
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 196 (Thursday, October 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47554-47555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22029]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2017-0002; Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA-B-1747]


Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard 
determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any 
Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area 
(SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the 
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the 
supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities 
listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek 
general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and 
where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and 
FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the 
community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in 
effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the 
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS 
report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to 
calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings 
and the contents of those buildings.

DATES: Comments are to be submitted on or before January 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report 
for each community are available for inspection at both the online 
location and the respective Community Map Repository address listed in 
the tables below. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS 
report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map 
Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov for comparison.
    You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FEMA-B-1747, to 
Rick Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services Branch, Federal Insurance 
and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C Street SW., Washington, DC 
20472, (202) 646-7659, or (email) patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering 
Services Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 
400 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-7659, or (email) 
patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov; or visit the FEMA Map Information 
eXchange (FMIX) online at www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_main.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA proposes to make flood hazard 
determinations for each community listed below, in accordance with 
section 110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 
4104, and 44 CFR 67.4(a).
    These proposed flood hazard determinations, together with the 
floodplain management criteria required by 44 CFR 60.3, are the minimum 
that are required. They should not be construed to mean that the 
community must change any existing ordinances that are more stringent 
in their floodplain management requirements. The community may at any 
time enact stricter requirements of its own or pursuant to policies 
established by other Federal, State, or regional entities. These flood 
hazard determinations are used to meet the floodplain management 
requirements of the NFIP and also are used to calculate the appropriate 
flood insurance premium rates for new buildings built after the FIRM 
and FIS report become effective.
    The communities affected by the flood hazard determinations are 
provided in the tables below. Any request for reconsideration of the 
revised flood hazard information shown on the Preliminary FIRM and FIS 
report that satisfies the data requirements outlined in 44 CFR 67.6(b) 
is considered an appeal. Comments unrelated to the flood hazard 
determinations also will be considered before the FIRM and FIS report 
become effective.
    Use of a Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) is available to 
communities in support of the appeal resolution process. SRPs are 
independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other 
pertinent sciences established to review conflicting scientific and 
technical data and provide recommendations for resolution. Use of the 
SRP only may be exercised after FEMA and local communities have been 
engaged in a collaborative consultation process for at least 60 days 
without a mutually acceptable resolution of an appeal. Additional 
information regarding the SRP process can be found online at http://floodsrp.org/pdfs/srp_fact_sheet.pdf.

[[Page 47555]]

    The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in the tables 
below. The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, FIS report for each 
community are available for inspection at both the online location and 
the respective Community Map Repository address listed in the tables. 
For communities with multiple ongoing Preliminary studies, the studies 
can be identified by the unique project number and Preliminary FIRM 
date listed in the tables. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and 
FIS report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA 
Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov for comparison.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 97.022, ``Flood 
Insurance.'')

    Dated: September 16, 2017.
Roy E. Wright,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation, Department 
of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    I. Non-watershed-based studies:

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                                             Community map repository
               Community                             address
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                   Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska
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      Maps Available for Inspection Online at: http://www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata preliminaryfloodhazarddata
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 Project: 11-10-0414S Preliminary Dates: September 15, 2016, February 1,
                        2017, and April 10, 2017
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City of Valdez.........................  City Hall, 212 Chenega Avenue,
                                          Valdez, AK 99686.
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            Whatcom County, Washington and Incorporated Areas
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      Maps Available for Inspection Online at: http://www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata preliminaryfloodhazarddata
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 Project: 13-10-0343S Preliminary Dates: September 30, 2015 and June 9,
                                  2017
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Unincorporated Areas of Whatcom County.  Public Works/River and Flood
                                          Division, 322 North Commercial
                                          Street, Suite 120, Bellingham,
                                          WA 98225.
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[FR Doc. 2017-22029 Filed 10-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-12-P


