[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 206 (Thursday, October 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 63184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25269]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Availability of Flood Hazard Maps and Data

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is completing 
the update and conversion to digital of the National Flood Insurance 
Program flood hazard map inventory. As part of the Flood Map 
Modernization Program, FEMA will discontinue the public distribution of 
paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Flood Insurance Study reports, and 
related flood hazard map products.
    FEMA will provide communities where the flood hazard information is 
updated with an updated paper map to satisfy local regulatory 
requirements for a paper map product.
    For all other requests, FEMA will distribute digital Flood 
Insurance Rate Maps, Flood Insurance Study reports, and related flood 
hazard map products in place of the paper versions. Over the past 
several years, FEMA has transitioned from paper maps to digital map 
images and digital flood hazard data as the primary flood hazard 
information products. These products will still be available through 
the FEMA Map Service Center. This change will reduce duplication of 
effort and reduce the cost for updating flood hazard maps.

DATES: This change is effective as of October 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Information about FEMA Flood Hazard Maps and Data is 
available on the Map Service Center Web site http://msc.fema.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Rooney, Data and Dissemination 
Branch, Mitigation Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) is responsible for identifying high risk flood areas to support 
the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These areas have 
historically been identified on paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps 
(FIRMs). Over the past several years, FEMA has introduced new digital 
products including digital map images (the full size FIRM Scans and 
letter size FIRMettes) and digital geospatial flood hazard data (the 
Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Database product and National 
Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL)). These digital products now make up the vast 
majority of the flood hazard information distributed by FEMA and are 
equivalent to the paper maps for any official activities under the 
NFIP.
    FEMA will continue to provide local governments a paper copy of 
their flood hazard map and flood insurance study report when the map is 
updated by FEMA. FEMA will discontinue all other distribution of paper 
maps and study reports beginning with map update projects where the 
letter of final determination is issued on or after October 1, 2009. 
The letter of final determination is issued six months before new flood 
maps become effective for NFIP regulatory purposes.
    FEMA will continue to provide digital flood hazard data products 
for Internet download, on CD-ROM, and via Web Mapping Service. Federal, 
State, and local government customers that have been receiving paper 
products will now receive digital flood hazard maps and data, and 
continue to be exempt from fees (specified in 42 U.S.C. 4101).
    This change will allow FEMA to realize significant cost savings in 
the map update process by eliminating the need to generate large format 
film negatives to support offset printing. It will also save the cost 
of printing and distributing the paper maps to fee exempt customers. 
This change simplifies the products available depicting flood hazard 
for a location.
    The FEMA Map Service Center provides complete information about the 
digital flood hazard data products, free tools, and easy-to-follow 
instructions for using them at http://msc.fema.gov.

    Dated: October 9, 2008.
Michael K. Buckley,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Mitigation Directorate, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E8-25269 Filed 10-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P