Notice2021-25336
Request for Information on the National Flood Insurance Program's Floodplain Management Standards for Land Management and Use, and an Assessment of the Program's Impact on Threatened and Endangered Species and Their Habitats; Public Meeting; Extension of Comment Period
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 22, 2021
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentFederal Emergency Management Agency
Abstract
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending the public comment period for its request for information published October 12, 2021, and will hold an additional virtual public meeting via web conference to solicit feedback on the request for information The October request for information sought input from the public on the floodplain management standards that communities should adopt to result in safer, stronger, and more resilient communities. It also sought input on how the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can better promote protection of and minimize any adverse impact to, threatened and endangered species, and their habitats.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66329-66330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25336]
[[Page 66329]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2021-0024]
Request for Information on the National Flood Insurance Program's
Floodplain Management Standards for Land Management and Use, and an
Assessment of the Program's Impact on Threatened and Endangered Species
and Their Habitats; Public Meeting; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: Announcement of additional public meeting; extension of comment
period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending
the public comment period for its request for information published
October 12, 2021, and will hold an additional virtual public meeting
via web conference to solicit feedback on the request for information
The October request for information sought input from the public on the
floodplain management standards that communities should adopt to result
in safer, stronger, and more resilient communities. It also sought
input on how the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can better
promote protection of and minimize any adverse impact to, threatened
and endangered species, and their habitats.
DATES: Written comments on the request for information published at 86
FR 56713 (Oct. 12, 2021) may be submitted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
(ET) on Thursday, January 27, 2022.
FEMA will hold an additional public meeting on Wednesday, December
15, 2021, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Depending on the number of
speakers, the meeting may end before the time indicated, following the
last call for comments.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held via web conference. Members
of the public may register to attend the meeting online at the
following link: <a href="https://www.fema.gov/event/public-comment-period-national-flood-insurance-programs-minimum-floodplain-management">https://www.fema.gov/event/public-comment-period-national-flood-insurance-programs-minimum-floodplain-management</a>.
If you would like to speak at the meeting, please indicate that on
the registration form. If there is time remaining in the meeting after
all registered speakers have finished, FEMA will invite comments from
others in attendance. Also, Spanish language interpretation services
will be made available for this meeting.
Reasonable accommodations are available for people with
disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact the person
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below as soon as
possible. Last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible
to fulfill.
Written comments on the request for information must be submitted
via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Search for FEMA-2021-0024-0001 and follow the instructions for
submitting comments.
All written comments received, including any personal information
provided, may be posted without alteration at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. All comments on the request for information made
during the meetings will be posted to the rulemaking docket on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
For access to the docket and to read comments received by FEMA, go
to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket ID FEMA-2021-0024-
0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Sears, Supervisory Emergency
Management Specialist, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration,
Federal Emergency Management Agency, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95f3f0f8f4b8e7f0f2e0f9f4e1fcfafbe6d5f3f0f8f4bbf1fde6bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a8cecdc5c985dacdcfddc4c9dcc1c7c6dbe8cecdc5c986ccc0db86cfc7de">[email protected]</span></a>,
202-646-4105.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 12, 2021, FEMA published a
Request for Information (RFI) on the National Flood Insurance Program's
(NFIP) Floodplain Management Standards for Land Management and Use, and
an Assessment of the Program's Impact on Threatened and Endangered
Species and Their Habitats.\1\ That RFI asked for public input on the
floodplain management standards that communities should adopt to result
in safer, stronger, and more resilient communities. It also sought
input on how the NFIP can better promote protection of and minimize any
adverse impact to threatened and endangered species, and their
habitats.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 86 FR 56713.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In support of FEMA's role in setting the NFIP floodplain management
standards for land management and use and the agency's desire to
strengthen the NFIP's protection of threatened and endangered species
and their habitat, the agency is seeking input from the public on the
floodplain management standards that communities should adopt to result
in safer, stronger, and more resilient communities and to promote
protection of listed species and their critical habitats. Specifically,
FEMA is seeking input through a series of questions in the RFI on
opportunities for the agency to improve the minimum floodplain
management standards for land management and use which better align the
NFIP with the current understanding of flood risk and flood risk
reduction approaches. See, 86 FR 56713. Current FEMA floodplain
management standards for flood-prone area regulations have not been
revised since they were implemented in 1976. The agency is considering
revision to these regulations based on its current understanding of
flood risk and flood risk reduction approaches and is now taking a
thorough review of the floodplain management standards, along with
prior published studies and reports, to determine how these standards
can best meet FEMA and stakeholder needs.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ See generally ``National Flood Insurance Program: Evaluation
Studies'' found at <a href="http://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/rules-legislation/2006-evaluation">http://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/rules-legislation/2006-evaluation</a> (last accessed November 4, 2021) and
``Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study of Loss Prevention'' found
at <a href="http://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/building-science/building-codes-save-study">http://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/building-science/building-codes-save-study</a> (last accessed November 4, 2021)
among others.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEMA is also re-evaluating the implementation of the NFIP under the
Endangered Species Act at the national level to complete a revised
Biological Evaluation \3\ re-examining how NFIP actions influence land
development decisions; the potential for such actions to have adverse
effects on listed species and critical habitats; and to identify
program changes to mitigate adverse effects to avoid jeopardy to listed
species and/or critical habitats. Public feedback will help FEMA with
this process.
FEMA is holding an additional public meeting and extending the
comment period for an additional 45 days until January 27, 2022, to
ensure all interested parties have sufficient opportunity to provide
comments on FEMA programs. As the RFI seeks information regarding a
series of questions, the public may wish to review the RFI in advance
of the meeting. The RFI is found at 86 FR 56713. FEMA will carefully
consider all relevant comments received during the meeting, and during
the rest of the RFI's comment period. All comments or remarks provided
on the request for information during the meeting will be
[[Page 66330]]
recorded and posted to the rulemaking docket on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
The purpose of this additional public meeting is to seek feedback
on the agency's request for information on the NFIP Floodplain
Management Standards for Land Management and Use, and an Assessment of
the Program's Impact on Threatened and Endangered Species and their
Habitats published October 12, 2021. Individuals cannot apply for FEMA
assistance by submitting a comment in the Federal Register or at these
public meetings. If you are an individual who has been impacted by a
disaster and you are seeking assistance from FEMA, please visit <a href="https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual">https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual</a> or call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-
621-3362/TTY (800) 462-7585) to apply or receive information on a
pending request.
Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021-25336 Filed 11-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-47-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 22, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.