[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 238 (Monday, December 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66138-66141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29640]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2009-0011]


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, DHS.

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 the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) to reduce further 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, 
or later.
    The revised fee schedule for map changes is effective for all 
requests dated January 13, 2010, or later. The revised fee schedule 
supersedes the current fee schedule, which was established on October 
1, 2007.
    The revised fee schedule for requests for FIS backup data also is 
effective for all requests dated January 13, 2010, or later. The 
revised fee schedule supersedes the current fee schedule, which was 
established on October 1, 2007.
    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 MSC Web site, and all telephone requests 
received on or after January 13, 2010. The revised fee schedule 
supersedes the current fee schedule, which was established on October 
1, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Miller, Branch Chief, Business 
Analysis Branch, Risk Analysis Division, DHS/FEMA, 1800 South Bell 
Street, Crystal City, VA 20598-3030; by telephone at (202) 646-3316 or 
by facsimile at (202) 646-2787 (not toll-free calls); 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 
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 the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reduce further 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.
    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), and Letters of Map Revision 
(LOMRs).
    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 Map Service Center (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.

[[Page 66139]]

Because these rates and the actual review and processing costs may vary 
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 2007 and 
Fiscal Year 2008, FEMA maintained 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 in a single subdivision 
or within contiguous subdivisions CLOMA: $700.
    Request for multiple-lot/multiple-structure in a single subdivision 
or within contiguous subdivisions CLOMR-F and LOMR-F: $800.
    Request for multiple-lot/multiple-structure in a single subdivision 
or within contiguous subdivisions 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 2007 and 
Fiscal Year 2008, 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:
    Request based on new hydrology, bridge, culvert, channel, or 
combination thereof: $4,400.
    Request based on levee, berm, or other structural measure: $6,050.

Fee Schedule for Requests for Map Revisions

    Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Year 2007 and 
Fiscal Year 2008, 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 dated January 
13, 2010, or later that are not based on structural measures on 
alluvial fans.
    Request based on bridge, culvert, channel, hydrology, or 
combination thereof: $5,300.
    Request based on levee, berm, or other structural measure: $7,150.
    Request based on as-built information submitted as follow-up to 
CLOMR: $5,000.

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 2007 and 
Fiscal Year 2008, FEMA has maintained $5,600 as the initial fee for 
requests for CLOMRs and LOMRs based on structural measures on alluvial 
fans. FEMA will also 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 ($60 per hour) will continue 
to be used to calculate the total reimbursable fees.

Fee Schedule for Requests for Flood Insurance Study Backup Data

    Non-exempt requestors of FIS technical and administrative support 
data must submit fees shown below with requests dated January 13, 2010, 
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 2007 and 
Fiscal Year 2008, FEMA maintained the following review and processing 
fees from the October 1, 2007, fee schedule, which are to be submitted 
with all requests.
    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 (e.g., 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 is requested for use by the community and not a third-party user; 
and
     State NFIP Coordinators, provided the data requested is 
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 is 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 (FIRM) or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM) 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 of $150 non-exempt 
requesters of FIS technical and administrative support data pay 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 is 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 is 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 the requested 
data.
    As with requests for data under Categories 1, 2, and 3, no data 
will be provided to requesters until all required fees are paid. A flat 
user fee for each of

[[Page 66140]]

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:
     Digital copies of Conversion Letters, downloadable from 
the web;
     Digital copies of Flood maps, available on CD/DVD-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/DVD-ROM and downloadable from the web;
     Digital FIRM (DFIRM) Database (DB), with and without 
orthographic photos, on CD/DVD-ROM and downloadable from the Web;
     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);
     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;
     FIRMette, a user-defined ``cut-out'' section of a flood 
map at 100 percent map scale designed for printing on a standard office 
printer;
     FIRMette--Desktop (formerly F-MIT Basic Version 1.0), 
which is a view tool for map images, on CD-ROM and downloadable from 
the web;
     MapViewer--Desktop (formerly DFIRM CD Viewer), which is a 
view tool for map images, on CD-ROM;
     FEMA's Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard 
Mapping Partners on CD-ROM; and
     MHIP--Multi-year 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://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 digital copies of Flood Hazard Boundary 
Maps (FHBMs), FIRMs, DFIRMs DBs (with and without orthographic photos), 
FBFMs, and FISs on CD/DVD-ROM, FEMA has maintained the processing fee 
and shipping cost; for digital copies of conversion letters, FHBMs, 
FIRMs, DFIRM DBs (with and without orthographic photos), FBFMs, and 
FISs downloadable from the web, FEMA has maintained the processing fee; 
for FMSIS, LOMC Subscription Service, FEMA's Guidelines and 
Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners, MHIP, MapViewer--
Desktop, FEMA has maintained the shipping cost; and for Q3 Flood Data 
Files and CBRA Flood Data Files, FEMA has increased the shipping cost. 
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 is shown in the table below.

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            Product                  Current fee           Shipping
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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
CD Maps........................  $4.00 per panel....  $1.75 for first 2
                                                       CDs and $0.25 for
                                                       each additional
                                                       CD.
CD Floodways...................  $4.00 per panel....  $1.75 for first 2
                                                       CDs and $0.25 for
                                                       each additional
                                                       CD.
CD Studies.....................  $6.00 per study....  $1.75 for first 2
                                                       CDs and $0.25 for
                                                       each additional
                                                       CD.
DFIRM DB.......................  $10.00 per database  $1.75 for first 2
                                                       CDs and $0.25 for
                                                       each additional
                                                       CD.
DFIRM w/Orthos.................  $10.00 per database  $1.75 for first 2
                                                       CDs and $0.25 for
                                                       each additional
                                                       CD.
Q3 on CD.......................  $50.00 per CD-Rom..  $2.00 for first CD
                                                       and $1.00 for
                                                       each additional
                                                       CD.
CBRA Q3 on CD..................  $50.00 per CD-Rom    $2.00 for first CD
                                  or $200 for all 5    and $1.00 for
                                  Q3 CDs.              each additional
                                                       CD.
FMSIS (Individual Orders)......  $13.00 per State or  $1.75 for first 2
                                  $38.00 for entire    CDs and $0.25 for
                                  USA.                 each additional
                                                       CD.
FMSIS (Annual Subscription)....  $148.00 per State    N/A.
                                  or $419.00 or
                                  entire USA.
LOMC Subscription Service        $85.00 per issue...  $1.75 for first 2
 (Individual Orders).                                  CDs and $0.25 for
                                                       each additional
                                                       CD.

[[Page 66141]]

 
LOMC Subscription Service        $2,000 per year....  N/A.
 (Annual Subscriptions).
FEMA's Guidelines and            $2.60..............  $1.75 for first 2
 Specifications for Flood                              CDs and $0.25 for
 Hazard Mapping Partners on CD.                        each additional
                                                       CD.
MHIP--Multi-Hazard               $2.60..............  $1.75 for first 2
 Implementation Plan.                                  CDs and $0.25 for
                                                       each additional
                                                       CD.
View Tool......................  ...................  N/A.
FIRMette--Desktop on Web.......  Free...............  N/A.
FIRMette--Desktop on CD........  Free...............  N/A.
MapViewer--Desktop.............  $30.00 per Viewer..  $1.75 for first 2
                                                       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 Map Action List        Free...............  N/A.
 (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.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.; Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 
1978, 43 FR 41943, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 329; E.O. 12127, 44 FR 
19367, 3 CFR, 1979 Comp., p. 376; 44 CFR 72.3.

    Dated: December 3, 2009.
Deborah S. Ingram,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9-29640 Filed 12-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P