Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2001 / Notices 30925

Dated: June 5, 2001.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

James D. LaPierre,

Deputy Executive Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–14568 Filed 6–6–01; 10:21 am]

BILLING CODE 6714–01–M

FEDERAL EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Cooperating Technical Partners

AGENCY: Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice of cooperating technical

partners flood hazard mapping initiative

(formerly known as Cooperating

Technical Communities).

SUMMARY: We (FEMA) give notice of the

Cooperating Technical Partners

initiative that will recognize and

encourage participation by states,

regional agencies, and communities in

the flood hazard mapping process.

DATES: Funding available May 4, 2001

for FY 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Your FEMA Regional Cooperating

Technical Partners Coordinator. We list

contact names for the coordinators

under Section (h) of this document.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (a)

Background. Throughout this notice, the

terms ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘our,’’ and ‘‘us,’’ refers to

FEMA. The term ‘‘Partner’’ (upper case

‘‘P’’) or ‘‘CTP’’ refers to a participant in

the CTP initiative. We administer the

National Flood Insurance Program

(NFIP) and under section 1360 of the

National Flood Insurance Act of 1968,

as amended (42 U.S.C. 4101), we

establish and update flood-risk zone

data in floodplain areas. In the

identification of flood-prone areas, we

may consult with, receive information

from, and enter into agreements or other

arrangements with the head of any

State, regional, or local agency in order

to identify these floodplain areas.

We are implementing the Cooperating

Technical Partners (CTP) concept as

part of our Flood Map Modernization

plan (http://www.fema.gov/library/

mapmod.pdf). The initiative was

formerly known as Cooperating

Technical Communities. The CTP

initiative will formally recognize and

encourage the ongoing contributions

that our mapping partners—States,

regional agencies, and communities—

make in assisting us in providing timely

and accurate flood hazard information.

The participating entity will enter into

a partnership agreement with us to

develop or maintain all or a component

of its flood hazard maps.

CTP collaborations will maximize the

effectiveness of the limited local and

Federal funding available for flood

mapping, while maintaining consistent

national standards. Through these

partnerships, the integration of locally

funded or developed flood and mapping

data in the flood mapping process will

enable contributing partners to expand

the scope of our flood mapping efforts.

We expect that this will result in

enhanced responsibility for the maps by

the partners and, in turn, heightened

local awareness of flood risks, more

effective floodplain management, and

more accurate maps. The Cooperating

Technical Partners initiative includes

both locally funded and FEMA-funded

activities.

Under the initiative, the Partner and

we will enter a general overall

agreement (CTP Agreement) that

recognizes the fundamental importance

of flood hazard identification, as well as

flood insurance and floodplain

management. Then, as the CTP and we

identify specific flood mapping

activities to undertake, the CTP and we

will develop and enter into Mapping

Activity Agreements under the umbrella

of the overall CTP Agreement.

We envision that most Mapping

Activity Agreements will be

collaborative efforts where both the CTP

and FEMA contribute data and units of

work to maximize the extent, accuracy,

and utility of flood studies to best meet

local and Federal needs, while

minimizing costs for all parties. Federal

funding will be limited even if we can

allocate supplemental map

modernization funding. In any event,

we will allocate funding within the

context of our flood study prioritization

process.

Additional Guidance is available at

http://www.fema.gov/mit/tsd/

CPT_main.htm.

(b) Availability of Fiscal Year 2001

Funds. We have set aside approximately

$8 million nation-wide for use by all

FEMA Regional offices to fund CTP

mapping activities in Fiscal Year 2001.

We base the selection of CTP

participants on floodplain mapping

needs and on the partners’ interest,

contributions, and their capability to

perform the types of eligible activities

that we identified for the CTP initiative.

Funding will be provided to eligible

CTP applicants through the Cooperative

Agreement process in accordance with

Title 44 of the Code of Federal

Regulations (CFR), part 13. Request for

Federal Assistance (RFA) packages will

be mailed to potential applicants from

the FEMA Regional offices upon

publication of this notice.

