Current Info: 

 

Wed Oct 18 2006 -  Floodway Mapping Questioned.

 

We had previously reported that proposed USACE revisions to the FEMA flood Maps would have definitively prohibited the construction of residential structures in the area adjacent to The Harbor. (see Wed Jan 4 2006 - New FIRM (FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map) determinations  released ) There is good reason this area has never been developed. During a base flood, it is under 10-15 feet of swift water for at least a half-mile in all directions. (see Maps)

 

This led us to review the federal regulations and procedures necessary to revise a floodway boundary on a FEMA map. (44 CFR Chapter 1 Parts 60, 65, 70) Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) has local responsibility for enforcement of local, state, and federal floodplain management regulations and also local oversight of the recent FEMA Map Modernization Program. They are subject to extended oversight and concurrence by the KY Division of Water and ultimately FEMA. 

 

We learned that the map revision process is initiated through a letter of request from the community CEO (Mayor Abramson or designee) followed by public notice and participation as well as  MSD submission of extensive computer modeling that shows the revised 2005 FEMA maps submitted to Louisville Metro were either technically or scientifically incorrect. This information must then be thoroughly reviewed by KDOW for concurrence and then returned to MSD for submission to FEMA along with the proper forms, data, etc.  FEMA then reviews the submission and if it concurs, then issues a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) addressed to the community. 

 

Rather than accept the USACE recommendations and use the appropriate procedures that would have opened this issue to public and legislative scrutiny, Metropolitan Sewer District seems to have used their powers as a FEMA mapping partner to unilaterally deflect the proposed changes and retain maps based on pre 1997 flood data. Due to the extreme danger residential construction in this area presents to the public, we believe this data should be revisited, updated, and subjected to the latest computer modeling techniques unavailable at the time the current maps were produced.

 

It seems Metro Louisville/WDC will not allow this project any public scrutiny and their campaign to manipulate and sidestep the regulatory process continues. Since  MSD is no longer an independent agency, but under the direct control of the current Louisville Metro administration who is sponsoring this project, there is little the public can do to insure thorough investigation of the issues.