2013-05183. Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings.

DATES:

Comments are to be submitted on or before June 4, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report for each community are available for inspection at both the online location and the respective Community Map Repository address listed in the tables below. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov for comparison.

You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FEMA-B-1296, to Luis Rodriguez, Chief, Engineering Management Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, [phone], or (email) [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Luis Rodriguez, Chief, Engineering Management Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, [phone], or (email) [e-mail]; or visit the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) online at www.floodmaps.fema.gov/​fhm/​fmx_​main.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

FEMA proposes to make flood hazard determinations for each community listed below, in accordance with section 110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4104, and 44 CFR 67.4(a).

These proposed flood hazard determinations, 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. These flood hazard determinations are used to meet the floodplain management requirements of the NFIP and also are used to calculate the appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings built after the FIRM and FIS report become effective.

The communities affected by the flood hazard determinations are provided in the tables below. Any request for reconsideration of the revised flood hazard information shown on the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report that satisfies the data requirements outlined in 44 CFR 67.6(b) is considered an appeal. Comments unrelated to the flood hazard determinations also will be considered before the FIRM and FIS report become effective.

Use of a Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) is available to communities in support of the appeal resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent sciences established to review conflicting scientific and technical data and provide recommendations for resolution. Use of the SRP only may be exercised after FEMA and local communities have been engaged in a collaborative consultation process for at least 60 days without a mutually acceptable resolution of an appeal. Additional information regarding the SRP process can be found online at www.fema.gov/​pdf/​media/​factsheets/​2010/​srp_​fs.pdf.

The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in the tables below. The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, FIS report for each community are available for inspection at both the online location and the respective Community Map Repository address listed in the tables. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov for comparison.

Community	Local map repository address
Bristol County, Massachusetts (All Jurisdictions)
Maps Available for Inspection Online at: http://www.starr-team.com/​starr/​RegionalWorkspaces/​RegionI/​BristolCountyMAcoastal/​Preliminary%20Maps/​Forms/​AllItems.aspx
City of Fall River	City Hall, One Government Center, Fall River, MA 02722.
Town of Berkley	Town Hall, One North Main Street, Berkley, MA 02779.
Town of Dighton	Town Hall, 979 Somerset Avenue, Dighton, MA 02715.
Town of Freetown	Freetown Town Hall, 3 North Main Street, Assonet, MA 02702.
Town of Rehoboth	Town Hall, 148 Peck Street, Rehoboth, MA 02769.
Town of Seekonk	Town Hall, 100 Peck Street, Seekonk, MA 02771.
Town of Somerset	Town Office Building, 140 Wood Street, Room 23, Somerset, MA 02726.
Town of Swansea	Town Hall, 81 Main Street, Swansea, MA 02777.
Bryan County, Georgia, and Incorporated Areas
Maps Available for Inspection Online at: www.georgiadfirm.com/​status/​mapmodStatus.html
City of Pembrooke	City Hall, 160 North Main Street, Pembroke, GA 31321.
Unincorporated Areas of Bryan County	Bryan County Planning and Zoning Department, 51 North Courthouse Street, Pembroke, GA 31321.
Liberty County, Georgia, and Incorporated Areas
Maps Available for Inspection Online at: www.georgiadfirm.com/​status/​mapmodStatus.html
City of Flemington	City Hall, 156 Old Sunbury Road, Flemington, GA 31309.
City of Gum Branch	City Hall, 5334 Highway 196 West, Gum Branch, GA 31310.
City of Hinesville	Inspections Department, 115 East M.L. King, Jr. Drive, Hinesville, GA 31313.
City of Walthourville	City Hall, 222 Busbee Road, Walthourville, GA 31333.
Town of Allenhurst	Town Hall, 4063 West Oglelthorpe Highway, Allenhurst, GA 31301.
Unincorporated Areas of Liberty County	Liberty County Consolidated Planning Commission, 100 Main Street, Suite 1220, Hinesville, GA 31313.
Long County, Georgia, and Incorporated Areas
Maps Available for Inspection Online at: www.georgiadfirm.com/​status/​mapmodStatus.html
City of Ludowici	City Hall, 469 North Main Street, Ludowici, GA 31316.
Unincorporated Areas of Long County	Long County Code Enforcement Office, 459 South McDonald Street, Ludowici, GA 31316.
De Soto County, Mississippi, and Incorporated Areas
Maps Available for Inspection Online at: http://geology.deq.ms.gov/​floodmaps/​Projects/​FY2009/​?county=​DeSoto
City of Hernando	City Hall, 475 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 38632.
City of Horn Lake	City Hall, Planning Department, 2285 Goodman Road, Horn Lake, MS 38637.
City of Olive Branch	Planning and Building Department, 9150 Pigeon Roost Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654.
City of Southhaven	Engineering Department, 8710 Northwest Drive, Southaven, MS 38671.
Unincorporated Areas of De Soto County	De Soto County Geographic Information Systems, 365 Losher Street, Suite 200, Hernando, MS 38632.
Nash County, North Carolina, and Incorporated Areas
Maps Available for Inspection Online at: www.ncfloodmaps.com
Town of Middlesex	Town Hall, 10232 South Nash Street, Middlesex, NC 27557.
Unincorporated Areas of Nash County	Nash County Planning Department, 120 West Washington Street, Suite 2110, Nashville, NC 27856.

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

Roy Wright,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Mitigation, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.