Notice of Availability and Request for Comments; Federal Flood Standard Support website and Tool Beta Version, 25674-25676 [2024-07721]

Download as PDF 25674 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 71 / Thursday, April 11, 2024 / Notices assistance in using the internet to locate docket submissions. V. Authority and Signature James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this notice. The authority for this notice is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506 et seq.) and Secretary of Labor’s Order No. 8–2020 (85 FR 58393). Signed at Washington, DC, on April 4, 2024. James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. [FR Doc. 2024–07631 Filed 4–10–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–26–P POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. MC2024–223 and CP2024–229] New Postal Products Postal Regulatory Commission. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the Commission’s consideration concerning a negotiated service agreement. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps. DATES: Comments are due: April 15, 2024. SUMMARY: Submit comments electronically via the Commission’s Filing Online system at https:// www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing alternatives. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202–789–6820. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Docketed Proceeding(s) khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES I. Introduction The Commission gives notice that the Postal Service filed request(s) for the Commission to consider matters related to negotiated service agreement(s). The request(s) may propose the addition or removal of a negotiated service agreement from the Market Dominant or the Competitive product list, or the modification of an existing product currently appearing on the Market VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Apr 10, 2024 Jkt 262001 Dominant or the Competitive product list. Section II identifies the docket number(s) associated with each Postal Service request, the title of each Postal Service request, the request’s acceptance date, and the authority cited by the Postal Service for each request. For each request, the Commission appoints an officer of the Commission to represent the interests of the general public in the proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505 (Public Representative). Section II also establishes comment deadline(s) pertaining to each request. The public portions of the Postal Service’s request(s) can be accessed via the Commission’s website (https:// www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of the Postal Service’s request(s), if any, can be accessed through compliance with the requirements of 39 CFR 3011.301.1 The Commission invites comments on whether the Postal Service’s request(s) in the captioned docket(s) are consistent with the policies of title 39. For request(s) that the Postal Service states concern Market Dominant product(s), applicable statutory and regulatory requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3622, 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3030, and 39 CFR part 3040, subpart B. For request(s) that the Postal Service states concern Competitive product(s), applicable statutory and regulatory requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 U.S.C. 3633, 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3035, and 39 CFR part 3040, subpart B. Comment deadline(s) for each request appear in section II. II. Docketed Proceeding(s) 1. Docket No(s).: MC2024–223 and CP2024–229; Filing Title: USPS Request to Add Priority Mail & USPS Ground Advantage Contract 212 to Competitive Product List and Notice of Filing Materials Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date: April 5, 2024; Filing Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 3040.130 through 3040.135, and 39 CFR 3035.105; Public Representative: Alireza Motameni; Comments Due: April 15, 2024. This Notice will be published in the Federal Register. Erica A. Barker, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–07662 Filed 4–10–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P 1 See Docket No. RM2018–3, Order Adopting Final Rules Relating to Non-Public Information, June 27, 2018, Attachment A at 19–22 (Order No. 4679). PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY Notice of Availability and Request for Comments; Federal Flood Standard Support website and Tool Beta Version Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. AGENCY: Flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard in the United States. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is requesting public comments on the beta version of the Federal Flood Standard Support website (available at https://flood standard.climate.gov) and the Federal Flood Standard Support Tool (available at https://floodstandard.climate.gov/tool) to assist Federal agencies and applicants or recipients of Federal financial assistance in the implementation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS). OSTP is seeking comments on the beta version of these digital resources. DATES: Interested persons and organizations are invited to submit comments on or before May 28, 2024. ADDRESSES: Interested individuals and organizations should submit comments electronically via to https:// www.regulations.gov/. Due to time constraints, mailed paper submissions will not be accepted, and electronic submissions received after the deadline may not be incorporated or taken into consideration. Instructions: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https:// www.regulations.gov/ to submit your comments electronically. Information on how to use Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing agency documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site under ‘‘FAQ’’ (https://www.regulations.gov/faq). Privacy Note: OSTP’s policy is to make all appropriate comments received from members of the public available for public viewing in their entirety on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov/. Therefore, commenters should be careful to include in their comments only information that they wish to make publicly available. OSTP requests that no proprietary information, copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be submitted in response to this notice of availability and request for comments. Information obtained from this Request for Comments may be used by the Government on a non-attribution SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\11APN1.SGM 11APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 71 / Thursday, April 11, 2024 / Notices basis for planning and strategy development. OSTP will not respond to individual submissions. A response to this Request for Comments will not be viewed as a binding commitment to develop or pursue the project or ideas discussed. This Request for Comments is not accepting applications for financial assistance or financial incentives. Responses containing references, studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of or electronic links to the referenced materials. Responses from minors, or responses containing profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language or content will not be considered. Comments submitted in response to this notice are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Responses to this Request for Comments may be posted without change online. Please note that the United States Government will not pay for response preparation, or for the use of any information contained in a response. