FEMA Policy: Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS), 56928 [2024-15170]

Agencies

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 56928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15170]



[[Page 56927]]

Vol. 89

Thursday,

No. 133

July 11, 2024

Part II





Department of Homeland Security





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Federal Emergency Management Agency





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FEMA Policy: Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS); Updates to 
Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands Regulations To 
Implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard; Notice and Final 
Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 133 / Thursday, July 11, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 56928]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2023-0026]
RIN 1660-AB12


FEMA Policy: Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS)

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is announcing 
the availability of the final FEMA policy, Federal Flood Risk 
Management Standard (FFRMS). This policy provides detail, consistent 
with applicable regulations, on applicability, processes, resources, 
and responsibilities for implementing the FFRMS as part of FEMA's 8-
step decision making process for carrying out the directives of 
Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, as amended.

DATES: The announcement of this policy is published in the Federal 
Register on July 11, 2024. The policy will be effective on September 9, 
2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Portia Ross, Policy and Integration 
Division Director, Office of Environmental Planning and Historic 
Preservation, Resilience, DHS/FEMA, 400 C St. SW, Suite 313, 
Washington, DC 20472-3020. Phone: 202-709-0677; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA is issuing this policy complementary to 
44 CFR part 9, Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands, which 
governs FEMA's implementation of the Federal Flood Risk Management 
Standard (FFRMS). This policy facilitates implementation of FFRMS and 
bolsters the resilience of communities and Federal assets against the 
impacts of flooding.
    Consistent with the final rule that is also published in today's 
edition of the Federal Register, this policy requires that FEMA 
determine the appropriate vertical flood elevation and corresponding 
horizontal FFRMS floodplain for Actions Subject to the FFRMS using 
either the Climate Informed Science Approach (CISA), the Freeboard 
Value Approach (FVA), or the 0.2 Percent Annual Chance Flood Approach 
(0.2PFA). Under the final policy, FEMA will determine the FFRMS flood 
elevation and corresponding FFRMS floodplain according to CISA for all 
locations where CISA is available where the best-available, actionable 
hydrologic and hydraulic data and methods that integrate current and 
future changes in flooding based on climate science exist. When using 
CISA, for non-critical actions the FFRMS floodplain will be at least as 
restrictive as the 1% annual chance (AC) flood elevation and 
corresponding horizontal floodplain,\1\ and for critical actions the 
FFRMS floodplain will be at least as restrictive as the 0.2% AC flood 
elevation and corresponding horizontal floodplain. For locations where 
CISA is not available and actionable, FEMA will determine the FFRMS 
elevation and FFRMS floodplain for non-critical actions by using the 
area that would be inundated by the lower of the 0.2% AC flood or +2-
foot FVA. For critical actions, FEMA will determine the FFRMS elevation 
and FFRMS floodplain using the area that would be inundated by the 
higher of the 0.2% AC flood or +3-foot FVA. (For locations where 
information about the elevation and/or extent of the 0.2% AC floodplain 
is not available, the FFRMS floodplain will be the +3-foot FVA for 
critical actions and +2-foot FVA for non-critical actions).
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    \1\ In coastal areas Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood 
Insurance Studies (FISs) provide 1% AC flood elevations that account 
for the effects of wave action. However, 0.2% AC flood elevations 
are generally stillwater elevations that do not account for the 
effects of wave action. In coastal areas, if the 0.2% AC flood 
elevation does not account for the effects of wave action, the FVA 
flood elevation must be used.
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    This policy also outlines FEMA's process to identify actions that 
may receive substantial damage or substantial improvement 
determinations, requires consideration of natural features and nature-
based approaches as alternatives to a proposed action, explains 
requirements to minimize flood risk, and encourages early coordination 
when multiple Federal agencies are jointly engaged in an action to 
ensure a consistent approach to determine which floodplain 
determination is applied.
    Authority: Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, as amended 
and implementing regulations of 44 CFR part 9, among other authorities 
listed in the proposed policy.

Deanne B. Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2024-15170 Filed 7-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-23-P