2010-8047. Changes in Flood Elevation Determinations

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Interim rule.

SUMMARY:

This interim rule lists communities where modification of the Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. New flood insurance premium rates will be calculated from the modified BFEs for new buildings and their contents.

DATES:

These modified BFEs are currently in effect on the dates listed in the table below and revise the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) in effect prior to this determination for the listed communities.

From the date of the second publication of these changes in a newspaper of local circulation, any person has ninety (90) days in which to request through the community that the Deputy Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administrator reconsider the changes. The modified BFEs may be changed during the 90-day period.

ADDRESSES:

The modified BFEs for each community are available for inspection at the office of the Chief Executive Officer of each community. The respective addresses are listed in the table below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kevin C. Long, Acting Chief, Engineering Management Branch, Mitigation Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, [phone], or (e-mail) [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The modified BFEs are not listed for each community in this interim rule. However, the address of the Chief Executive Officer of the community where the modified BFE determinations are available for inspection is provided.

Any request for reconsideration must be based on knowledge of changed conditions or new scientific or technical data.

The modifications are made pursuant to section 201 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4105, and are in accordance with the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq., and with 44 CFR part 65.

For rating purposes, the currently effective community number is shown and must be used for all new policies and renewals.

The modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or to remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

These modified BFEs, together with the floodplain management criteria required by 44 CFR 60.3, are the minimum that are required. They should not be construed to mean that the community must change any existing ordinances that are more stringent in their floodplain management requirements. The community may at any time enact stricter requirements of its own or pursuant to policies established by other Federal, State, or regional entities. The BFE changes are in accordance with 44 CFR 65.4.

National Environmental Policy Act. This interim rule is categorically excluded from the requirements of 44 CFR part 10, Environmental Consideration. An environmental impact assessment has not been prepared.

Regulatory Flexibility Act. As flood elevation determinations are not within the scope of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.

Regulatory Classification. This interim rule is not a significant regulatory action under the criteria of section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993, Regulatory Planning and Review, 58 FR 51735.

Executive Order 13132, Federalism. This interim rule involves no policies that have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132, Federalism.

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This interim rule meets the applicable standards of Executive Order 12988.

List of Subjects in 44 CFR Part 65

• Flood insurance
• Floodplains
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Accordingly, 44 CFR part 65 is amended to read as follows:

PART 65—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 65 continues to read as follows:

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

§ 65.4

[Amended]

2. The tables published under the authority of § 65.4 are amended as follows:

State and county	Location and case No.	Date and name of newspaper where notice was published	Chief executive officer of community	Effective date of modification	Community No.
New York: Suffolk	Town of Southampton (09-02-1473P)	March 4, 2010; March 11, 2010; Southampton Press	The Honorable Anna Throne-Holst, Southampton Town Board Supervisor, 116 Hampton Road, Southampton, NY 11968	August 19, 2010	365342
Pennsylvania: York	Township of Dover (09-03-1919P)	March 5, 2010; March 12, 2010; York Daily Record	Mr. Curtis Kann, Chairperson, Township of Dover Board of Supervisors, 2480 West Canal Road, Dover, PA 17315	February 26, 2010	420920
Texas:
Collin	City of Allen (09-06-3028P)	November 6, 2009; November 13, 2009; McKinney Courier-Gazette	The Honorable Stephen Terrell, Mayor, City of Allen, 305 Century Parkway, Allen, TX 75013	October 28, 2009	480131
Collin	City of McKinney (09-06-3028P)	November 6, 2009; November 13, 2009; McKinney Courier-Gazette	The Honorable Brian Loughmiller, Mayor, City of McKinney, 222 North Tennessee Street, P.O. Box 517, McKinney, TX 75069	October 28, 2009	480135
Travis	City of Austin (09-06-3398P)	March 10, 2010; March 17, 2010; Austin American-Statesman	The Honorable Lee Leffingwell, Mayor, City of Austin, P.O. Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767	July 15, 2010	480624

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 97.022, “Flood Insurance.”)

Dated: March 24, 2010.

Sandra K. Knight,

Deputy Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administrator, Mitigation, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.