRMette, a user-defined ``cut-out'' section of a flood 
map at 100% map scale designed for printing on a standard office 
printer;
     F-MIT Basic Version 1.0, which is a view tool map images, 
on CD-ROM and downloadable from the Web;
     DFIRM CD Viewer (formerly F-MIT Pro), which is a view tool 
map images, on CD-ROM;
     FEMA's Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard 
Mapping Partners on CD-ROM; and
     MHIP--Multi-Hazard Implementation Plan on CD-ROM.
    For more information on the map and insurance products available 
from the MSC, interested parties are invited to visit the MSC Web site 
at http://store.msc.fema.gov.
    Based on a review of actual cost data and future trends, FEMA has 
revised the fee schedule for the map and insurance products that are 
available from the MSC. For requests for paper copies of conversion 
letters, FHBMs, FIRMs, DFIRMs, FBFMs, and FISs, FEMA has increased both 
the processing fee and the shipping cost; for digital copies of FHBMs, 
FIRMs, DFIRMs, FBFMs, and FISs on CD-ROM, FEMA has increased the 
processing fee and decreased the shipping cost; for digital copies of 
conversion letters, FHBMs, FIRMs, DFIRMs, FBFMs, and FISs downloadable 
from the web, FEMA has increased the processing fee; for DFIRM DBs(with 
and without orthographic photos), Q3 Flood Data Files, CBRA Flood Data 
Files, FMSIS, LOMC Subscription Service, FEMA's Guidelines and 
Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners, MHIP, DFIRM CD 
Viewer, Community Status Book, FEMA has changed the shipping cost on 
the first four CDs but increased the cost of the additional CDs. 
Federal, State, and local governments continue to be exempt from paying 
fees for the map products. The revised fee schedule for the current and 
new products are shown in the table below.

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           Product                 Current fee            Shipping
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Paper:
    Letters.................  $3.00 per letter....  $.037 per panel for
                                                     first 10 plus $0.04
                                                     letter for each
                                                     additional panel.
    Maps....................  $3.00 per panel.....  $.037 per panel for
                                                     first 10 plus $0.04
                                                     for each additional
                                                     panel.
    Floodways (as part of     $3.00 per panel.....  $.037 per panel for
     studies).                                       first 10 plus $0.04
                                                     for each additional
                                                     panel.
    Studies.................  $6.00 per study.....  $4.50 per study plus
                                                     $.45 for each
                                                     additional study.
    Hurry Charge (added to    $33.00..............  N/A.
     regular charge).
Internet Products:
FIRMettes...................  Free................  N/A.
    Letters.................  $2.50 per letter....  N/A.
    Downloadable Maps.......  $2.50 per panel.....  N/A.
    Downloadable Floodways..  $2.50 per panel.....  N/A.
    Downloadable Studies....  $5.00 per study.....  N/A.
    DFIRM Database (DB).....  $10.00 per DB.......  N/A.
CD ROM:

[[Page 54958]]

 
    CD Maps.................  $3.00 per panel.....  $1.50 for first 4
                                                     CDs and $0.25 for
                                                     each additional CD.
    CD Floodways............  $3.00 per panel.....  $1.50 for first 4
                                                     CDs and $0.25 for
                                                     each additional CD.
    CD Studies..............  $6.00 per study.....  $1.50 for first 4
                                                     CDs and $0.25 for
                                                     each additional CD.
    DFIRM DB................  $10.00 per database.  $1.50 for first 4
                                                     CDs and $0.25 for
                                                     each additional CD.
    DFIRM w/Orthos..........  $10.00 per database.  $1.50 for first 4
                                                     CDs and $0.25 for
                                                     each additional CD.
    Q3 on CD................  $50.00 per CD-ROM...  $1.50 for first 4
                                                     CDs and $0.25 for
                                                     each additional CD.
    CBRA Q3 on CD...........  $50.00 per CD-ROM or  $1.50 for first 4
                               $200 for all 5 Q3     CDs and $0.25 for
                               CDs.                  each additional CD.
    FMSIS (Individual         $13.00 per State or   $1.50 for first 4
     Orders).                  $38.00 for entire     CDs and $0.25 for
                               USA.                  each additional CD.
    FMSIS (Annual             $148.00 per state or  N/A.
     Subscription).            $419.00 for entire
                               USA.
    LOMC Subscription         $85.00 per issue....  $1.50 for first 4
     Service (Individual                             CDs and $0.25 for
     Orders).                                        each additional CD.
    LOMC Subscription         $2,000 per year.....  N/A.
     Service (Annual
     Subscriptions).
    FEMA's Guidelines and     $2.60...............  $1.50 for first 4
     Specifications for                              CDs and $0.25 for
     Flood Hazard Mapping                            each additional CD.
     Partners on CD.
    MHIP--Multi-Hazard        $2.60...............  $1.50 for first 4
     Implementation Plan.                            CDs and $0.25 for
                                                     each additional CD.
View Tool:
    F-MIT Light on Web......  Free................  N/A.
    F-MIT Light on CD.......  Free................  N/A.
    DFIRM CD Viewer           $30.00 per Viewer...  $1.50 for first 4
     (formerly F-MIT Pro).                           CDs and $0.25 for
                                                     each additional CD.
Manuals:
NFIP Insurance Manual (Full   $25.00 per            N/A.
 Manual).                      subscription for
                               two years.
NFIP Insurance Manual         $15.00 per            N/A.
 (Producer's Edition).         subscription for
                               two years.
NFIP Insurance Manual (Full   $25.00 per            N/A.
 Manual) on CD.                subscription for
                               two years.
Other:
    Community Status Book     $2.50 per State or    $1.10 per State or
     (CSB)--Individual         $20.50 for entire     $5.00 for the
     Orders.                   USA.                  entire USA.
    Community Status Book     $50.00 per State or   $1.10 per State or
     (CSB)--Annual             $250.00 for entire    $5.00 for the
     Subscription.             USA.                  entire USA.
    Community Map Action      Free................  N/A.
     List (CMAL).
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Payment Submission Requirements

    Fee payments for non-exempt requests must be made in advance of 
services being rendered. These payments shall be made in the form of a 
check, money order, or by credit card payment. Checks and money orders 
must be made payable, in U.S. funds, to the National Flood Insurance 
Program.
    FEMA will deposit all fees collected to the National Flood 
Insurance Fund, which is the source of funding for providing these 
services.

    Dated: September 7, 2005.
David I. Maurstad,
Acting Director, Mitigation Division, Emergency Preparedness and 
Response Directorate.
[FR Doc. 05-18555 Filed 9-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P