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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing this Request for Information to receive the public’s input on two topics.  First, FEMA seeks the public’s input on revising the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) floodplain management standards for land management and use regulations to better align with the current understanding of flood risk and flood risk reduction approaches.  Specifically, FEMA is seeking input from the public on the floodplain management standards that communities should adopt to result in safer, stronger, and more resilient communities.  Additionally, FEMA seeks input on how the NFIP can better promote protection of and minimize any adverse impact to threatened and endangered species, and their habitats.

Statement of Need:

FEMA is issuing this Request for Information to seek information from the public on the agency's current floodplain management standards to ensure the agency receives public input as part of the agency’s regular review of programs, regulations, and policies, and to inform any action to revise the NFIP minimum floodplain management standards. FEMA also plans to re-evaluate the implementation of the NFIP under the Endangered Species Act at the national level to complete a revised Biological Evaluation re-examining how NFIP actions influence land development decisions; the potential for such actions to have adverse effects on threatened and endangered species and critical habitats; and to identify program changes that would prevent jeopardy to threatened and endangered species, and/or destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitats, as well as to promote the survival and recovery of threatened and endangered species.  As a result, FEMA also requests input from the public on what measures the NFIP can take to further protect and minimize any adverse impacts to threatened and endangered species and their habitat. 

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

DHS is currently considering the specific cost and benefit impacts of the proposed provisions.