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, please direct questions to Dr. Kristin Ludwig, OSTP Assistant Director for Resilience Science and Technology, at FederalFloodStandardTool@ ostp.eop.gov or (202) 881–7711. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES I. Background Flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard in the United States. From 1980–2023, flood-related losses have cost our Nation an average of $4.3 billion per year,1 and a changing climate means that communities, homes, property, and critical infrastructure are increasingly exposed to more frequent and intense extreme events and sea level rise.2 Understanding the risks that flooding poses to communities, national defense, and our economy is critical for Federal agencies to effectively serve the public. Executive Order (E.O.) 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input,3 establishes a Federal Flood Risk Management 1 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2024). https:// www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/, DOI: 10.25921/ stkw–7w73. 2 USGCRP, 2023: Fifth National Climate Assessment. Crimmins, A.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock, Eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA. https://doi.org/ 10.7930/NCA5.2023. 3 80 FR 6425, January 30, 2015. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Apr 10, 2024 Jkt 262001 Standard (FFRMS) so that Federal agencies can take actions to enhance the Nation’s resilience to current and future flooding. E.O. 13690, as reinstated by E.O. 14030, Climate-Related Financial Risk,4 amended and built upon E.O. 11988, Floodplain Management 5 by directing Federal agencies to take action to reduce the risk of flood loss, to minimize the impact of floods on human safety, health, and welfare, and to restore and preserve the natural and beneficial values of floodplains. Under these Executive Orders, Federal agencies are directed to conduct a review of their proposed actions— including the development of key infrastructure projects and decisions to provide Federal financial assistance. The goal of this review is to avoid longand short-term adverse impacts associated with development in or near a floodplain. When planning a new federally funded project such as a business building or key infrastructure, Federal agencies typically follow an eight-step process as described in the Guidelines for Implementing Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and Executive Order 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input.6 Under E.O. 11988, floodplain areas to consider were the areas subject to flooding by the one-percent annual chance flood, also known as the base flood. These areas were typically identified by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in their Flood Insurance Rate Maps.7 E.O. 13690 expanded the floodplain of consideration for federally funded projects 8 to a higher elevation to address current and future flood risk due to the effects of climate change and other future conditions. E.O. 13690 also encourages climate-conscious resilient design. E.O. 13690 directs Federal agencies to select from several different approaches to establish the FFRMS 4 86 FR 27967, May 20, 2021. FR 26951, May 24, 1977. 6 See, e.g., 24 CFR 55.1, and Guidelines for Implementing Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and Executive Order 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input (Oct. 2015), https:// www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_ implementing-guidelines-EO11988-13690_ 10082015.pdf. 7 See https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps. 8 Federally funded projects are actions where Federal funds are used for new construction, substantial improvement, or to address substantial damage to structures and facilities. 5 42 PO 00000 Frm 00118 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25675 floodplain. The approaches outlined in E.O. 13690 are: • Climate-Informed Science Approach (CISA)—The elevation and flood hazard area that result from using the best-available, actionable hydrologic and hydraulic data and methods that integrate current and future changes in flooding based on climate science. This approach also emphasizes whether the action is critical as one of the factors to consider when conducting the analysis. • Freeboard Value Approach (FVA)— The elevation and flood hazard area that result from adding an additional two feet to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE; also known as the one-percent-annualchance-flood or 100-year flood—a flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year) for non-critical actions and by adding an additional three feet to the BFE for critical actions. • 0.2-Percent-Annual-Chance Flood Approach (0.2PFA)—The area subject to flooding by the 0.2-percent-annualchance flood or the 500-year flood—a flood having a 0.2 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. • The elevation and flood hazard area that result from using any other method identified in an update to the FFRMS. Additional information, including an instructional video, on floodplains and the FFRMS is available at https:// www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/ intergovernmental/federal-flood-riskmanagement-standard and https:// www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_ planning/environment_energy/ffrms. II. Resources for Implementing the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard A number of resources have been developed to help users learn about and implement the FFRMS. The 2023 FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job Aid 9 was developed to help Federal