(c) Eligibility. We intend the

cooperative agreements awarded in this

effort to supplement and not supplant

on-going mapping efforts by the

community, regional agency, or State.

The FEMA funds would be in addition

to the partner’s current flood hazard

mapping effort. Our Regional Offices

will select partners based on the

following criteria:

(1) The CTP applicant must have

existing processes or systems in place

that support mapping or data collection

activities that contribute to flood hazard

identification. These ongoing processes

or systems must be supported by nonfederal funding.

(2) The CTP applicant must have

demonstrated the capability and

commitment to perform the mapping

activities for which it is applying. This

capability may be indicated through

(but not limited to) a FEMA Regional

Office review of both previously

prepared map products and of the

Partner’s existing processes or systems

for the production of map products that

are intended by the Partner to be

utilized for CTP activities.

(3) The CTP applicant must be a

community participating in the NFIP,

and be in good standing in the program

as determined by our Regional Office, or

be a State or regional agency that serves

communities that participate in the

NFIP.

(4) The CTP applicant that will be

receiving funds under a cooperative

agreement must be able to perform the

financial management activities

required as part of the cooperative

agreement (i.e., account for federal

funds, prepare required performance

and financial reports). Our regional

offices will assist the communities with

these financial management activities.

FEMA-funded activities must meet the

requirements of 44 CFR part 13,

Uniform Administrative Requirements

for Grants and Cooperative Agreements

to State and Local Governments. Part 13

sets forth requirements for proper grant

administration and management

including, but not limited to, recordkeeping, allowable costs, and the

processes for use of contractors.

(5) The CTP applicant must have inhouse staff capabilities in the

appropriate technical area for the given

activity. If a portion of the activities is

contracted, the CTP partner must have

in-house staff capability to monitor the

contractor as well as review and

approve the products. For these

purposes, ‘‘capability’’ means

demonstrated experience in the

performance of, or management through

contracting of, similar activities.

30926 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2001 / Notices

(6) The CTP that will be utilizing a

contractor to perform FEMA-funded

activities must ensure that those

contractors meet the requirements of 44

CFR part 13, Uniform Administrative

Requirements for Grants and

Cooperative Agreements to State and

Local Governments. Within part 13,

§ 13.36 covers procurement standards

that must be followed for any mapping

related activities for which the CTP

wishes to contract with another party.

Items in this Part include, but are not

limited to, contract administration and

record keeping, notification

requirements, review procedures,

competition, methods of procurement,

cost and pricing analysis. If desired,

FEMA will provide assistance on

developing selection criteria for

contracted tasks. All work must meet

the standards requirements and

certification requirements described in

sections (e) and (f) of this document.

We will continue to evaluate these

criteria and will further enhance them

in subsequent years as necessary.

(d) Activities. All of the eligible

activities listed below contain the

following benefits for both the CTP

partner and for FEMA:

• Local capabilities in hazard

identification and risk assessment—the

building blocks for disaster resistance—

will be enhanced through FEMA

technical assistance, experience,

standards, and funding;

• The data, methods, and mapping

used for local, regional, and state

permitting processes will also be used

for NFIP mapping, to the extent

possible;

• Close coordination and

involvement in the flood hazard

mapping process will result in more

efficient local floodplain management

by the CTC;

• The program has the potential to

interject a tailored, local focus into a

national program where unique

conditions may exist that necessitate

special approaches to flood hazard

identification.

• By incorporating local knowledge

and expertise, we expect that National

Flood Insurance Program flood hazard

maps will be more accurate and can be

updated faster than current procedures

allow.

Mapping Activity Statements will

support the development of flood

hazard mapping or a component of the

production and maintenance of flood

hazard mapping. We will collaborate

with the CTP on these mapping

activities. We may provide technical

assistance, support, and data to the CTP

and in some cases funding may also be

available. The following mapping

activities may receive funding in Fiscal

Year 20001 through a cooperative

agreement with us:

Activity Partner Description

Refinement of Approximate Zone A Boundaries Community/Regional State Agency ................. The CTP works with FEMA to perform analyses to refine Zone A boundaries. Emphasis placed on automation techniques.

