2013-15167. Suspension of Community Eligibility

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This rule identifies communities where the sale of flood insurance has been authorized under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that are scheduled for suspension on the effective dates listed within this rule because of noncompliance with the floodplain management requirements of the program. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) receives documentation that the community has adopted the required floodplain management measures prior to the effective suspension date given in this rule, the suspension will not occur and a notice of this will be provided by publication in the Federal Register on a subsequent date. Also, information identifying the current participation status of a community can be obtained from FEMA's Community Status Book (CSB). The CSB is available at http://www.fema.gov/​fema/​csb.shtm.

DATES:

Effective Dates: The effective date of each community's scheduled suspension is the third date (“Susp”) listed in the third column of the following tables.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you want to determine whether a particular community was suspended on the suspension date or for further information, contact David Stearrett, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The NFIP enables property owners to purchase Federal flood insurance that is not otherwise generally available from private insurers. In return, communities agree to adopt and administer local floodplain management measures aimed at protecting lives and new construction from future flooding. Section 1315 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4022, prohibits the sale of NFIP flood insurance unless an appropriate public body adopts adequate floodplain management measures with effective enforcement measures. The communities listed in this document no longer meet that statutory requirement for compliance with program regulations, 44 CFR Part 59. Accordingly, the communities will be suspended on the effective date in the third column. As of that date, flood insurance will no longer be available in the community. We recognize that some of these communities may adopt and submit the required documentation of legally enforceable floodplain management measures after this rule is published but prior to the actual suspension date. These communities will not be suspended and will continue to be eligible for the sale of NFIP flood insurance. A notice withdrawing the suspension of such communities will be published in the Federal Register.

In addition, FEMA publishes a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that identifies the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) in these communities. The date of the FIRM, if one has been published, is indicated in the fourth column of the table. No direct Federal financial assistance (except assistance pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act not in connection with a flood) may be provided for construction or acquisition of buildings in identified SFHAs for communities not participating in the NFIP and identified for more than a year on FEMA's initial FIRM for the community as having flood-prone areas (section 202(a) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4106(a), as amended). This prohibition against certain types of Federal assistance becomes effective for the communities listed on the date shown in the last column. The Administrator finds that notice and public comment procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b), are impracticable and unnecessary because communities listed in this final rule have been adequately notified.

Each community receives 6-month, 90-day, and 30-day notification letters addressed to the Chief Executive Officer stating that the community will be suspended unless the required floodplain management measures are met prior to the effective suspension date. Since these notifications were made, this final rule may take effect within less than 30 days.

National Environmental Policy Act. This rule is categorically excluded from the requirements of 44 CFR Part 10, Environmental Considerations. No environmental impact assessment has been prepared.

Regulatory Flexibility Act. The Administrator has determined that this rule is exempt from the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, Section 1315, 42 U.S.C. 4022, prohibits flood insurance coverage unless an appropriate public body adopts adequate floodplain management measures with effective enforcement measures. The communities listed no longer comply with the statutory requirements, and after the effective date, flood insurance will no longer be available in the communities unless remedial action takes place.

Regulatory Classification. This final 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 rule involves no policies that have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

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

Paperwork Reduction Act. This rule does not involve any collection of information for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

List of Subjects in 44 CFR Part 64

• Flood insurance
• Floodplains

Accordingly, 44 CFR Part 64 is amended as follows:

PART 64—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 64 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.

§ 64.6

[Amended]

2. The tables published under the authority of § 64.6 are amended as follows:

State and location	Community No.	Effective date authorization/cancellation of sale of flood insurance in community	Current effective map date	Date certain Federal assistance no longer available in SFHAs
Region I
Massachusetts: Agawam, Town of, Hampden County	250133	June 25, 1973, Emerg; February 1, 1978, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	July 16, 2013	July 16, 2013
Brimfield, Town of, Hampden County	250135	N/A, Emerg; November 9, 1998, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Chester, Town of, Hampden County	250136	December 18, 1984, Emerg; December 18, 1984, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Chicopee, City of, Hampden County	250137	January 14, 1974, Emerg; September 29, 1978, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
East Longmeadow, Town of, Hampden County	250138	March 3, 1975, Emerg; September 15, 1978, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Granville, Town of, Hampden County	250139	August 12, 2008, Emerg; April 1, 2011, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Hampden, Town of, Hampden County	250140	September 6, 1974, Emerg; November 15, 1978, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Holland, Town of, Hampden County	250141	July 18, 1975, Emerg; July 5, 1984, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Holyoke, City of, Hampden County	250142	May 20, 1974, Emerg; August 15, 1979, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Longmeadow, Town of, Hampden County	250143	August 8, 1975, Emerg; September 1, 1978, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Ludlow, Town of, Hampden County	250144	October 17, 1974, Emerg; May 19, 1981, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Monson, Town of, Hampden County	250145	May 1, 1975, Emerg; June 1, 1981, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Palmer, Town of, Hampden County	250147	June 20, 1975, Emerg; November 4, 1981, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Russell, Town of, Hampden County	250148	August 8, 1975, Emerg; December 15, 1990, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Southwick, Town of, Hampden County	250149	December 29, 1975, Emerg; July 16, 1984, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Springfield, City of, Hampden County	250150	February 9, 1973, Emerg; February 1, 1980, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Wales, Town of, Hampden County	250152	August 11, 1975, Emerg; July 2, 1981, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
West Springfield, Town of, Hampden County	250155	December 30, 1971, Emerg; September 30, 1977, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Westfield, City of, Hampden County	250153	May 10, 1973, Emerg; May 1, 1978, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Wilbraham, Town of, Hampden County	250154	August 21, 1975, Emerg; March 1, 1979, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Region V
Minnesota: Redwood County, Unincorporated Areas	270644	May 23, 1974, Emerg; December 4, 1985, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Redwood Falls, City of, Redwood County	270393	May 13, 1975, Emerg; June 22, 1984, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Sanborn, City of, Redwood County	270394	July 22, 1975, Emerg; July 3, 1985, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp	......do	Do.
Seaforth, City of, Redwood County	270602	N/A, Emerg; February 9, 2011, Reg; July 16, 2013, Susp.	......do	Do.
* -do- = Ditto.
Code for reading third column: Emerg.—Emergency; Reg.—Regular; Susp.—Suspension.

Dated: June 7, 2013.

David L. Miller,

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