agencies charged with identifying whether a federally funded project will take place in the FFRMS floodplain. Building on the FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job Aid, members of the Flood Resilience Interagency Working Group 10 have developed the Federal Flood Standard Support website to help Federal agencies and their non-Federal partners implement the FFRMS. The website includes a Federal Flood Standard Support Tool to help users determine if a proposed federally 9 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/ documents/fema_ffrms-floodplain-determinationjob-aid.pdf. 10 See https://www.fema.gov/floodplainmanagement/intergovernmental/white-house-floodresilience-interagency-working-group. E:\FR\FM\11APN1.SGM 11APN1 25676 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 71 / Thursday, April 11, 2024 / Notices funded project will be located within an FFRMS floodplain, based on the CISA or FVA. The website also includes a number of resources that have undergone interagency review: • a video on determining the FFRMS floodplain • Federal Flood Standard Support Tool User Manual • FFRMS Interim Flood Mapping Data Development Methodology report • 2023 CISA State of the Science Report • 2023 FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job Aid • information on nature-based solutions that Federal and non-Federal partners could use in their efforts to identify practicable alternatives and minimization techniques. Request for Comment While OSTP invites all comments responsive to this request for comments, of key interest are: (a) feedback on the functionality of the Federal Flood Standard Support Tool in providing a user-friendly visual representation and actionable information on FFRMS approaches for federally funded projects; (b) insights on potential training and/or technical assistance needs associated with use of the Federal Flood Standard Support Tool; and (c) suggestions for clarifying the communication of the flood mapping data development methodology. Please be specific in comments provided and/ or recommendations for changes to the digital resources. Response to this Request for Comments is voluntary. Comments on the beta version of the Federal Flood Standard Support website and Tool will be considered as modifications are made to the website and Tool. Please note, as this is the beta release, over the course of the coming months, additional data will be incorporated to provide more expansive coverage. Dated: April 8, 2024. Stacy Murphy, Deputy Chief Operations Officer/Security Officer. [FR Doc. 2024–07721 Filed 4–10–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3270–F1–P khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [SEC File No. 270–771, OMB Control No. 3235–0752] Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension: Rule 18a–9 Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Apr 10, 2024 Jkt 262001 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–2736 Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (‘‘PRA’’) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 18a–9 (17 CFR 240.18a–9), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for extension and approval. Rule 18a–9, which is modeled on Exchange Act Rule 17–13, establishes a securities count program for securitybased swap dealers not dually registered as a broker-dealer or regulated by a prudential regulator (‘‘stand-alone SBSDs’’). Specifically, Rule 18a–9 requires stand-alone SBSDs to examine and count the securities they physically hold, account for the securities that are subject to their control and direction but are not in their physical possession, verify the locations of securities under certain circumstances, and compare the results of the count and verification with their records. Stand-alone SBSDs are required to perform a securities count each quarter, either as of a date certain or on a cyclical basis. Rule 18a–9 requires stand-alone SBSDs to note any discrepancies between the count and the firm’s records, and to record in the firm’s record any discrepancies that remain unresolved seven business days after the date of the examination, count, and verification. The Commission estimates that the total hour burden under Rule 18a–6 is approximately 1,100 hours per year. Written comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission’s estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted by June 10, 2024. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. PO 00000 Frm 00119 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Please direct your written comments to: David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o John Pezzullo, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, or send an email to: PRA_ Mailbox@sec.gov. Dated: April 8, 2024. Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–07695 Filed 4–10–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 99915/April 8, 2024] In the Matter of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Order Scheduling Filing of Statements On Review Regarding an Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the FINRA Codes of Arbitration Procedure and Code of Mediation Procedure To Revise and Restate the Qualifications for Representatives in Arbitrations and Mediations (File No. SR–FINRA–2023–013) On October 5, 2023, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to amend the FINRA Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes, the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes, and the Code of Mediation Procedure, to revise and restate the qualifications for representatives in arbitrations and mediations in the forum administered by FINRA Dispute Resolution Services. The proposed rule change was published for public comment in the Federal Register on October 13, 2023.3 The public comment period closed on November 3, 2023. The Commission received comment letters related to this filing.4 On November 9, 2023, FINRA consented to an extension of the time period in which the Commission must approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether to approve or disapprove the 1 See 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 See Exchange Act Release No. 98703 (Oct. 6, 2023), 88 FR 71051 (Oct. 13, 2023) (File No. SR– FINRA–2023–013) (‘‘Notice’’). 4 The comment letters are available at https:// www.sec.gov/comments/sr-finra-2023-013/ srfinra2023013.htm. 2 See E:\FR\FM\11APN1.SGM 11APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 71 (Thursday, April 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25674-25676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07721]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


