HomeMy WebLinkAboutERC_DNS_Determination_Publication_200707NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
RENTON, WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Environmental Review Committee has issued a Determination of Non -Significance (DNS) for the following
project under the authority of the Renton municipal code.
2020 Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and Regulation Update
LUA20-000145, ECF
Location: City-Wide 2020 FIRM and Regulation Update: The City of Renton is a participant in the National
Floodplain Insurance Program NFIP. The NFIP provides affordable insurance to property owners, renters
and businesses located in the regulated floodplain. To participate in the NFIP, a City or community must
adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances that meet or exceed the minimum requirements of the
NFIP. These requirements are intended to prevent loss of life, loss of property, reduce taxpayer costs for
disaster relief, as well as minimize economic and social hardships that result from flooding. In May 2020,
FEMA notified the City of Renton that a revised Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM) have been completed for King County. The FIS and FIRM will become effective on August 19, 2020.
By the FIS and FIRM effective date, the City of Renton is required to adopt a floodplain management
ordinance that meets or exceeds the minimum NFIP requirements, and request approval from the FEMA
Regional Office. The FEMA Regional Office is required to approve the legally enforceable floodplain
management measures that the City adopts in accordance with Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Section
60.3(d). The approval of the NFIP State Coordinator at the Department of Ecology (DOE) is also required.
Compliance with the mandatory minimum requirements of the NFIP, in order to avoid suspension from the
program, obligates the City to take the following actions:
1. Adopt the revised FIRM that will become effective on August 19. The City’s code includes an “automatic
adoption clause” for floodplain map updates as RMC #4-3-050 Section E (Maps) references the 1989 study
and “any subsequent revision”. Hence, the City does not need to take any action specifically for the adoption
of the revised FIRM.
2. Complete the amendments to Title IV, chapters 3 and 11, requested by DOE and FEMA following the
Community Assistance Visit (CAV) that took place in June 2019 and detailed in a letter received in December
2019. The CAV is a major component of the NFIP where FEMA and DOE staff provide technical assistance
and recommendations to the City to ensure adequate enforcement of floodplain management regulations.
The CAV review of Title IV resulted in a request to add multiple sections.
Appeals of the environmental determination must be filed pursuant to RMC 4-9-070R.
Publication Date: July 17, 2020