Hydrologic & Hydraulic (H&H) Modeling and

Floodplain Mapping.

Community/Regional State Agency ................. The CTP develops digital engineering data

and floodplain mapping using GIS-based or

traditional H&H modeling.

DFIRM Preparation ............................................ Community/Regional/State Agency ................. The CTP digitizes the effective FIRM into a

DFIRM.

Redelineation of Detailed Flood Hazard Information Using Updated Topographic Data.Community/Regional/State Agency ................. The CTP redelineates the effective flood hazard information using more up-to-date topographic data. GIS is used, where available.

While no funding will be provided to CTPs for the following mapping activities, we may provide technical assistance,

support, and data to the CTP:

Activity Partner Description

Base Map Inventory ........................................... Regional or State Agency ................................ The CTP performs an investigation and provides an inventory of base maps meeting

FEMA’s specifications for NFIP communities in the state.

Digital Base Map Data Sharing .......................... Community/Regional/State Agency ................. The CTP supplies a base map for DFIRM

production. The base map will comply with

FEMA’s minimum accuracy requirements

and be distributable by FEMA to the public

(hardcopy and electronic formats).

DFIRM Maintenance .......................................... Community/Regional/State Agency ................. The CTP assumes responsibility for longterm, periodic maintenance of the DFIRM.

This can include base map and/or flood information.

Hydrologic and Hydraulic Review Agreement—

*This activity is currently being considered as

a pilot activity.

Community/Regional/State Agency ................. The CTP evaluates H&H studies prepared for

flood data updates and/or 44 CFR Part 65

map revisions. The review will focus on

compliance with the technical and regulatory requirements contained in FEMA’s

various flood mapping guidelines and specifications, the pertinent NFIP flood mapping

regulations, as well as standard accepted

engineering practices.

Analysis of Community Mapping Needs (to support FEMA’s Mapping Needs Update Support

System (MNUSS)).

Regional/State Agency .................................... The CTP performs a detailed community-bycommunity investigation and assessment of

every NFIP community’s mapping needs,

including flood data updates, map maintenance, and includes unmapped communities.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2001 / Notices 30927

Activity Partner Description

Technical Standards Agreement ........................ Community/Regional/State Agency ................. Adoption of specific technical standards or

processes appropriate for local conditions

for NFIP flood mapping purposes.

(e) Standards. Unless otherwise

indicated in specific Mapping Activity

Statements, all flood hazard

identification activities will be

accomplished according to the relevant

portions of 44 CFR parts 59–77, as well

as the technical standards contained in

FEMA’s Guidelines and Specifications

for Study Contractors (FEMA 37) dated

1/95 and FEMA’s Guidelines and

Specifications for Flood Map Production

Coordination Contractors dated 2/17/99,

and all subsequent revision to these

documents.

(f) Certification. All data generated

under CTP Mapping Activity Statements

must meet the applicable certification

requirements for the identification and

publication of flood hazard information

in Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

form as indicated in 44 CFR, part 65,

Identification and Mapping of Special

Hazard Areas. For those States that have

adopted more stringent mapping

requirements that have been sanctioned

by FEMA, all Mapping Activity

Statements must be reviewed,

coordinated with, and concurred upon

by the State and all map products must

meet State certification requirements.

(g) Evaluation Criteria. The

performance of each CTP will be

evaluated upon completion of the

period of performance for each Mapping

Activity Statement. This evaluation will

determine the adequacy of the

performance by the CTP and the

eligibility for future Mapping Activity

Statements to be initiated. Insufficient

performance by the CTP may result in

cancellation of FEMA funding at any

point during the period of performance

for a Mapping Activity Statement.

Evaluation will be based upon the

following criteria:

(1) The continued maintenance,

(funded/supported by the CTP), for

existing and/or future processes or

systems in place to support mapping or

data collection activities that contribute

to flood hazard identification, e.g.,

continued data collection for changing

flood hazards and related development,

continued upgrades to data collection or

mapping capabilities to incorporate new

technologies, preparation of multi-year

mapping or data collection plans, etc.

