President Obama recently issued Executive Order 13690 and a revised Flood Risk Management Standard that will increase the size and of floodplains and regulatory requirements on all federal actions in the floodplain. Rather than rely on the 100-year floodplain historically identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on community flood insurance rate maps, federal agencies may choose one of three alternatives for defining a floodplain: the 500-year floodplain; an additional 2- or 3-feet of freeboard above the 100-year base flood elevation; or best available climate-informed science. Any of these approaches would expand the size of existing floodplains. All federal actions – including studies, construction, grants, loans, loan guarantees, permits, and licenses – must avoid being located in or affecting the floodplain. Any new or substantially improved construction must be elevated to the new standard. The public may comment on implementation of the new standard until April 6, 2015.
