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National Flood Insurance Program – Endangered Species Act Integration in Oregon

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the implementation of the plan for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) – Endangered Species Act (ESA) Integration in Oregon. FEMA released a draft of this plan in October 2021.

FEMA is preparing the EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations to implement NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500 to 1508); Department of Homeland Security Instruction 023-01-001; and FEMA Instruction 108-01-1. FEMA will update this page as we proceed through the NEPA process.

Pre-Implementation Compliance Measures

Starting in July 2024, FEMA will begin coordinating with participating NFIP communities to assist them in identifying how they currently meet, or plan to meet, the requirements of the ESA. Communities will be provided guidance to assist them in making an informed decision, and the opportunity to identify what type of assistance will be necessary to ensure the community is prepared to demonstrate compliance with the ESA when the final Oregon NFIP-ESA Implementation Plan begins. Contact the Region 10 team for more information.

Proposed Action

The proposed action that FEMA will evaluate in the EIS is the execution of the Oregon Implementation Plan for NFIP-ESA Integration, developed by FEMA with input from the State of Oregon and public stakeholders between 2016 and 2021. The draft plan comprises changes to information provided to communities, mapping products, and reporting requirements for NFIP-participating communities as well as a range of potential measures communities will need to select from to collectively meet a “no net loss” standard of three key natural floodplain functions: flood storage, water quality, and riparian vegetation.

Implementation Plan Area

The Implementation Plan Area boundary is generally defined by the boundaries of six NOAA Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Domains within the State of Oregon:  Oregon Coast, Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast, Willamette River, Lower Columbia River, Middle Columbia River, and Snake River.

Within these recovery domains, the Implementation Plan applies to communities that are participating in the NFIP. However, since participation is voluntary and a community may join or leave the program, this EIS applies to both current and future NFIP communities. Information about the NFIP in Oregon is available through the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.

For a proposed development activity to be subject to the Implementation Plan, it must be proposed in a location subject to the minimum standards of the NFIP, which means that, at the time the activity is proposed, it is 1) within the geographic jurisdiction of a community that participates in the NFIP, and 2) it is within the mapped special flood hazard area (SFHA).

Download the Directions for Determining Locations within the Plan Area

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Next Steps

FEMA published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS on March 6, 2023 which opened the public comment period. The comment period ran for 92 days and closed on June 26, 2023. A summary of comments received is provided in the June 2023 quarterly update.

View the Implementation Timeline

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Resource Documents

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The PICM Mitigation Assessment is a simplified version of the Floodplain Habitat Assessment and Mitigation: Regional guidance for Oregon and is intended to help communities implementing the Permit-by-Permit option reach No Net Loss of three floodplain functions and thereby reaching ESA compliance.”

Quarterly Updates

Public Meetings

FEMA hosted virtual and in-person public meetings to solicit comments regarding the Proposed Action and the environmental issues that FEMA should consider in the EIS.

Additional in-person meetings will be held when FEMA releases the Draft EIS for public review and comment.