[Federal Register: January 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 11)]
[Notices]
[Page 2876-2879]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ja05-67]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Cooperating Technical Partners Program
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
ACTION: Notice of Cooperating Technical Partners Flood Hazard Mapping
Program.
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SUMMARY: FEMA gives notice of the requirements for the Cooperating
Technical Partners Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005.
DATES: FEMA has an estimated $50 million available nationwide for
funding partner projects in FY 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The FEMA Regional Cooperating
Technical Partner (CTP) Coordinators for your region. We list names,
addresses, and telephone numbers for the Regional CTP Coordinators at
the end of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background. FEMA administers the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) and, under the authority of section 1360 of the National Flood
Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4101) establishes and updates flood-
risk zone data in floodplain areas. In the identification of floodprone
areas, we may consult with, receive information from and enter into
agreements or other arrangements with the head of any State, regional,
or local agency in order to identify these floodprone areas.
We are implementing the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP)
program as part of our Flood Map Modernization Program. The plan
document for our Map Modernization Program and progress reports
concerning the Program are available at http://www.fema.gov/fhm/dl_mpmod.shtm.
The program formally recognizes and encourages the
contributions that our Flood Hazard Mapping Partners (State agencies,
regional agencies, tribal governments, and communities) make in
developing timely and accurate flood hazard information. We strongly
encourage partner contributions to flood hazard data development, which
are a key part of the program.
Establishing formal partnerships with State, regional, and local
organizations to produce NFIP maps is beneficial for the following
reasons:
The data used for local permitting and planning will also
be the basis for the NFIP map, facilitating more efficient floodplain
management;
The CTP program provides the opportunity to interject a
tailored, local focus into a national program; thus, where unique
conditions may exist, we can take needed special approaches to flood
hazard identification; and
The partnership mechanism provides the opportunity to pool
resources and extend the productivity of limited public funds.
Under this program, the partners will enter into a general overall
agreement that recognizes the fundamental importance of flood hazard
identification, flood insurance, and floodplain management. Then,
through a collaborative process, the partners will identify the
specific flood hazard mapping activities to be undertaken. If this
process results in CTP activities that we will support with FEMA funds,
the partners will enter into a Cooperative Agreement and define the
roles and responsibilities for each Flood Map Project through
agreements termed Mapping Activity Statements. The intent of any
Cooperative Agreement and accompanying funds that we award is to
supplement and not to supplant ongoing mapping efforts by the
community, regional agency, or State agency. Further, we envision that
this collaborative process will maximize the extent, accuracy, and
utility of flood studies to best meet local and Federal needs, while
minimizing costs for all parties.
Additional guidance on the program is available at http://www.fema.gov/mit/tsd/ctp_main.htm
.
Availability of Fiscal Year 2005 Funds. We have set aside
approximately $50 million nationwide for use by all FEMA Regional
Offices to fund CTP mapping activities in fiscal year 2005 (October 1,
2004, through September 30,
[[Page 2877]]
2005). We base the selection of CTP participants on floodplain mapping
needs and capability to perform the types of eligible activities that
we identified for the CTP program. A significant factor in the
selection process will be the partner contribution to the project. We
will provide funding to eligible CTP applicants through the Cooperative
Agreement process in accordance with 44 CFR part 13, Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to
State and local Governments, which we will allocate as part of our
flood study prioritization process. Upon publication of this notice,
our Regional Offices will mail Request for Federal Assistance (RFA)
packages to potential applicants.
Eligibility. Our Regional Offices will select partners based on the
following criteria:
(1) The CTP applicant must be a community participating in the NFIP
and be in good standing in the program as determined by FEMA, or be a
State or regional agency that serves communities that participate in
the NFIP.
(2) The CTP applicant must have existing processes or systems in
place that support mapping or data collection activities that
contribute to flood hazard identification. Non-federal funding must
support these ongoing processes or systems.
(3) The CTP applicant must have the capability and commitment to
perform the mapping activities for which it is applying. We require a
demonstration of this capability, which an applicant may demonstrate
through (but not limited to) a Regional Office review of both
previously prepared map products and the applicant's existing processes
or systems for the production of map products that the applicant
intends to use for CTP activities.
(4) The CTP applicant that will receive funds under a Cooperative
Agreement must be able to perform the financial management activities
required as part of the Cooperative Agreement (i.e., account for
Federal funds, prepare required performance and financial reports). Our
Regional Offices can assist the communities with these financial
management activities, if questions arise. FEMA-funded activities must
meet the requirements of 44 CFR part 13. Part 13 sets forth
requirements for proper grant administration and management including
recordkeeping, allowable costs, and the processes for use of
contractors.
(5) The CTP applicant must have in-house staff capabilities in the
appropriate technical area for the given activity. If the applicant
contracts out a portion of the activities, the CTP applicant must have
in-house staff capability to monitor the contractor as well as review
and approve the resulting products. For these purposes, ``capability''
means ``demonstrated experience in the performance, or management of,
similar activities.''
