2020-07049. Technical Mapping Advisory Council

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Committee management; request for applicants for appointment to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Technical Mapping Advisory Council.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is requesting qualified individuals interested in serving on the Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) to apply for appointment. As provided for in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, the TMAC makes recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on how to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the accuracy, general quality, ease of use, and distribution and dissemination of flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) and risk data; and performance metrics and milestones required to effectively and efficiently map flood risk areas in the United States. Applicants will be considered for appointment for the five vacancies on the TMAC.

DATES:

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EST on May 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Applications for membership should be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Email: [e-mail].
• Mail: FEMA, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Risk Management Directorate, Attn: Michael Nakagaki, 400 C Street SW, Suite 6NW-1412, Washington, DC 20472-3020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Nakagaki (Designated Federal Officer for the TMAC); FEMA, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Risk Management Directorate, 400 C Street SW, Suite 6NW-1412, Washington, DC 20472-3020; telephone: [phone]; and email: [e-mail]. The TMAC website is: http://www.fema.gov/​TMAC.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The TMAC is an advisory committee that was established by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, 42 U.S.C. 4101a, and in accordance with provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463). The TMAC is required to make recommendations to FEMA on mapping-related issues and activities. This includes mapping standards and guidelines, performance metrics and milestones, map maintenance, interagency and intergovernmental coordination, map accuracy, funding strategies, and other mapping-related issues and activities. In addition, the TMAC is required to submit an annual report to the FEMA Administrator that contains: (1) A description of the activities of the Council; (2) an evaluation of the status and performance of Flood Insurance Rate Maps and mapping activities to revise and update Flood Insurance Rate Maps; and (3) a summary of recommendations made by the Council to the FEMA Administrator.

Members of the TMAC will be appointed based on their demonstrated knowledge and competence regarding surveying, cartography, remote sensing, geographic information systems, or the technical aspects of preparing and using FIRMs. To the maximum extent practicable, FEMA will ensure that membership of the TMAC has a balance of Federal, State, local, Tribal, and private members, and includes geographic diversity.

FEMA is requesting qualified individuals who are interested in serving on the TMAC to apply for appointment. Applicants will be considered for appointment for five vacancies on the TMAC, the terms of which start on March 30, 2021. Certain members of the TMAC, as described below, will be appointed to serve as Special Government Employees (SGE) as defined in section 202(a) of title 18 United States Code. Candidates selected for appointment as SGEs are required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form (Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Form 450). This form can be obtained by visiting the website of the Office of Government Ethics (http://www.oge.gov). Please do not submit this form with your application. Qualified applicants will be considered for one or more of the following membership categories with vacancies:

(a) One member of a recognized professional mapping association or organization;

(b) A representative of State national flood insurance coordination offices;

(c) A representative of a local government agency that has entered into cooperating technical partnerships with the Administrator and demonstrated the capability to produce flood insurance maps;

(d) One member of a recognized floodplain management association or organization;

(e) One State mitigation officer.

Members of the TMAC serve terms of office for three years. There is no application form. However, applications must include the following information:

• The applicant's full name,
• home and business phone numbers,
• preferred email address,
• home and business mailing addresses,
• current position title and organization,
• resume or curriculum vitae,
• and the membership category of interest (e.g., member of a recognized professional association or organization representing flood hazard determination firms).

The TMAC shall meet as often as needed to fulfill its mission, but not less than twice a year. Members may be reimbursed for travel and per diem incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the TMAC. All travel for TMAC business must be approved in advance by the Designated Federal Officer.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. DHS strives to achieve a widely diverse candidate pool for all its recruitment actions. Current DHS and FEMA employees will not be considered for membership. Federally registered lobbyists will not be considered for SGE appointments.

Michael M. Grimm,

Assistant Administrator for Risk Management, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.