President Obama signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input, on January 30, 2015.
The new E.O. amends E.O. 11988, “Floodplain Management” (1977), and, among other things, provides 3 approaches that federal agencies can use now to establish the flood elevation and hazard area for consideration in their decisionmaking: climate-informed science approach, adding 2-3 feet of elevation to the 100-year floodplain, and using the 500-year floodplain.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) simultaneously published the draft “Revised Guidelines for Implementing Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management,” which, in part, emphasizes integration with NEPA, for public review.
A 60-day public review period of the draft revised guidelines ends on April 6, 2015. Comments received during a 60-day public review period, including those made during public meetings, will be considered in finalizing the revised guidelines.
Within 30 days of the closing of the public review period on the draft revised guidelines, each agency is to submit an implementation plan that contains milestones and a timeline. Agencies shall not issue or amend existing regulations and procedures until after the Water Resources Council has issued the final revised guidelines.
The new E.O. amends E.O. 11988, “Floodplain Management” (1977), and, among other things, provides 3 approaches that federal agencies can use now to establish the flood elevation and hazard area for consideration in their decisionmaking: climate-informed science approach, adding 2-3 feet of elevation to the 100-year floodplain, and using the 500-year floodplain.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) simultaneously published the draft “Revised Guidelines for Implementing Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management,” which, in part, emphasizes integration with NEPA, for public review.
A 60-day public review period of the draft revised guidelines ends on April 6, 2015. Comments received during a 60-day public review period, including those made during public meetings, will be considered in finalizing the revised guidelines.
Within 30 days of the closing of the public review period on the draft revised guidelines, each agency is to submit an implementation plan that contains milestones and a timeline. Agencies shall not issue or amend existing regulations and procedures until after the Water Resources Council has issued the final revised guidelines.