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HomeMy WebLinkAboutERC_DNS_Applicant_Ltr_200708 July 16, 2020 Jennifer Henning 1055 S Grady Way Renton, WA 98057 SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLD (SEPA) DETERMINATION PR20-000002 2020 Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) adoption and Revisions to Title IV, LUA20-000145, ECF Dear Ms. Henning: This letter is written on behalf of the Environmental Review Committee (ERC) to advise you that they have completed their review of the subject project and have issued a threshold Determination of Non-Significance. Appeals of the environmental determination must be filed pursuant to RMC 4-9-070.R. Please refer to the enclosed ERC Report and Decision for more details. If you have any questions or desire clarification of the above, please call me at (425) 430-7312. For the Environmental Review Committee, Angelea Weihs Associate Planner Enclosure cc: City of Renton/ Owner DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Planning Division 1055 South Grady Way, 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057 | 425-430-7200, ext. 2 www.rentonwa.gov OF ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION ISSUANCE OF A DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE (DNS) POSTED TO NOTIFY INTERESTED PERSONS OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION DNS: THE CITY OF RENTON ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ERC) HAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROPOSED ACTION DOES NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. DATE OF NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: July 16, 2020 PROJECT NAME/NUMBER: PR20-000002 2020 Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) adoption and Revisions to Title IV / LUA20- 000145, ECF PROJECT LOCATION: City-Wide APPLICANT/PROJECT CONTACT PERSON: Jennifer Henning, City of Renton / 1055 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057 / jhenning@rentonwa.gov LOCATION WHERE APPLICATION MAY BE REVIEWED: Applicant documents are available online through the City of Renton Document Center website. See also https://cutt.ly/FoyltSo PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 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. Per WAC197-11-340(2)(c) any person, affected tribe, or agency may submit comments to the City within fourteen days of the date of issuance of the DNS. Per WAC197-11-340(2)(a) an agency shall not act upon a proposal for fourteen days after the date of issuance of a DNS. There is no agency appeal. CONTACT PERSON: Angelea Weihs, Associate Planner; Tel: (425) 430-7312; Email: aweihs@rentonwa.gov NOTICE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATE OF DECISION: July 16, 2020 SIGNATURES: Martin Pastucha, Administrator Public Works Administrator Date For Rick M. Marshall, Administrator Renton Regional Fire Authority Date For Kelly Beymer, Administrator Community Services Department Date Jennifer Henning, Planning Director Date CED Interim Administrator Interim Chair DocuSign Envelope ID: 8188948B-3CE9-42F6-97D7-54DB17CCCC60 7/16/2020 | 12:30 PM PDT 7/16/2020 | 11:00 AM PDT 7/16/2020 | 1:05 PM PDT