[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78015-78016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32128]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2011-0025]


Revised Analysis and Mapping Procedures for Non-Accredited Levees

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting 
comments on the proposed solution for Revised Analysis and Mapping 
Procedures for Non-Accredited Levees. This document proposes a revised 
procedure for the analysis and mapping of non-accredited levees on 
FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps. FEMA seeks input on this policy in 
terms of its feasibility, flexibility, and collaborative nature.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 30, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by docket ID FEMA-2011-0025 and 
may be submitted by one of the following methods:
    Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. Please note that this proposed 
policy is not a rulemaking and the Federal Rulemaking Portal is being 
utilized only as a mechanism for receiving comments.
    Mail: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 
20472-3100.
    National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Levees Comment Web site: 
http://www.NFIP-levees.com. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments on the Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Blanton, Levee Analysis and 
Mapping Approach Public Review, 1800 South Bell Street, Room 601, 
Arlington, VA 20598-3015. Phone: (202) 646-3151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or

[[Page 78016]]

material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will 
include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting 
this information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy Act 
notice, which can be viewed by clicking on the ``Privacy Notice'' link 
in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.
    You may submit your comments and material by the methods specified 
in the ADDRESSES section. Please submit your comments and any 
supporting material by only one means to avoid the receipt and review 
of duplicate submissions.
    Docket: The proposed solution document is available in docket ID 
FEMA-2011-0025. Additionally, the document can be found at http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/lv_lamp.shtm. For access to the docket 
to read background documents or comments received, go to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov and search for the 
docket ID. Submitted comments may also be inspected at FEMA, Office of 
Chief Counsel, Room 835, 500 C St. SW., Washington, DC, 20472.

II. Public Online Forum

    FEMA will hold three public online forums to present the approach. 
The first public forum will be held on December 21, 2011 from 1:30 p.m. 
EST to 3 p.m. EST. The second online forum will be held on January 3, 
2012, from 1:30 p.m. EST to 3 p.m. EST. The third online forum will be 
held on January 10, 2012 from 1:30 p.m. EST to 3 p.m. EST. All meetings 
will take place through an online webinar. If you are interested in 
participating in the online forum, please email [email protected] to 
reserve a slot for the forum and receive further instructions for 
logging in and participating.

III. Background

    FEMA maps flood hazards on Flood Insurance Rate Maps, a tool used 
to support the National Flood Insurance Program. These maps identify 
areas that are flood prone for a variety of reasons. One unique 
category of flood hazards is the areas behind levees. Levees can be 
recognized as providing protection on FEMA's flood maps if they meet 
all requirements of 44 CFR 65.10, the regulations that define the 
design, maintenance and operation standards specifically for this 
purpose. Levees meeting all aspects of 44 CFR 65.10 are considered 
eligible to be accredited. Those that cannot meet all of these 
standards cannot be accredited.
    The current approach for analyzing and mapping flood hazards 
associated with non-accredited levees is a singular approach where one 
technical procedure applies to all non-accredited levees. The feedback 
on this one-size-all approach is that it does not take the unique 
conditions of each levee into consideration. Many stakeholders also 
believe this approach does not adequately reflect the ability of these 
levees to provide some level of flood hazard reduction.
    FEMA is listening to this stakeholder feedback that this current 
approach used to map flood hazards associated with non-accredited 
levees is too coarse to represent the variety of situations associated 
with levees. In response, FEMA has worked to revise the mapping 
procedures for non-accredited levees. This approach works within the 
confines of existing federal regulations, yet is more flexible, 
collaborative and feasible.
    FEMA is replacing the former, singular approach with a suite of 
procedures that are technically sound, understandable to stakeholders, 
and cost effective. This suite of procedures will better meet the needs 
of the public and provide more precise results, while at the same time 
recognizing that uncertainty will remain. While these procedures allow 
for more detailed modeling and mapping of flood hazards for non-
accredited levee systems, the risk of flooding in levee-impacted areas 
remains. Therefore, levee system owners and communities still need to 
remain engaged in flood risk management and communication activities.

IV. Request for Comments

    FEMA welcomes your comments, questions, and concerns regarding the 
proposed approach's technical clarity, potential local impact, and 
feasibility for community participation. FEMA also welcomes any 
suggestions for improvement to the proposed approach.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 4001, 44 CFR part 65.

Sandra Knight,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Federal Insurance and Mitigation, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-32128 Filed 12-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P