asfpm – may 24, 2012 case study – 408 permitting and levee accreditation for waterloo, nebraska...

ASFPM – May 24, 2012

CASE STUDY – 408 PERMITTING AND LEVEE ACCREDITATION FOR

WATERLOO, NEBRASKA

ASFPM MAY 24, 2012

Presented byRandy Behm, PE, CFMLalit Jha, PE, D.WRE, CFM


OVERVIEW

• Levee History and Background• Regulatory Comparison• Project Approach • Problems and Challenges • Lessons Learned


• Just West of Omaha• West Bank of Elkhorn River• Population 728• Levee Constructed in 1967 by USACE• Entire Village is in Protected Area

LEVEE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND


• Enrolled in USACE PL 84-99 Program • Accredited Levee Since Early 1980’s• PAL Agreement entered on Jan 15, 2008• Evaluation, Design and Permitting(2008-2010)• Construction Started November 2010• Construction Completed October 2011• Accreditation Packet Submitted on April 2012

LEVEE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND


PAL PROCESS

• FEMA and Community Enter PAL Agreement• Levee is Shown as PAL and Allowed to Continue to Show Protection on

Flood Map• Provides Two Years to Submit Documentation Meeting 44 CFR 65.10

Requirements• After PAL Expires, FEMA Must Take a Minimum of 18 Months for Follow-

Up Mapping Processes (but still initiates levee de-accreditation process)

Recent Non-Accredited Levee Mapping Guidance -DRAFT process for mapping non-accredited levees, still being finalized


FEMA CRITERIA* (44 CFR 65.10)

• Freeboard• Closures• Embankment Protection• Embankment and Foundation Stability• Settlement Analysis• Interior Drainage• Operation Plan• Maintenance Plan

*CRITERIA PUBLISHED IN 1986


LEVEE DE-ACCREDITATION IMPLICATIONS

• Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance– Federally Backed Loan = Mandatory Flood Insurance

• Development Restrictions• Property Value/Re-Sale Concerns• Economic Development Concerns

Note: implications may be revised by new non-accredited levee mapping approach


USACE PL 84-99 PROGRAM

• Authorized through ER 500-1-1 (Civil Emergency Management Program)• Levees systems participating in PL84-99 must meet O&M RRR criteria• PL84-99 is not directly associated with FEMA levee certification• Levee section (crown, side slopes, r-o-w, seepage berms) remain intact



• USACE Reviews– Modifications Related to O&M (Minor 408 Permitting)

• Approval at District Level

– System Changes to Levee Protection Level (Major 408 Permitting)• Approval at HQ level


Sec – 408 Modifications (Major) Assessment• Modifications requiring Chief of Engineers approval:

o degrading (lowering) projecto raisingo realignment

• Analyses required for major modificationo full range of loading (8 profiles)

upstream, downstream, adjacent too system performance (levee and structures)o risk analysis



Sec – 408 Modifications (Major) Review• Iterative process:

o USACE district (initial, 60%, 90%, DrChecks) o agency technical reviewo type II Independent External Peer Reviewo USACE Division o HQUSACE



PROJECT APPROACH

• Phased Approach – Preliminary Evaluation– Detailed Evaluation– Design/Permitting and Construction– Accreditation


PHASE 1 – PRELIMINARY EVALUATION

Levee Background Information

Field Investigations

Preliminary Hydrology & Hydraulics

Preliminary Freeboard Assessment

Levee Infrastructure Audit

Preliminary Economic Impact


PHASE 2 – DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS

Detailed Geotechnical Investigation

Detailed Hydrologic and Hydraulics- Internal Drainage Evaluation- Risk & Reliability Analysis- Pump Station evaluation

Alternatives Analysis

Drainage Structure Evaluation


Any improvement of levee will need U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval.

Design Plans & Specifications

Permitting & Coordination

Post Construction

ConstructionImplementation

PHASE 3 – DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION


PHASE 4 - ACCREDITATION

• Post-Construction– Verification of As-Built Condition and Meeting Project Intent– USACE O&M Manual Updates

• Accreditation Package– FEMA PM 63– FEMA Tabbed Submittal– Bringing it All Together


LEVEE EVALUATION FINDINGS

- Levee Improvement Needed


DESIGN AND PERMITTING

• Design of Improvements– Increase in Levee Height– Riverside Gatewell Improvements– Addition of Toe Drain– Accounting for O&M Deficiencies – Vegetation

• Permitting– 408 Permit– 404 Permit– Railroad– Department of Road– Floodplain – Others


CONSTRUCTION

• Construction– Contractor Coordination and Observation– Geotechnical Oversight– Phasing for NEPA– Vegetation Removal– Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

• Available/Designated Materials and Staff


LEVEE IN ACTION

• Elkhorn River Flooding (June 2010)


LEVEE IN ACTION

• Flooding Elkhorn River– Ice Jam Downstream (Feb 2011)

• EAP Implemented


PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES

• Freeboard• Geotechnical• Interior Drainage• Flood Warning Procedures



• Time• FEMA vs. USACE Regulatory Requirements• An Acceptable Corps Inspection Rating, Alone, Does NOT

Equate to an Accredited Levee for the NFIP



• Funding– Little if Any Funding is Available at the National or State Levels– FEMA Mitigation Programs Specifically Exclude These Types of Projects– Communities Must Fund Improvements Themselves


CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED

• Evaluate Early• Provide Routine Public Information• Timeline for PAL Insufficient for Significant Improvements• Coordinate with USACE Early • Evaluation Criteria of FEMA and USACE Are NOT the Same• Quality Geotechnical Evaluation• Construction Operations Sequencing/Scheduling• Vegetation Removals and Management• Emergency Action Plan and Preparedness


NATIONAL POLICY CHALLENGES AND EMERGING ISSUES

• Higher Standards for Levees (500-Year/0.2% Annual Chance Flood)

• FEMA Non-accredited Levee Mapping Approach• Mandatory Flood Insurance Behind Levees?• Railroad Highway Embankment Issues• Funding (or lack thereof)

USEFUL WEBSITES

National Committee on Levee Safety – www.iwr.usace.army.mil/nclsNational Flood Risk Management Program – www.iwr.usace.army.mil/nfrmp

http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ncls

http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/nfrmp


MANAGING RESIDUAL RISK

Graphic Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers


THANK YOU!

asfpm – may 24, 2012 case study – 408 permitting and levee accreditation for waterloo, nebraska...

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