RiskMap type 31 percent October 2012 www.fema.gov/rm-main · 1–877–FEMA MAP Procedure Memorandums . PM 34—Interim Guidance for Studies Including Levees. Issued on August 22, 2005, helps clarify the responsibility of community officials or other parties seeking recognition of a levee system in providing information on levee systems identified during a study/mapping project. PM 34 clarifies procedures to minimize delays in near-term study/mapping projects and to aid FEMA mapping partners in properly assessing how to handle levee mapping issues. Provisionally Accredited Levees Mapping Scenarios for Procedure Memorandum No. 43 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has implemented procedures to verify that levee systems currently shown on effective flood maps as providing protection from the 1-percent-annual-chance flood continue to meet the current criteria for levee systems. FEMA has issued several Procedure Memorandums (PMs) to clarify the evaluation and mapping requirements for levee-impacted areas (see sidebar). You may access the full text through FEMA.gov at http://www.fema.gov/ctp- main/guidelines-specifications-flood-hazard-mapping-partners. . PM 43—Guidelines for Identifying Provisionally Accredited Levees. Issued as revised on March 16, 2007, describes five scenarios for determining whether a previously accredited levee system—that is, a levee system that has been shown on an NFIP map as providing 1- percent-annual-chance flood protection—qualifies for the Provisionally Accredited Levee, or PAL, designation. The PAL designation provides communities or levee owners with additional time to compile and submit the data and documentation required to comply with NFIP regulations. . PM 45—Revisions to Accredited Levee and Provisionally Accredited Levee Notations. issued on May 12, 2008, provides updated information on the map notes that are to appear on Flood Insurance Rate Maps. . You may access the full text of all Procedure Memorandums at the following FEMA.gov at http://www.fema.gov/ctp- main/guidelines-specifications- flood-hazard-mapping-partners. Before FEMA will designate a Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), the community or levee owner will need to sign and return an agreement indicating that the data and documentation required to show the levee system’s compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)’s Title 44, Chapter 1, Section 65.10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR Section 65.10) will be provided within a specified timeframe, which depends on the levee status. A level status would be within 24 months of the 91st day following the initial notification letter date or within 24 months of the final day of the correction period for levee systems whose owners have been offered a 1-year maintenance deficiency correction period. If the signed PAL agreement or letter requesting a 1-year maintenance deficiency correction period is not returned to FEMA within 90 days levee systems in the community are no longer eligible for the PAL designation. Levee system owners that have been offered the 1-year maintenance deficiency correction period have 12 months to correct the maintenance deficiencies as well as request, and be approved for, the PAL designation. If the levee system does not meet the PAL requirements, the area landward of the levee system will be remapped as a high-risk area, called a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), on the FIRM. The SFHA will be designated Zone AE or Zone A depending on the type of engineering study performed for the area. RiskMap type 31 percent October 2012 www.fema.gov/rm-main · 1–877–FEMA MAP FIRM with a Provisionally Accredited Levee System DFIRM with De-Accredited Levee System Additional information on the various PAL scenarios is provided below. The FEMA mapping requirements are designed to provide the people living and working in levee-impacted areas with appropriate flood risk information so that they may minimize damage and loss of life in the event of a flood. To implement the NFIP’s regulatory stipulations, FEMA issued the procedural requirements for the evaluation and mapping of levee systems found in Appendix H of Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners. FEMA issued PMs 34, 43, 45, 52 and 53, as clarifications of the requirements in Appendix H. You may access all of these documents through FEMA.gov at http://www.fema.gov/ctp-main/guidelines- specifications-flood-hazard-mapping-partners. Levee systems are designed to provide a specific level of protection which means they can be overtopped or even fail during larger flood events, with catastrophic results. Within the existing regulatory framework, communities are both physically and fiscally responsible for the risk that is caused by uncertified levees. Everyone should understand the risk to life and property that exists in levee-impacted areas—risk that even the best flood protection system cannot completely eliminate—and FIRM updates will make essential information not only accessible to community action groups, but more accurate. RiskMap type 31 percent October 2012 www.fema.gov/rm-main · 1–877–FEMA MAP The table below summarizes the possible scenarios outlined in PM 43. Scenario Criteria PAL Eligible USACE Program FIRM Shows Protection Provided Maintenance Deficiency Period Who Notifies Levee Owner/ Community/ Local Project Sponsor A1 . Levee system not in USACE Program . Levee system shown on effective FIRM as providing 1-percent- annual-chance flood protection . Community/levee owner believes levee system meets 44 CFR Section 65.10 requirements Yes No Yes No FEMA Regional Office A2 . Levee system not in USACE Program . Levee system shown on effective FIRM as providing 1-percent- annual-chance flood protection . Community/levee owner believes levee system meets 44 CFR Section 65.10 requirements except for maintenance deficiencies Yes No Yes Yes FEMA Regional Office B . Levee system in USACE Program . Levee system shown on effective FIRM as providing 1-percent- annual-chance flood protection . No available information indicates levee system does not provide 1-percent-annual-chance flood protection . Project inspection rating within acceptable range (as defined by USACE) Yes Yes Yes No FEMA Regional Office C1 . Levee system in USACE Program . Levee system shown on effective FIRM as providing 1-percent- annual-chance flood protection . USACE determined that levee system’s recent inspection ratings listed as fair, poor, or unacceptable . USACE determined that project status in USACE Program has been switched from active to inactive . USACE did not offer 1-year maintenance deficiency correction period No Yes Yes No USACE, FEMA Regional Office C2 . Levee system in USACE Program . Levee system shown on effective FIRM as providing 1-percent- annual-chance flood protection . USACE determined that levee system’s recent inspection ratings listed as fair, poor, or unacceptable . Levee system in active status in USACE Program before 9/30/2005 (FY06) . USACE offered 1-year maintenance deficiency correction period Yes Yes Yes Yes USACE, FEMA Regional Office D . Levee system in USACE Program . Levee system not shown on effective FIRM as providing 1-percent- annual-chance flood protection No Yes No No — E . Levee system in USACE Program . Levee system shown as providing protection but does not provide an adequate level (1-percent-annual-chance or greater) of flood protection as determined by USACE in coordination with FEMA . Levee system’s inspection rating NOT listed as fair, poor, or unacceptable, but levee system may have failed or experienced overtopping by flood event less than 1-percent-annual-chance flood No Yes Yes No FEMA Regional Office