(6) CTP applicants that use contactors to perform FEMA-funded
activities must ensure that those contractors meet the requirements of
44 CFR part 13. Within part 13, section 13.36 covers procurement
standards that must be followed for any mapping-related activities for
which the CTP applicant wishes to contract with another party. Items in
this part include contract administration and record-keeping,
notification requirements, review procedures, competition, methods of
procurement, and cost and pricing analysis. If desired, our Regional
Offices will provide assistance on developing selection criteria for
contracted tasks. All work must meet the standards and certification
requirements described in Subsections ``Standards'' and
``Certification'' below.
Activities. As stated previously, Mapping Activity Statements will
define the roles and responsibilities of the all partners, including
contractors to the CTP applicant and FEMA, in the production or
maintenance of flood hazard maps. FEMA support may include technical
assistance, data, and funding.
(1) Funded Activities: In Fiscal Year 2005, the following mapping
activities are eligible for funding:
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Activity Partners Description
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Refinement or Creation of Community Regional Agency The Partner works with FEMA to perform
Approximate Zone A Boundaries. State Agency analyses to refine Zone A boundaries shown
on the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM) or create new Zone A areas to be
included on the FIRM. Emphasis is placed on
automated analysis and production
techniques.
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses Community The Partner develops digital engineering data
and Floodplain Mapping. Regional Agency and floodplain mapping using Geographic
State Agency Information System (GIS)-based or
traditional hydrologic and hydraulic
modeling.
Coastal Flood Hazard Analyses and Community The Partner develops digital engineering data
Floodplain Mapping. Regional Agency and floodplain mapping using GIS-based or
State Agency traditional coastal flood hazard analysis
methods.
Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map Community The Partner digitizes information from the
(DFIRM) Preparation. Regional Agency effective hardcopy FIRM and prepares a DFIRM
State Agency that meets FEMA specifications.
Redelineation of Detailed Community The Partner redelineates the effective
Floodplain Boundaries Using Regional Agency floodplain boundaries shown on the FIRM
Updated Topographic Data. State Agency using more up-to-date topographic data. GIS
technology is used, where available.
Digital Topographic Data Community The Partner develops digital topographic data
Development. Regional Agency for flood hazard identification purposes.
State Agency
Scoping up to 10%................ Community Up to 10% of the total estimated funding may
Regional Agency be provided to do an extensive project scope
State Agency that leads to the development of the Mapping
Activity Statement.
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(2) Other Activities: While we will provide no funding to CTPs for
the following mapping activities, we may provide technical assistance,
support, and data to the CTP:
[[Page 2878]]
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Activity Partners Description
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Digital Base Map Inventory....... Regional Agency State Agency The Partner performs an investigation and
provides an inventory of base maps meeting
FEMA specifications for NFIP communities in
a particular region or State.
Digital Base Map Data Sharing.... Community The Partner supplies base map data for use in
Regional Agency producing a DFIRM. The base map must comply
State Agency with FEMA minimum accuracy requirements and
be distributable by FEMA to the public in
hardcopy and electronic formats.
DFIRM Maintenance Community...... Community The Partner assumes responsibility for long-
Regional Agency term, periodic maintenance of the DFIRM.
State Agency This can include base map and/or flood
hazard information.
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Review.. Community The Partner reviews hydrologic and hydraulic
Regional Agency studies prepared for FEMA-funded flood data
State Agency updates and/or map revisions processed under
Part 65 of the NFIP regulations. The review
focuses on compliance with the technical and
regulatory requirements contained in
Guidelines and Specifications for Flood
Hazard Mapping Partners, the pertinent NFIP
regulations, as well as standard accepted
engineering practices.
Assessment of Community Mapping Regional Agency State Agency The Partner performs a detailed community-by-
Needs (to support FEMA's Mapping community assessment of mapping needs for
Needs Update Support System). every mapped (including flood data updates
and map maintenance) and unmapped NFIP
community within its jurisdiction. The
Partner then submits the results of the
assessment to FEMA for inclusion in the
Mapping Needs Update Support System
database.
Technical Standards Agreement.... Community The Partner works with FEMA to adopt specific
Regional Agency technical standards or processes appropriate
State Agency for local conditions for NFIP flood mapping
purposes.
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Standards. Unless otherwise indicated in specific Mapping Activity
Statements, all flood hazard identification activities will be
accomplished according to the relevant portions of 44 CFR parts 59
through 77, as well as the technical standards contained in the most
recent version of FEMA's Guidelines and Specifications for Flood
Mapping Partners, which are set out at http://www.fema.gov/mit/tsd/dl_cgs.htm
.
Certification. All data generated under CTP Mapping Activity
Statements must meet the applicable certification requirements for the
identification and publication of flood hazard information in Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) form as indicated in 44 CFR 65,
Identification and Mapping of Special Hazard Areas. For those States
that have adopted more stringent mapping requirements that have been
sanctioned by FEMA, all Mapping Activity Statements must be reviewed,
coordinated with, and concurred upon by the State and all map products
must meet State certification requirements.
