Washington, DC – Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) joined his colleagues Representatives Troy Downing (MT-02), Janelle Bynum (OR-02), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) in introducing the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act. This bill reduces administrative barrier for ecosystem restoration projects in regulated floodplains, speeding up development time and reducing regulatory costs.
“Bureaucratic red tape should not stall common sense conservation projects,” said Steil. “The Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act eases administrative burdens and empowers Wisconsin communities to make our waterways healthier, strengthen our resilience to floods, and enhance ecosystems across the nation. I’m proud to help lead the effort to ensure Wisconsin’s conservation projects are completed on time, strengthening our environment and reducing flood risks in our community.”
“FEMA’s No-Rise Rule is hindering conservation efforts across the state of Montana and across the country,” said Downing. “My bipartisan legislation cuts this burdensome red tape, empowering locally supported conservation and restoration projects. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for joining me in this common sense measure to right size regulation for American conservation.”
“Environmental restoration projects across Oregon – and the country – are being held up by unnecessary red tape when they don’t need to be,” said Bynum. “It’s resulting in canceled projects and costing our communities thousands of dollars. I’m thankful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for partnering with me on this important legislation that will protect our communities, restore our environment, and remove barriers to progress.”
“Floodplain restoration projects reduce flood risks and provide many other public benefits,” said Wisconsin Wetlands Association Executive Director Tracy Hames. “Despite this, many obstacles impede wetland, stream, and floodplain restoration within FEMA-mapped areas. Addressing the regulatory barriers is a crucial first step to bringing back the water-managing functions of Wisconsin’s floodplains. We appreciate the leadership of Congressman Steil and other congressional delegates to advance this commonsense approach.”
Read the bill HERE.
Background:
Under current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) policy, any proposed development in a regulated floodway must prove it will not increase the base flood elevation (BFE) of the area—a requirement commonly called the “No Rise” rule.
While designed to protect communities from flood risk, this rule has unintentionally hindered important environmental restoration projects nationwide.
The Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act allows communities to permit ecosystem restoration projects in regulated floodways if a professional engineer certifies that the project will not raise the base flood elevation by more than one foot and no insurable or critical infrastructure is adversely affected.
This provision significantly reduces the time, cost, and administrative burden of the current FEMA approval process.
The National Association of Conservation Districts and Wisconsin Wetlands Associations support this legislation.
Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
