§ 9.7 Determination of proposed action's location. ( a ) *Purpose.* This section establishes Agency procedures for determining whether any action as proposed is located in or affects a floodplain established in paragraph (c) of this section or a wetland.
( b ) *Information needed.* ( 1 ) The Agency shall obtain enough information so that it can fulfill the requirements in this part to: ( i ) Avoid Federal action in floodplain and wetland locations unless they are the only practicable alternatives; and
( ii ) Minimize harm to and within floodplains and wetlands.
( 2 ) In all cases, FEMA shall determine whether the proposed action is located in a floodplain or wetland. Information about the floodplain as established by paragraph (c) of this section and the location of floodways and coastal high hazard areas may also be needed to comply with this part, especially § 9.11.
( 3 ) The following additional current and future flooding characteristics may be identified by the Regional Administrator as applicable: ( i ) Velocity of floodwater;
( ii ) Rate of rise of floodwater;
( iii ) Duration of flooding;
( iv ) Available warning and evacuation time and routes;
( v ) Special problems: ( A ) Levees;
( B ) Erosion;
( C ) Subsidence;
( D ) Sink holes;
( E ) Ice jams;
( F ) Debris load;
( G ) Pollutants;
( H ) Wave heights;
( I ) Groundwater flooding;
( J ) Mudflow.
( vi ) Any other applicable flooding characteristics.
( c ) *Floodplain determination.* In the absence of a finding to the contrary, FEMA will determine that a proposed action involving a facility or structure that has been flooded previously is in the floodplain. In determining if a proposed action is in the floodplain: ( 1 ) FEMA shall determine whether the action is an action subject to the FFRMS as defined in § 9.4. ( i ) If the action is an action subject to the FFRMS, FEMA shall establish the FFRMS floodplain area and associated flood elevation by using the process specified in (c)(3) of this section and one of the following approaches: ( A ) Climate-Informed Science Approach (CISA): Using a climate-informed science approach that uses the best-available, actionable hydrologic and hydraulic data and methods that integrate current and future changes in flooding based on climate science. This approach will also include an emphasis on whether the action is a critical action as one of the factors to be considered when conducting the analysis;
( B ) Freeboard Value Approach (FVA): Using the freeboard value, reached by adding an additional 2 feet to the base flood elevation for non-critical actions and by adding an additional 3 feet to the base flood elevation for critical actions;
( C ) 0.2-Percent-Annual-Chance Flood Approach (0.2PFA): The 0.2 percent annual chance flood; or
( D ) Any other method identified in an update to the FFRMS.
( ii ) FEMA may select among and prioritize the approaches in this paragraph (c)(1) by policy.
( iii ) FEMA may provide an exception to using the FFRMS floodplain and corresponding flood elevation for an action subject to the FFRMS and instead use the 1 percent annual chance (base) floodplain for non-critical actions or the 0.2 percent annual chance floodplain for critical actions where the action is in the interest of national security, where the action is an emergency action, or where the action is a mission-critical requirement related to a national security interest or an emergency action.
( 2 ) If the action is not an action subject to the FFRMS as defined in § 9.4, FEMA shall use, at a minimum: ( i ) The 1 percent annual chance (base) floodplain and flood elevation for non-critical actions; and
( ii ) The 0.2 percent annual chance floodplain and flood elevation for critical actions.
( 3 ) FEMA shall establish the floodplain and corresponding elevation using the best available information. The floodplain and corresponding elevation determined using the best available information must be at least as restrictive as FEMA's regulatory determinations under the NFIP where such determinations are available. In obtaining the best available information, FEMA may consider other FEMA information as well as other available information, such as information from: ( i ) Department of Agriculture: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service;
( ii ) Department of Defense: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
( iii ) Department of Commerce: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
( iv ) Department of the Interior: Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Geological Survey;
( v ) Tennessee Valley Authority;
( vi ) Department of Transportation;
( vii ) Environmental Protection Agency;
( viii ) General Services Administration;
( ix ) Agencies of State, Regional, and Indian Tribal governments; or
( x ) Local sources such as Floodplain Administrators, Regional Flood Control Districts, or Transportation Departments.
( 4 ) If the sources listed in paragraph (c)(3) of this section do not have or know of the information necessary to comply with the requirements in this part, the Regional Administrator may seek the services of a professional registered engineer.
( 5 ) If a decision involves an area or location within extensive Federal or state holdings or a headwater area and FEMA's regulatory determinations under the National Flood Insurance Program are not available, the Regional Administrator shall seek information from the land administering agency before information and/or assistance is sought from the sources listed in paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
( d ) *Wetland determination.* The following sequence shall be followed by the Agency in making the wetland determination. ( 1 ) The Agency shall consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for information concerning the location, scale and type of wetlands within the area which could be affected by the proposed action.
( 2 ) If the FWS does not have adequate information upon which to base the determination, the Agency shall consult wetland inventories maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, various states, communities and others.
( 3 ) If the identified sources do not have adequate information upon which to base the determination, the Agency shall carry out an on-site analysis performed by a representative of the FWS or other qualified individual for wetlands characteristics based on the definition of a wetland in § 9.4.
( 4 ) If an action constitutes new construction and is in a wetland but not in a floodplain, the provisions of this part shall apply. If the action is not in a wetland, the Regional Administrator shall determine if the action has the potential to result in indirect impacts on wetlands. If so, all potential adverse impacts shall be minimized. For actions which are in a wetland and the floodplain, completion of the decision-making process is required. (*See* § 9.6). In such a case, the wetland will be considered as one of the natural and beneficial values of the floodplain.
[45 FR 59526, Sept. 9, 1980, as amended at 47 FR 13149, Mar. 29, 1982; 49 FR 33879, Aug. 27, 1984; 50 FR 40006, Oct. 1, 1985; 51 FR 34605, Sept. 30, 1986; 89 FR 57042, July 11, 2024]