Permits Funding and Assistance FEMA- Special Flood Hazard Area (Update)
Permits:
The
There are several authorizations available to PADOT, other state agencies,
municipalities, utilities, and private citizens, that allow bridges, other water
obstructions and encroachments that have been damaged or lost due to flooding to
be repaired or replaced. A description of these authorizations is listed
below as well as a brief discussion of what is required to facilitate the
federal authorization.
Activities that generally do not require a permit - Removal of flood debris
from the channel where the work is accomplished from the bank (this does not
include stream bank stabilization or channel relocation), and removal of gravel
and debris from 50 feet upstream and downstream of a bridge or culvert where
work is accomplished from the bank.
Emergency Permits - DEP can issue an Emergency Permit (3930-PM-WM0023) to
authorize the repair or replacement of damaged or lost water obstructions, or
for encroachments such as stream bank stabilization, where there is a threat to
public health and safety or the environment. Emergency Permits generally
expire after 30 days, but DEP may extend the coverage period as necessary.
It is suggested that, where applicable, General Permit 11 be used if the work
cannot be accomplished within 60 days. . It is anticipated that many
applicants may need to wait longer than 60 days for state or federal disaster
funding until the activity can be completed; When an Emergency Permit is used
and the work authorized is limited to less than 250 linear feet of stream,
DEP can issue the federal authorization (PASPGP-2) along with the Emergency
Permit. Regional Offices or applicants must prepare a sketch depicting all
work authorized. Where the work covers greater than 250 linear feet of
stream during state-declared disasters the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
may employ special permitting procedures designed to streamline approval.
The Corps is issuing a Special Public Notice that will explain this process.
General Permit 11 - Maintenance, Testing, Repair, Rehabilitation, or
Replacement, of Water Obstructions and Encroachments - GP-11
(3930-PM-WM0511) is an appropriate authorization where the repair or replacement
is not an emergency. The water obstruction being replaced should generally
be in the same location and of equivalent size. For bridges and culverts,
no significant change in waterway opening can be permitted using this permit.
General Permit - 11 is valid for up to two years to enable the
replacement of structures that must be taken out of service. General
Permit -11 is also available for intakes, outfalls, docks, and many other water
obstructions or encroachments. General Permit - 11 is not part of the
PASPGP-2, but will be covered under the Corps Special Public Notice.
General Permit 7 - Minor Road Crossings - Where the activity may not be an
emergency and where the drainage area to the bridge or culvert is less than 1
square mile, and any wetland impacts are less than 0.10 acre, General
Permit-7 may be an appropriate authorization. Where a GP-7 can be
used the PASPGP-2 can be included with the authorization.
Existing Permits - If a structure has an existing permit where maintenance is
addressed in the permit, repairs may be conducted under the terms of the exiting
permit.
General Permit 3 -- Bank Rehabilitation, Bank Protection and Gravel Bar
Removal -- Bank rehabilitation and bank protection projects of 500 feet or less
may be authorized with the PASPG-2. Gravel Removal projects greater than
50 feet from upstream and downstream of structures may need to be coordinated
with the Corps.
The five authorizations described above are the most efficient ways to
approve bridge and culvert repairs or replacement. Where the terms and
conditions of General Permits cannot be met and an Emergency Permit may not
be appropriate, a Small Project or Joint Permit Application may be required.
All applicants should work through
the DEP South Central Regional Office to obtain their authorization and to
confirm if an onsite field visit is necessary, and to determine if another
process is appropriate to coordinate the authorizations.
Funding & Assistance:
The
Additional flood related information can be found on the DEP website at: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/general/floods/flooding.htm
What is the NFIP?
Congress established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) due to escalating costs to taxpayers for flood disaster relief. The NFIP is based on the agreement that if a community practices sound floodplain management, the Federal Government will make flood insurance available to residents in that community. FEMA maps include the Special Flood Hazard Area, which is the area that has a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year, otherwise known as the 100 year floodplain. Development may take place within the Special Flood Hazard Area provided that it complies with local floodplain ordinances that meet NFIP criteria.
What is a FIRM?
When FEMA maps flood hazards in a community or county, two products are produced - a Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report and a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). An FIS is a narrative report of the community's flood hazards that contains prior flooding information, descriptions of the flooding sources, information on flood protection measures, and a description of the hydrologic and hydraulic methods used in the study. A FIRM illustrates the extent of flood hazards in a community by depicting flood risk zones and the Special Flood Hazard Area, and is used with the FIS reports to determine the floodplain development regulations that apply in each flood risk zone and who must buy flood insurance. FIRMs also depict other information including Base (1% annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) or flood depths, floodways, and common physical features such as roads.
For more information see the Flood Hazard Mapping Fact Sheet for Blair County.
Blair County maps have been recently updated (effective March, 2012) and can be found at the FEMA Map Service Center. To view the new maps choose Future FIRMs (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) prior to March and then Effective FIRMs/ FHBMs after March, 2012.
From there you can choose Pennsylvania, Blair County and then the appropriate municipality (for example Hollidaysburg Borough or Antis Township). Then choose "get future FEMA flood maps". The first map on the list is always the County Wide- Map Index (click here to view a draft copy of that index). Here you can use the index to find the appropriate map number, once you have that number go back to the Map Service Center webpage and click on the corresponding map. The map numbers are in the left column and can be viewed by clicking on the magnifying glass at the end of the row at the right.
Once the map is loaded you can zoom in, find your location and if you wish create a "FIRMette" or your own printable map.