(2) The demonstrated commitment by

the CTP for existing and continued

support of flood hazard identification

and mapping activities conducted with

and by FEMA.

(3) Adherence to timeliness and

completeness of report submittal to the

Regional Office.

(4) Adherence to timeliness and

completeness of mapping product

submittal to the Regional Office.

(5) Quality of product(s) submitted to

the Regional Office.

(6) Ability to cooperate and

coordinate with the FEMA Regional

Office, the Technical Services Division

of the Mitigation Directorate in

Washington, and/or FEMA’s Mapping

Coordination Contractor during all

phases of the Mapping Activity as

needed.

(h) Cooperating Technical Partners

Regional Contacts.

Region 1: (Connecticut, Maine,

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode

Island, and Vermont), Dean Savramis,

442 J.W. McCormack POCH, Boston,

MA 02109, Telephone: (617) 223–9564,

(e-mail) dean.savramis@fema.gov.

Region 2: (New Jersey, New York,

Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands), Paul

Weberg, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 1337,

New York, NY 10278, (212) 225–7229,

(e-mail) paul.weberg@fema.gov.

Region 3: (Delaware, Maryland,

Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia,

District of Columbia), Erik Rourke, 615

Chestnut Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia,

PA 19106, (215) 931–5665, (e-mail)

erik.rourke@fema.gov.

Region 4: (Alabama, Florida, Georgia,

Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina,

South Carolina, Tennessee), Laura

Algeo, 3003 Chamblee Tucker Rd.,

Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: (770)

220–5515, (e-mail)

laura.algeo@fema.gov.

Region 5: (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,

Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin), Ken

Hinterlong, 536 S. Clark Street, 6th

Floor, Chicago, IL 60605, Telephone:

(312) 408–5529, (e-mail)

ken.hinterlong@fema.gov.

Region 6: (Arkansas, Louisiana, New

Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), Jack

Quarles, FRC 800 North Loop 288,

Denton, TX 76210, Telephone: (817)

898–5156, (e-mail)

jack.quarles@fema.gov.

Region 7: (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,

and Nebraska), Bob Franke, 2323 Grand

Avenue, Suite 900, Kansas City, MO

64108, Telephone: (816) 283–7073, (email) bob.franke@fema.gov

Region 8: (Colorado, Montana, North

Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming),

John Liou, Denver Federal Center, Bldg.

710, Box 25267, Denver, CO 80225,

Telephone: (303) 235–4836, (e-mail)

john.liou@fema.gov.

Region 9: (Arizona, California,

Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa,

Guam), Les Sakumoto, Bldg. 105,

Presidio of San Francisco, San

Francisco, CA 94129, Telephone: (415)

923–7183, (e-mail)

leslie.sakumoto@fema.gov.

Region 10: (Alaska, Idaho, and

Oregon, Washington), Larry Basich,

Federal Regional Center, 130–228th

Street, Bothell, WA 98021, Telephone:

(425) 487–4703, (e-mail)

lawrence.basich@fema.gov.

Dated: June 4, 2001.

Margaret E. Lawless,

Acting Executive Associate Director for

Mitigation.

[FR Doc. 01–14440 Filed 6–7–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6718–04–U

FEDERAL EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Privacy Act of 1974: Flood Map

Customer Records

AGENCY: Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice of a new system of

records.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), we

(FEMA) give notice that we are

establishing a new system of records

under the authority of the Flood

Insurance Act of 1968 as amended, 42

U.S.C. 4100, et seq. That Act established

the National Flood Insurance Program

(NFIP), a critical component of which is

the identification and mapping of the

nation’s floodplains to provide the data

necessary for community floodplain

management programs and to

actuarially rate flood insurance.

Pursuant to statute, we distribute

conventional and digital flood map

products without charge to federal, state

and municipal governments. We charge

all other users for our products and

services. This system of records will

enable us, through the NFIP Flood Map

Store, to fill written, telephonic and

electronic orders from these users for

the various map products; to cumulate

and retrieve their order information; and

to disseminate new product information

to them.