 |
Memorandum of Understanding
|
I. Purpose
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to improve coordination, provide for new partnerships, and seek improved management of floodplains in the West.
II. Objectives
To foster a new partnership between the signatories, federal, state, tribal, and local governments, and affected stakeholders that encourages and improves the cooperation and coordination in order to implement cooperative actions that can improve the future management of floodplains and thereby reduce flood risks in the West. The parties wish to cooperatively assist in federal, state, tribal, and local planning and implementation of measures that reduce risks to human life and property, and, where appropriate, protect and enhance the natural resources of floodplains.
III. Background
The Western United States is currently developing at a rapid pace. Although the development produces significant benefits, it also often results in more lives and property being placed at risk with regard to flooding.
In the past 18 months significant flooding has affected a majority of states in the West and northern plains. Floods in California, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington have caused a number of fatalities, destroyed businesses, homes and public facilities, and severely harmed farming and ranching operations. It is estimated that over $5 billion in federal, state and local funds will be spent helping Western communities and agricultural interests recover from the 1996/1997 flood season.
As the number and cost of declared disasters continues to rise, improving the management of floodplain areas becomes even more critical. Over the last 30 years, average annual riverine flood damages have exceeded $2 billion. During the decade ending in 1994, those costs escalated, averaging $3 billion a year.
Federal policy is increasingly placing more focus on non-structural alternatives, such as encouraging participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is generally required for every federally secured mortgage for private and commercial property located in the 100-year floodplain. Flood insurance is only made available if communities belong to the NFIP. Furthermore, strict requirements for levee construction and maintenance are also mandated for private subdivisions that want to be eligible for federal reimbursement for flood losses. These requirements are intended to reduce the growing costs of flood disasters to the federal government and the NFIP. Just as important, they can reduce costs to state and local governments.
Accurate floodplain maps are essential to effective floodplain planning and management. Yet, in some western states, the Flood Insurance Rate Maps are now obsolete. In order to make informed decisions about planning, zoning, mitigation opportunities, and other floodplain management issues, maps must be updated in order to reflect new growth and changes in floodplains, to correct inaccuracies in the original maps, and to show land that is not currently mapped.
IV. Authorities
Nothing in this MOU alters the responsibilities or statutory authorities of the signatories or individual states and insular areas. This MOU does not supersede existing agreements among any of the signatories, nor obligate signatories to provide any funding outside regular program levels. The Department of Commerce is authorized to enter into this agreement pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 313.
V. Responsibilities
The signatories agree to develop and implement new partnerships involving federal, state, tribal and local governments to address a number of issues related to floodplains. The 'reinvention' of the floodplain mapping process should be designed to improve local ownership and confidence in the work product, speed the delivery of accurate maps, provide for new technologies to be utilized, and continue to address issues associated with mapping of alluvial fans and other special flood hazards.
The signatories further agree that they shall continue to work through the existing infrastructure and to collaborate on issue identification, resolution, and development, including improvements in flood risk/warning systems, improving data sharing among federal, state, tribal and local governments and improving disaster recovery program delivery. By mutual agreement, the signatories may develop new partnerships to address other issues associated with floodplain management and flood risk reduction, and propose subsequent, written agreements to implement specific projects.
VI. Authentication
This MOU becomes effective upon its signature. The MOU will continue in effect for three (3) years or until modified by mutual consent. Participation by any signatory member may be terminated at the request of any signatory with ninety (90) days prior notice. This agreement recognizes that other entities may be added to the agreement as amendments.
______________________________________________
Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Date
______________________________________________
Secretary of Agriculture
Date
_____________________________________________
Secretary of the Interior
Date
______________________________________________
Secretary of Commerce
Date
_____________________________________________
Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works
Date
_____________________________________________
Chairman of the Western Governors' Association
Date
_____________________________________________
WGA, Co-Lead Governor for Flood Risk Reduction
Date
_____________________________________________
WGA, Co-Lead Governor for Flood Risk Reduction
Date