Notice of Availability and Request for Comments; Federal Flood 
Standard Support website and Tool Beta Version

AGENCY: Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard in the 
United States. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is 
requesting public comments on the beta version of the Federal Flood 
Standard Support website (available at https://floodstandard.climate.gov) and the Federal Flood Standard Support Tool 
(available at https://floodstandard.climate.gov/tool) to assist Federal 
agencies and applicants or recipients of Federal financial assistance 
in the implementation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard 
(FFRMS). OSTP is seeking comments on the beta version of these digital 
resources.

DATES: Interested persons and organizations are invited to submit 
comments on or before May 28, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals and organizations should submit 
comments electronically via to https://www.regulations.gov/. Due to 
time constraints, mailed paper submissions will not be accepted, and 
electronic submissions received after the deadline may not be 
incorporated or taken into consideration.
    Instructions: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ to submit your comments electronically. 
Information on how to use Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
accessing agency documents, submitting comments, and viewing the 
docket, is available on the site under ``FAQ'' (https://www.regulations.gov/faq).
    Privacy Note: OSTP's policy is to make all appropriate comments 
received from members of the public available for public viewing in 
their entirety on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov/. Therefore, commenters should be careful to 
include in their comments only information that they wish to make 
publicly available. OSTP requests that no proprietary information, 
copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be 
submitted in response to this notice of availability and request for 
comments.
    Information obtained from this Request for Comments may be used by 
the Government on a non-attribution

[[Page 25675]]

basis for planning and strategy development. OSTP will not respond to 
individual submissions. A response to this Request for Comments will 
not be viewed as a binding commitment to develop or pursue the project 
or ideas discussed. This Request for Comments is not accepting 
applications for financial assistance or financial incentives.
    Responses containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of 
or electronic links to the referenced materials. Responses from minors, 
or responses containing profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other 
inappropriate language or content will not be considered.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice are subject to the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Responses to this Request for 
Comments may be posted without change online. Please note that the 
United States Government will not pay for response preparation, or for 
the use of any information contained in a response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, please 
direct questions to Dr. Kristin Ludwig, OSTP Assistant Director for 
Resilience Science and Technology, at 
[email protected] or (202) 881-7711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard in the United 
States. From 1980-2023, flood-related losses have cost our Nation an 
average of $4.3 billion per year,\1\ and a changing climate means that 
communities, homes, property, and critical infrastructure are 
increasingly exposed to more frequent and intense extreme events and 
sea level rise.\2\ Understanding the risks that flooding poses to 
communities, national defense, and our economy is critical for Federal 
agencies to effectively serve the public.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) 
U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2024). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/, DOI: 10.25921/stkw-7w73.
    \2\ USGCRP, 2023: Fifth National Climate Assessment. Crimmins, 
A.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, B.C. Stewart, and 
T.K. Maycock, Eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, 
DC, USA. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Executive Order (E.O.) 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk 
Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and 
Considering Stakeholder Input,\3\ establishes a Federal Flood Risk 
Management Standard (FFRMS) so that Federal agencies can take actions 
to enhance the Nation's resilience to current and future flooding. E.O. 
13690, as reinstated by E.O. 14030, Climate-Related Financial Risk,\4\ 
amended and built upon E.O. 11988, Floodplain Management \5\ by 
directing Federal agencies to take action to reduce the risk of flood 
loss, to minimize the impact of floods on human safety, health, and 
welfare, and to restore and preserve the natural and beneficial values 
of floodplains. Under these Executive Orders, Federal agencies are 
directed to conduct a review of their proposed actions--including the 
development of key infrastructure projects and decisions to provide 
Federal financial assistance. The goal of this review is to avoid long- 
and short-term adverse impacts associated with development in or near a 
floodplain. When planning a new federally funded project such as a 
business building or key infrastructure, Federal agencies typically 
follow an eight-step process as described in the Guidelines for 
Implementing Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and 
Executive Order 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management 
Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering 
Stakeholder Input.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 80 FR 6425, January 30, 2015.
    \4\ 86 FR 27967, May 20, 2021.
    \5\ 42 FR 26951, May 24, 1977.
    \6\ See, e.g., 24 CFR 55.1, and Guidelines for Implementing 
Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and Executive Order 
13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a 
Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input 
(Oct. 2015), https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_implementing-guidelines-EO11988-13690_10082015.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under E.O. 11988, floodplain areas to consider were the areas 
subject to flooding by the one-percent annual chance flood, also known 
as the base flood. These areas were typically identified by the 
Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA) in their Flood Insurance Rate Maps.\7\ E.O. 13690 
expanded the floodplain of consideration for federally funded projects 
\8\ to a higher elevation to address current and future flood risk due 
to the effects of climate change and other future conditions. E.O. 
13690 also encourages climate-conscious resilient design. E.O. 13690 
directs Federal agencies to select from several different approaches to 
establish the FFRMS floodplain. The approaches outlined in E.O. 13690 
are:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps.
    \8\ Federally funded projects are actions where Federal funds 
are used for new construction, substantial improvement, or to 
address substantial damage to structures and facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Climate-Informed Science Approach (CISA)--The elevation 
and flood hazard area that result from using the best-available, 
actionable hydrologic and hydraulic data and methods that integrate 
current and future changes in flooding based on climate science. This 
approach also emphasizes whether the action is critical as one of the 
factors to consider when conducting the analysis.
     Freeboard Value Approach (FVA)--The elevation and flood 
hazard area that result from adding an additional two feet to the Base 
Flood Elevation (BFE; also known as the one-percent-annual-chance-flood 
or 100-year flood--a flood having a one percent chance of being equaled 
or exceeded in any given year) for non-critical actions and by adding 
an additional three feet to the BFE for critical actions.
     0.2-Percent-Annual-Chance Flood Approach (0.2PFA)--The 
area subject to flooding by the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood or the 
500-year flood--a flood having a 0.2 percent chance of being equaled or 
exceeded in any given year.
     The elevation and flood hazard area that result from using 
any other method identified in an update to the FFRMS.
    Additional information, including an instructional video, on 
floodplains and the FFRMS is available at https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/intergovernmental/federal-flood-risk-management-standard and https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/environment_energy/ffrms.

