[Federal Register: October 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 206)]
[Notices]
[Page 63184]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23oc08-77]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Availability of Flood Hazard Maps and Data
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is completing
the update and conversion to digital of the National Flood Insurance
Program flood hazard map inventory. As part of the Flood Map
Modernization Program, FEMA will discontinue the public distribution of
paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Flood Insurance Study reports, and
related flood hazard map products.
FEMA will provide communities where the flood hazard information is
updated with an updated paper map to satisfy local regulatory
requirements for a paper map product.
For all other requests, FEMA will distribute digital Flood
Insurance Rate Maps, Flood Insurance Study reports, and related flood
hazard map products in place of the paper versions. Over the past
several years, FEMA has transitioned from paper maps to digital map
images and digital flood hazard data as the primary flood hazard
information products. These products will still be available through
the FEMA Map Service Center. This change will reduce duplication of
effort and reduce the cost for updating flood hazard maps.
DATES: This change is effective as of October 1, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Information about FEMA Flood Hazard Maps and Data is
available on the Map Service Center Web site http://msc.fema.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Rooney, Data and Dissemination
Branch, Mitigation Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, (paul.rooney@dhs.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) is responsible for identifying high risk flood areas to support
the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These areas have
historically been identified on paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps
(FIRMs). Over the past several years, FEMA has introduced new digital
products including digital map images (the full size FIRM Scans and
letter size FIRMettes) and digital geospatial flood hazard data (the
Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Database product and National
Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL)). These digital products now make up the vast
majority of the flood hazard information distributed by FEMA and are
equivalent to the paper maps for any official activities under the
NFIP.
FEMA will continue to provide local governments a paper copy of
their flood hazard map and flood insurance study report when the map is
updated by FEMA. FEMA will discontinue all other distribution of paper
maps and study reports beginning with map update projects where the
letter of final determination is issued on or after October 1, 2009.
The letter of final determination is issued six months before new flood
maps become effective for NFIP regulatory purposes.
FEMA will continue to provide digital flood hazard data products
for Internet download, on CD-ROM, and via Web Mapping Service. Federal,
State, and local government customers that have been receiving paper
products will now receive digital flood hazard maps and data, and
continue to be exempt from fees (specified in 42 U.S.C. 4101).
This change will allow FEMA to realize significant cost savings in
the map update process by eliminating the need to generate large format
film negatives to support offset printing. It will also save the cost
of printing and distributing the paper maps to fee exempt customers.
This change simplifies the products available depicting flood hazard
for a location.
The FEMA Map Service Center provides complete information about the
digital flood hazard data products, free tools, and easy-to-follow
instructions for using them at http://msc.fema.gov.
Dated: October 9, 2008.
Michael K. Buckley,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Mitigation Directorate, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E8-25269 Filed 10-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P