FEMA Announces First Meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that the first public meeting of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) is scheduled for September 30 to October 1, 2014, at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Auditorium in Reston, Virginia. 

The TMAC was established to review and make recommendations to FEMA on matters related to the national flood mapping program authorized under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014. The TMAC is tasked with developing recommendations for FEMA’s flood mapping program to ensure that flood insurance rate maps reflect the best available science and are based on the best available methodologies for considering the impact of climate change and future development on flood risk.  They will also be required to produce a Review of the Mapping Program; a Future Conditions Risk Assessment and Modeling Report; and an Annual Report on Activities containing required recommendations. 

During the meeting, members will elect a council chair, develop a meeting schedule, organize into subcommittees, identify subject matter experts to support the development of their recommendations and receive briefings on FEMA’s National Mapping Program.

A public comment period will also be held on September 30 from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. EDT. Comments should be specifically related to and addressed to the TMAC. Speakers will be allotted three minutes to address the TMAC during this half-hour public comment period. The public comment period will not exceed thirty minutes.  Those interested in speaking during the public comment period must submit their written comments to FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov by September 22, 2014. Those not attending and who wish to submit written comments on issues to be considered by the TMAC can do so via one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal:  http://www.regulations.gov.  Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail:  Address the email to FEMA-RULES@fema.dhs.gov and copy fema-tmac@fema.dhs.gov.  Include the docket number FEMA-2014-0022 in the subject line of the message. Include name and contact detail in the body of the email.
• Mail:  Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472-3100. 

All submissions received must include the words “Federal Emergency Management Agency” and docket number, FEMA-2014-0022.  Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 

For those planning to attend in person and for additional information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, please contact the Designated Federal Officer Mark Crowell by email at FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA is excited to be a part of the TMAC and is looking forward to the expertise and recommendations they will provide. For more information on the TMAC meeting, visit https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/09/15/2014-21929/technical-mapping-advisory-council or www.fema.gov/TMAC.