[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2955-2959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00904]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID: FEMA-2014-0032]
Fee Schedule for Processing Requests for Map Changes, for Flood
Insurance Study Backup Data, and for National Flood Insurance Program
Map and Insurance Products
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice contains the revised fee schedules for processing
certain types of requests for changes to National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP) maps, for processing requests for Flood Insurance Study
(FIS) technical and administrative support data, and for processing
requests for particular NFIP map and insurance products. The changes in
the fee schedules will allow FEMA to reduce further the expenses to the
NFIP by recovering more fully the costs associated with processing
conditional and final map change requests; retrieving, reproducing, and
distributing technical and administrative support data related to FIS
analyses and mapping; and producing, retrieving, and distributing
particular NFIP map and insurance products.
DATES: The revised fee schedules are effective for all requests dated
February 20, 2015, or later.
The revised fee schedule for map changes is effective for all
requests dated February 20, 2015, or later. The revised fee schedule
supersedes the current fee schedule, which was established on January
13, 2010.
The revised fee schedule for requests for FIS backup data also is
effective for all requests dated February 20, 2015, or later. The
revised fee schedule supersedes the current fee schedule, which was
established on January 13, 2010.
The revised fee schedule for requests for particular NFIP map and
insurance products, which are available through the FEMA Map Service
Center (MSC), is effective for all requests, including but not limited
to hardcopy, on-line, and telephone requests received on or after
February 20, 2015. The revised fee schedule supersedes the current fee
schedule, which was established on January 13, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Magnotti, Hydraulic Engineer,
Data and Dissemination Management Branch, Risk Analysis Division, 500 C
Street SW., Washington, DC 20472; by telephone at (202) 646-3932 or by
facsimile at (202) 646-2787 (not toll-free calls); or by email at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains the revised fee
schedules for processing certain types of requests for changes to
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) maps, requests for Flood
Insurance Study (FIS) technical and administrative support data, and
requests for particular NFIP map and insurance products.
Evaluations Performed. To develop the revised fee schedule for
conditional and final map change requests and letter of determination
review requests, FEMA evaluated the actual costs of reviewing and
processing requests for Conditional Letters of Map Amendment (CLOMAs),
Conditional Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill (CLOMR-Fs),
Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMRs), Letters of Map Revision
Based on Fill (LOMR-Fs), Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs), and Letters
of Determination Review (LODRs).
To develop the revised fee schedule requests for FIS technical and
administrative support data, FEMA evaluated the actual costs of
reviewing, reproducing, and distributing archived data in seven
categories. These categories are discussed in more detail below.
To develop the revised fee schedule for requests for particular
NFIP map and insurance products, FEMA decided to eliminate fees for
digital product downloads and to discontinue its distribution of paper-
based products, as well as products on digital media (i.e. compact
disc). This decision was based on the re-architecture of the Map
Service Center (MSC), which allows for the online downloading of larger
datasets. The products covered by this notice are discussed in detail
below.
Periodic Evaluations of Fees. A primary component of the fees is
the prevailing private-sector rates charged to FEMA for labor and
materials. Because these rates and the actual review and processing
costs may vary from year to year, FEMA will evaluate the fees
periodically and publish revised fee schedules, when needed, as notices
in the Federal Register.
Fee Schedule for Requests for Conditional Letters of Map Amendment and
Conditional and Final Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA established the following review and processing
fees, which are to be submitted with all requests:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed online
LOMC Type Proposed fee submission fee
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Single-lot/single-structure CLOMA $600 $500
and CLOMR-F......................
Single-lot/single-structure LOMR-F 525 425
[[Page 2956]]
Single-lot/single-structure LOMR-F 425 325
based on as-built information
(CLOMR-F previously issued by
FEMA)............................
Multiple-lot/multiple-structure 800 700
CLOMA............................
Multiple-lot/multiple-structure 900 800
CLOMR-F and LOMR[dash]F..........
Multiple-lot/multiple-structure 800 700
LOMR[dash]F based on as-built
information (CLOMR-F previously
issued by FEMA)..................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that for digital submissions, the fees for these products have been
reduced by $100, since the costs for handling, scanning, and
transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated with
handling, scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions will
continue to be recovered.
