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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent the following letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II Regional Director Steve Kempf urging the agency to place an immediate moratorium on the expansion of flood zones in the Bayshore area of Monmouth County.
The letter came following FEMA's recent decision to rescind a similar expansion of a flood zone in Washington, D.C. after D.C. filed a lawsuit against the agency in federal court. The New Jersey congressman believes the affected communities in Monmouth County should be given the same opportunity to discuss the flood maps with FEMA before further action is taken.
July 9, 2008
Steve Kempf, Regional Director
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region II
26 Federal Plaza, Suite 1337
New York, NY 10278-0002
Dear Regional Director:
It has come to my attention that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has decided not to expand the flood zone for downtown Washington, D.C. FEMA's decision to rescind its proposal came after Washington D.C. filed a lawsuit against the agency in federal court. The suit called the new flood map "arbitrary and capricious" and "unsupported by substantial evidence."
Much like the case in D.C., FEMA is proposing a new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) that would expand the flood zone maps to more than 4,300 homes in the Bayshore area of my district. The flood maps being proposed in the Bayshore area are overreaching and an unnecessary burden on my constituents.
Based on the Washington D.C. precedent, once again, I call on FEMA to place an immediate moratorium on plans to expand flood zones in the Bayshore area of Monmouth County. The Bayshore should be treated the same as Washington, D.C., and given the same opportunity to discuss the flood maps with FEMA before any further action is taken.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to continuing to work together.
Sincerely,
_____________________
FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress
CC: Administrator David Paulison, Federal Emergency Management Agency
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