Evaluation Criteria. Evaluation will be based on the following
criteria:
(1) The continued maintenance (funded/supported by the CTP) for
existing and/or future processes or systems in place to support mapping
or data collection activities that contribute to flood hazard
identification, e.g., continued data collection for changing flood
hazards and related development, continued upgrades to data collection
or mapping capabilities to incorporate new technologies, preparation of
multi-year mapping or data collection plans, etc.;
(2) The demonstrated commitment by the CTP for existing and
continued support of flood hazard identification and mapping activities
conducted with and by FEMA;
(3) Adherence to timeliness and completeness of performance and
financial report to the Regional Office;
(4) Adherence to timeliness and completeness of map products to the
Regional Office;
(5) Quality of product(s) submitted to the Regional Office; and
(6) Ability to cooperate and coordinate with the Regional Office,
FEMA Risk Identification Branch of the Mitigation Division in
Washington, and/or the FEMA Flood Map Production Coordination
Contractor during all phases of the mapping activity as needed.
We will evaluate the performance of each CTP throughout the project
and upon completion of the period of performance for each Mapping
Activity Statement. This evaluation will determine the adequacy of the
performance by the CTP and the eligibility for future Mapping Activity
Statements to be initiated. Insufficient performance by the CTP may
result in cancellation of FEMA funding at any point during the period
of performance for a Mapping Activity Statement.
Cooperating Technical Partners Regional Contacts.
The FEMA Regional Office contacts for the CTP programs are:
Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont): Dean Savramis, 99 High Street, 6th
Floor, Boston, MA 02110, telephone: (978) 461-5323, e-mail:
dean.savramis@dhs.gov.
Region II (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin
Islands): Paul Weberg, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 1337, New York, NY 10278-
0002, telephone: (212) 680-363, e-mail: paul.weberg@dhs.gov.
Region III (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia): Nikki Roberts, One Independence
Mall, 615 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404,
telephone: (215) 931-5575 for Nikki Roberts, e-mail:
nikki.roberts@dhs.gov.
Region IV (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee): Laura Algeo,
3003 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, telephone: (770) 220-
5515, e-mail: laura.algeo@dhs.gov.
Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,
and Wisconsin): Ken Hinterlong, Team Lead, 536 South Clark Street, 6th
Floor, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone: (312) 408-5529, e-mail:
ken.hinterlong@dhs.gov.
Mary Jo Mullen (Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio), 536 South Clark
Street, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone: (312) 408-5541, e-
mail: maryjo.mullen@dhs.gov.
Lee Traeger (Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) 536 South Clark
Street, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone: (312) 408-5538 e-mail:
lee.traeger@dhs.gov
Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Texas): Gary Zimmerer (Arkansas and Louisiana), Federal Regional
Center, 800 North Loop 288, Room 206, Denton, TX
[[Page 2879]]
76210-3698, telephone: (940) 898-5161, e-mail: gary.zimmerer@dhs.gov.
Jim Orwat (New Mexico and Oklahoma), Federal Regional Center, 800
North Loop 288, Room 206, Denton, TX 76210-3698, telephone: (940) 898-
5302, e-mail: james.orwat@dhs.gov.
Jack Quarles (Texas), Federal Regional Center, 800 North Loop 288,
Room 206, Denton, TX 76210-3698, telephone: (940) 898-5156, e-mail:
jack.quarles@dhs.gov.
Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska), Bob Franke,
2323 Grand Avenue, Suite 900, Kansas City, MO 64108-2670, telephone:
(816) 283-7073, e-mail: bob.franke@dhs.gov.
Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Utah, Wyoming): John Liou or Marijo Camrud, Denver Federal
Center, Bldg. 710, Box 25267, Denver, CO 80225-0267, telephone: (303)
235-4836, telephone: (303) 235-4835, e-mail: john.liou@dhs.gov, e-mail:
marijo.camrud@dhs.gov.
Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American
Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands and Northern Mariana Islands): Les
Sakumoto (Northern California and Nevada), 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200,
Oakland, CA 94607, telephone: (510) 627-7183, e-mail:
leslie.sakumoto@dhs.gov.
Ray Lenaburg (Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii, American Samoa,
Guam, Marshall Islands and Northern Mariana Islands) 1111 Broadway,
Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94607, telephone: (510) 627-7181, e-mail:
raymond.lenaburg@dhs.gov.
Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington): Dave
Carlton, Federal Regional Center, 130 228th Street SW., Bothell, WA
98021-9796, telephone: (425) 487-4703, e-mail: david.carlton@dhs.gov.
Dated: January 10, 2005.
David I. Maurstad,
Acting Mitigation Division Director, Emergency Preparedness and
Response Directorate.
[FR Doc. 05-869 Filed 1-14-05; 8:45 am]
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