Fee Schedule for Requests for Letters of Determination Review
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA established the following review and processing
fee for requests for Letters of Determination Review, which is to be
submitted with all requests:
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Product type Proposed fee
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LODR................................................... $80
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Fee Schedule for Requests for Conditional Letters of Map Revision
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA established the following review and processing
fees, which are to be submitted with all requests that are not
otherwise exempted under 44 CFR 72.5 and/or the Homeowner Flood
Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, Public Law 113-89, section 22,
Mar. 21, 2014, 128 Stat. 1028, 42 U.S.C. 4101e.:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed online
LOMC Type Proposed fee submission fee
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CLOMR based on new hydrology, $6,750 $6,500
bridge, culvert, channel, or
any combination thereof........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that for digital submissions, the fee for this product has been
reduced by $250, since the costs for handling, scanning, and
transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated with
handling, scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions will
continue to be recovered.
Fees for Conditional Letters of Map Revision Based on a Levee, Berm, or
Other Structural Measure
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA has established $7,250 as the initial fee for
requests for CLOMRs based on a levee, berm, or other structural
measure. For digital submissions, the fees for this product have been
reduced by $250, since the costs for handling, scanning, and
transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated with
handling, scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions will
continue to be recovered. FEMA will also continue to recover the
remainder of the review and processing costs by invoicing the requester
before issuing a determination letter, consistent with current
practice. The prevailing private-sector labor rate charged to FEMA ($60
per hour) will continue to be used to calculate the total fees to be
submitted to FEMA.
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LOMC Type Proposed fee Proposed online submission fee
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CLOMR based on a levee, berm, or other $7,250 (plus $60/h)................ $7,000 (plus $60/h).
structural measure.
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Note that for digital submissions, the fee for this product has been reduced by $250, since the costs for
handling, scanning, and transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated with handling, scanning, and
transportation of hardcopy submissions will continue to be recovered.
Fee Schedule for Requests for Letters of Map Revisions
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA established the following review and processing
fees, which are to be submitted with all requests that are not
otherwise exempted under 44 CFR 72.5 and/or the Homeowner Flood
Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, Public Law 113-89, section 22,
Mar. 21, 2014, 128 Stat. 1028, 42 U.S.C. 4101e. Requesters must submit
the review and processing fees shown below with requests for LOMRs
dated February 20, 2015, or later that are not based on structural
measures on alluvial fans.
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Proposed online
LOMC Type Proposed fee submission fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOMR based on a bridge, culvert, $8,250 $8,000
channel, hydrology, or
combination thereof..............
LOMR based on as-built information 8,250 8,000
submitted as a follow-up to a
CLOMR............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that for digital submissions the fees have been reduced by $250 for
these products since there will be less handling, scanning, and
transportation costs on these products. The higher costs associated
with handling, scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions
will continue to be recovered.
[[Page 2957]]
Fees for Final Letters of Map Revision Based on a Levee, Berm, or Other
Structural Measure
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA has established $9,250 as the initial fee for
requests for LOMRs based on levee, berm, or other structural measure.
For digital submissions, the fees for this product have been reduced by
$250, since the costs for handling, scanning, and transportation will
be lower. The higher costs associated with handling, scanning, and
transportation of hardcopy submissions will continue to be recovered.
FEMA will also continue to recover the remainder of the review and
processing costs by invoicing the requester before issuing a
determination letter, consistent with current practice. The prevailing
private-sector labor rate charged to FEMA ($60 per hour) will continue
to be used to calculate the total fees to be submitted to FEMA.
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LOMC Type Proposed fee Proposed online submission fee
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LOMR based on a levee, berm, or other $9,250 (plus $60/h)................ $9,000 (plus $60/h).
structural measure.
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Note that for digital submissions, the fee for this product has been reduced by $250, since the costs for
handling, scanning, and transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated with handling, scanning, and
transportation of hardcopy submissions will continue to be recovered.
Fees for Conditional and Final Letters of Map Revision Based on
Structural Measures on Alluvial Fans
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA has established $7,250 as the initial fee for
requests for CLOMRs and LOMRs based on structural measures on alluvial
fans. For digital submissions, the fees for these products have been
reduced by $250, since the costs for handling, scanning, and
transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated with
handling, scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions will
continue to be recovered. FEMA will also continue to recover the
remainder of the review and processing costs by invoicing the requester
before issuing a determination letter, consistent with current
practice. The prevailing private-sector labor rate charged to FEMA ($60
per hour) will continue to be used to calculate the total fees to be
submitted to FEMA.
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LOMC Type Proposed fee Proposed online submission fee
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CLOMR based on structural measures on $7,250 (plus $60/h)................ $7,000 (plus $60/h).
alluvial fans.
LOMR based on structural measures on $7,250 (plus $60/h)................ $7,000 (plus $60/h).
alluvial fans.
