(a) The purpose of this part is to comply with section 206 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4107) by establishing procedures for flood elevation determinations of Zones A1-30, AE, AH, AO and V1-30, and VE within the community so that adequate consultation with the community officials shall be assured.

(b) The procedures in this part shall apply when base flood elevations are to be determined or modified.

(c) The Federal Insurance Administrator or his delegate shall:

(1) Specifically request that the community submit pertinent data concerning flood hazards, flooding experience, plans to avoid potential hazards, estimate of historical and prospective economic impact on the community, and such other appropriate data (particularly if such data will necessitate a modification of a base flood elevation).

(2) Notify local officials of the progress of surveys, studies, investigations, and of prospective findings, along with data and methods employed in reaching such conclusions; and

(3) Encourage local dissemination of surveys, studies, and investigations so that interested persons will have an opportunity to bring relevant data to the attention of the community and to the Federal Insurance Administrator.

(4) Carry out the responsibilities for consultation and coordination set forth in § 66.5 of this part.

The definitions set forth in part 59 of this subchapter are applicable to this part.

(a) A file shall be established for each community at the time initial consideration is given to studying that community in order to establish whether or not it contains flood-prone areas. Thereafter, the file shall include copies of all correspondence with officials in that community. As the community is tentatively identified, provided with base flood elevations, or suspended and reinstated, documentation of such actions by the Federal Insurance Administrator shall be placed in the community file. Even if a map is administratively rescinded or withdrawn after notice under part 65 of this subchapter or the community successfully rebuts its flood-prone designation, the file will be maintained indefinitely.

(b) A portion of the community file shall be designated a flood elevation study consultation docket and shall be established for each community at the time the contract is awarded for a flood elevation study. The docket shall include copies of (1) all correspondence between the Federal Insurance Administrator and the community concerning the study, reports of any meetings among the Agency representatives, property owners of the community, the state coordinating agency, study contractors or other interested persons, (2) relevant publications, (3) a copy of the completed flood elevation study, and (4) a copy of the Federal Insurance Administrator's final determination.

(c) A flood elevation determination docket shall be established and maintained in accordance with part 67 of this subchapter.

The Federal Insurance Administrator may appoint an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or other designated Federal employee, as the Consultation Coordination Officer, for each community when an analysis is undertaken to establish or to modify flood elevations pursuant to a new study or a restudy. When a CCO is appointed by the Federal Insurance Administrator, the responsibilities for consultation and coordination as set forth in § 66.5 shall be carried out by the CCO. The Federal Insurance Administrator shall advise the community and the state coordinating agency, in writing, of this appointment.

(a) Contact shall be made with appropriate officials of a community in which a proposed investigation is undertaken, and with the state coordinating agency.

(b) Local dissemination of the intent and nature of the investigation shall be encouraged so that interested parties will have an opportunity to bring relevant data to the attention of the community and to the Federal Insurance Administrator.

(c) Submission of information from the community concerning the study shall be encouraged.

(d) Appropriate officials of the community shall be fully informed of (1) The responsibilities placed on them by the Program, (2) the administrative procedures followed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (3) the community's role in establishing elevations, and (4) the responsibilities of the community if it participates or continues to participate in the Program.

(e) Before the commencement of an initial Flood Insurance Study, the CCO or other FEMA representative, together with a representative of the organization undertaking the study, shall meet with officials of the community. The state coordinating agency shall be notified of this meeting and may attend. At this meeting, the local officials shall be informed of (1) The date when the study will commence, (2) the nature and purpose of the study, (3) areas involved, (4) the manner in which the study shall be undertaken, (5) the general principles to be applied, and (6) the intended use of the data obtained. The community shall be informed in writing if any of the six preceding items are or will be changed after this initial meeting and during the course of the ongoing study.

(f) The community shall be informed in writing of any intended modification to the community's final flood elevation determinations or the development of new elevations in additional areas of the community as a result of a new study or restudy. Such information to the community will include the data set forth in paragraph (e) of this section. At the discretion of the Regional Administrator in each FEMA Regional Office, a meeting may be held to accomplish this requirement.