II. Resources for Implementing the Federal Flood Risk Management 
Standard

    A number of resources have been developed to help users learn about 
and implement the FFRMS. The 2023 FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job 
Aid \9\ was developed to help Federal agencies charged with identifying 
whether a federally funded project will take place in the FFRMS 
floodplain. Building on the FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job Aid, 
members of the Flood Resilience Interagency Working Group \10\ have 
developed the Federal Flood Standard Support website to help Federal 
agencies and their non-Federal partners implement the FFRMS. The 
website includes a Federal Flood Standard Support Tool to help users 
determine if a proposed federally

[[Page 25676]]

funded project will be located within an FFRMS floodplain, based on the 
CISA or FVA. The website also includes a number of resources that have 
undergone interagency review:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_ffrms-floodplain-determination-job-aid.pdf.
    \10\ See https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/intergovernmental/white-house-flood-resilience-interagency-working-group.

 a video on determining the FFRMS floodplain
 Federal Flood Standard Support Tool User Manual
 FFRMS Interim Flood Mapping Data Development Methodology 
report
 2023 CISA State of the Science Report
 2023 FFRMS Floodplain Determination Job Aid
 information on nature-based solutions that Federal and non-
Federal partners could use in their efforts to identify practicable 
alternatives and minimization techniques.

Request for Comment

    While OSTP invites all comments responsive to this request for 
comments, of key interest are: (a) feedback on the functionality of the 
Federal Flood Standard Support Tool in providing a user-friendly visual 
representation and actionable information on FFRMS approaches for 
federally funded projects; (b) insights on potential training and/or 
technical assistance needs associated with use of the Federal Flood 
Standard Support Tool; and (c) suggestions for clarifying the 
communication of the flood mapping data development methodology. Please 
be specific in comments provided and/or recommendations for changes to 
the digital resources.
    Response to this Request for Comments is voluntary. Comments on the 
beta version of the Federal Flood Standard Support website and Tool 
will be considered as modifications are made to the website and Tool. 
Please note, as this is the beta release, over the course of the coming 
months, additional data will be incorporated to provide more expansive 
coverage.

    Dated: April 8, 2024.
Stacy Murphy,
Deputy Chief Operations Officer/Security Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-07721 Filed 4-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3270-F1-P
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