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Note that for digital submissions the fees have been reduced by $250 for these products since there will be less
handling, scanning, and transportation costs on these products. The higher costs associated with handling,
scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions will continue to be recovered.
Fees for the Mapping of Physical Map Revisions (PMRs)
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA has established $8,250 as the initial fee for
requests to process the review of PMRs. Additional fee of $2,500 per
panel is required to create the mapping for the PMR. Requesters must
submit the review and processing fees shown below with requests for
PMRs dated February 20, 2015, or later that are not based on structural
measures on alluvial fans.
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PMR Type Proposed fee Proposed online submission fee
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PMR based on a bridge, culvert, $8,250 plus $2,500/panel........... $8,000 plus $2,500/panel.
channel, hydrology, or combination
thereof.
PMR based on as-built information $8,250 plus $2,500/panel........... $8,000 plus $2,500/panel.
submitted as a follow-up to a CLOMR.
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Note that for digital submissions the fees have been reduced by $250 for these products since there will be less
handling, scanning, and transportation costs on these products. The higher costs associated with handling,
scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions will continue to be recovered.
Fees for Mapping of Physical Map Revisions Based on a Levee, Berm, or
Other Structural Measure
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA has established $9,250 as the initial fee for
requests to process the review of PMRs based on levee, berm, or other
structural measure. Additional fee of $2,500 per panel is required to
create the mapping for the PMR. For digital submissions, the fees for
this product have been reduced by $250, since the costs for handling,
scanning, and transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated
with handling, scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions
will continue to be recovered. FEMA will also continue to recover the
remainder of the review and processing costs by invoicing the requester
before issuing a determination letter, consistent with current
practice. The prevailing private-sector labor rate charged to FEMA ($60
per hour) will continue to be used to calculate the total fees to be
submitted to FEMA.
[[Page 2958]]
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PMR Type Proposed fee Proposed online submission fee
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PMR based on a levee, berm, or other $9,250 (plus $60/h) plus $2,500/ $9,000 (plus $60/h) plus $2,500/
structural measure. panel. panel.
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Note that for digital submissions, the fee for this product has been reduced by $250, since the costs for
handling, scanning, and transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated with handling, scanning, and
transportation of hardcopy submissions will continue to be recovered.
Fees for Physical Map Revision Based on Structural Measures on Alluvial
Fans
Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013, FEMA has established $7,250 as the initial fee for
requests to process the review of PMRs based on structural measures on
alluvial fans. Additional fee of $2,500 per panel is required to create
the mapping for the PMR. For digital submissions, the fees for these
products have been reduced by $250, since the costs for handling,
scanning, and transportation will be lower. The higher costs associated
with handling, scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions
will continue to be recovered. FEMA will also continue to recover the
remainder of the review and processing costs by invoicing the requester
before issuing a determination letter, consistent with current
practice. The prevailing private-sector labor rate charged to FEMA ($60
per hour) will continue to be used to calculate the total fees to be
submitted to FEMA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PMR Type Proposed fee Proposed online submission fee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PMR based on structural measures on $7,250 (plus $60/h) plus $2,500/ $7,000 (plus $60/h) plus $2,500/
alluvial fans. panel. panel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that for digital submissions the fees have been reduced by $250 for these products since there will be less
handling, scanning, and transportation costs on these products. The higher costs associated with handling,
scanning, and transportation of hardcopy submissions will continue to be recovered.
Fee Schedule for Flood Insurance Study Backup Data
Non-exempt requesters of FIS technical and administrative support
data must submit the fees shown below with requests dated February 20,
2015, or later. These fees are based on the complete recovery costs to
FEMA for retrieving, reproducing, and distributing the data, as well as
maintaining the library archives, and for collecting and depositing
fees. Based on a review of actual cost data for Fiscal Years 2010,
2011, 2012, and 2013, FEMA established the following review and
processing fees from the February 20, 2015, fee schedule, which are to
be submitted with all requests.
All entities except the following will be charged for requests for
FIS technical and administrative support data:
Private architectural-engineering firms under contract to
FEMA to perform or evaluate studies and restudies;
Federal agencies involved in performing studies and
restudies for FEMA (i.e., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological
Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Tennessee Valley
Authority);
Communities that have supplied the Digital Line Graph base
to FEMA and request the Digital Line Graph data (Category 6 below);
Communities that request data during the statutory 90-day
appeal period for an initial or revised FIS for that community;
Mapped participating communities that request data at any
time other than during the statutory 90-day appeal period, provided the
data are requested for use by the community and not a third-party user;
and
State NFIP Coordinators, provided the data requested are
for use by the State NFIP Coordinators and not a third-party user.
