               NFIP Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
                                       
                             PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES


FEMA has gone through a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reform process that has allowed the Agency to scope different changes to the program.  In addition, FEMA is concerned about its responsibilities under various environmental planning laws including, but not limited to, the Endangered Species Act of 1973.  The following alternatives have been developed for further analysis. 


   1. Program with Enhanced Floodplain Management Standards Including Provisions to Address Endangered Species and Habitat Concerns Alternative  -  Under this alternative FEMA would modify the NFIP in the following areas:

         a. Increase elevation standards for new construction
         b. Floodplain management standards for critical facilities
         c. Strengthen restrictions on floodway development
         d. Integrate future conditions and residual risk in floodplain management
         e. Discourage fill in floodplains
         f. Account for the impacts of floodplain development on the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains to include endangered and threatened species 
            
   2. No Action Alternative  -  Under this alternative FEMA would continue to administer and implement the NFIP as it stands today. This encompasses FEMA's administration of the program and States, Tribes, and local governments' implementation of the program. 

   3. Discontinuation Alternative  -  Under this alternative Congress would discontinue the program as of a particular date. This alternative is used to provide a comparison of the without program scenario. 

   4. Request for Legislative Authority to Remove Existing Subsidies and Cross Subsidies for Flood Insurance Policies Alternative  -  Under this alternative FEMA would modify the NFIP in the following areas: 

         a. Remove subsidies/cross subsidies for non primary residences
         b. Remove subsidies/cross subsidies for non residential
         c. Phase out subsidies/cross subsidies for remaining structures 

   5. Program with Enhanced Floodplain Management Standards Including Provisions to Address Endangered Species and Habitat Concerns and Legislative Authority to Remove Existing Subsidies and Cross Subsidies for Flood Insurance Policies Alternative 
