Updated at 7:02 a.m., Friday, August 31, 2007
Big Island allotted more time to revise floodplain rules
Advertiser Staff
The County of Hawai`i's request for an extension to adopt the proposed changes to Chapter 27, on Floodplains and other flood hazard areas from the National FloodInsurance Program (NFIP), was granted Thursday.
Nov. 30 is the new deadline to submit changes to the ordinance.
Hawai`i County currently participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. It is required to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations.
The original deadline was Sept. 30, 2007, to bring its Chapter 27 into compliance. If the County does
not meet the minimum requirements and does not comply with the NFIP, it will lose access to Federal disaster assistance and low-interest loans from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Public Works and Council member Brenda Ford submitted Bill 151 with proposed changes so that it meets the requirements of the NFIP and to address policy issues raised by the County Council that go beyond the minimum criteria of the NFIP.
A State coordinating agency for the NFIP is reviewing Bills 151 and 51 to ensure their compliance.
In late April, 2007, the Administration received a letter from the State coordinating agency for the NFIP informing the County that an audit had begun of its NFIP procedures.
The audit, said McClure, involves inspecting the County's permit files, followed by a discussion of programmatic issues and a review of the floodplain management ordinance (Chapter 27) for the NFIP.
For information on the technical language aspects of the proposed legislation for Bills 51 and 51 contact County Public Works at 961-8321 or bmcclure@co.hawaii.hi.us.