FEMA has established seven categories into which requests for FIS
backup data are separated. These categories are:
(1) Category 1--Paper copies, microfiche, or diskettes of
hydrologic and hydraulic backup data for current or historical FISs;
(2) Category 2--Paper or mylar copies of topographic mapping
developed during FIS process;
(3) Category 3--Paper copies or microfiche of survey notes
developed during FIS process;
(4) Category 4--Paper copies of individual Letters of Map Change
(LOMCs);
(5) Category 5--Paper copies of Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate
Map (FIRM) or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map panels;
(6) Category 6--Computer tapes or CD-ROMs of Digital Line Graph
files, Digital FIRM files, or Digital LOMR attachment files; and
(7) Category 7--Computer diskettes and user's manuals for FEMA
computer programs.
FEMA established a flat non-refundable fee of $300 for non-exempt
requesters of FIS technical and administrative support data to initiate
a request under Categories 1, 2, and 3 above. This fee covers the costs
of 4 hours of research and retrieval. For larger requests that require
more than 4 hours of research, additional hours will be charged at $40
per hour. If the data requested are available and the request is not
cancelled, the final fee is calculated as a sum of the standard per-
product charge plus a per-case surcharge of $93, designed to recover
the cost of library maintenance and archiving. The total costs of
processing requests in Categories 1, 2, and 3 will vary based on the
complexity of the research involved in retrieving the data and the
volume and medium of the data to be reproduced and distributed. The
initial flat fee will be applied against the total costs to process the
request, and FEMA will invoice the requester for the balance plus the
per-case surcharge before the data are provided. No data will be
provided to a requester until all required fees have been paid.
No initial fee is required to initiate a request for data under
Categories 4 through 7. Requesters will be notified by telephone about
the availability of the data and the fees associated with the requested
data.
As with requests for data under Categories 1, 2, and 3, no data
will be provided to requesters until all required fees are paid. A flat
user fee for each of these categories of requests, shown below, will
continue to be required.
Request Under Category 4 (First Letter) $40
[[Page 2959]]
Request Under Category 4 (Each additional letter) $10
Request Under Category 5 (First panel) $35
Request Under Category 5 (Each additional panel) $2
Request Under Category 6 (per county/digital LOMR attachment
shapefiles) $150
Request Under Category 7 (per copy) $25
Fee Schedule for Map and Insurance Products
The MSC distributes a variety of NFIP map and insurance products to
a wide range of customers, including Federal, State, and local
government officials; real estate professionals; insurance providers;
appraisers; builders; land developers; design engineers; surveyors;
lenders; homeowners; and other private citizens.
FEMA decided to eliminate fees for digital product downloads and
discontinue its distribution of paper-based products, as well as
products on digital media (i.e. compact disc). This decision was based
on the re-architecture of the MSC, which allows for the online
downloading of larger datasets. All of the products produced by the
program will be housed online through the MSC. By making this change,
FEMA will no longer have any costs for reproduction, shipping, and
handling of digital media, except for the very limited fee-exempt
distribution to communities affected by map changes. FEMA will also
have virtually no variable costs associated with public distribution of
products. Whether one customer downloads a digital flood map or
thousands download it, FEMA's costs are essentially the same. Some
fixed IT costs are associated with building and maintaining the MSC
systems; however, FEMA has a statutory mandate to make the flood data
products available for free to a large percentage of the customer base.
As a result, virtually no costs can be directly attributed to a
specific delivery of a product to a specific customer.
For more information on the map and insurance products available
from the MSC, interested parties are invited to visit the MSC Web site
at http://msc.fema.gov.
Payment Submission Requirements
Fee payments for non-exempt requests must be made in advance of
services being rendered. These payments shall be made in the form of a
check, money order, or by credit card payment. Checks and money orders
must be made payable, in U.S. funds, to the
National Flood Insurance Program.
FEMA will deposit all fees collected to the National Flood
Insurance Fund, which is the source of funding for providing these
services.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.; Reorganization Plan No. 3 of
1978, 43 FR 41943, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 329; E.O. 12127, 44 FR
19367, 3 CFR, 1979 Comp., p. 376; 44 CFR part 72; Homeowner Flood
Insurance Affordability Act of 2014.
Dated: December 4, 2014.
Roy Wright,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Mitigation, Federal Insurance and
Mitigation Administration, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2015-00904 Filed 1-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P