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SMG POV
Floodplain mapping and flood insurance rates
WRITTEN BY
Daniel Hardin, P.E.TAGGED
The federal government has requested that flood insurance be self-sufficient. New changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will increase insurance rates as much as 25% per year. Houses built in a floodplain and constructed before 1978 are subject to the federal insurance policies. These changes are the result of the Biggert-Waters Flood Reform Act of 2012. The next increase to flood insurance rates will be January 1, 2014. Local developers in Jefferson County, Kentucky were notified that there will be significant changes to floodplain maps. The FEMA map program is called RISK MAP. For example, premiums for the standard-rated policy for property within X Zones (zones outside the special flood hazard area) will increase 8%.
FEATURED PROJECT
PROBLEM
A local company engaged in manufacturing imported a small amount of a chemical substance defined under TSCA. Faced with a potential EPA enforcement action with penalties assessed for noncompliance under TSCA of up to $32,500 per day per violation, the company called SMG for help.
SMG'S APPROACH
SMG analyzed the company’s current TSCA procedures and assisted the company in developing a proactive, cost-effective compliance procedure. SMG also facilitated a training program to educate employees about TSCA.
MG worked with the company to develop mechanisms that assured adherence with the policies that were being implemented for compliance. Procedures to promptly correct any potential violations and prevent future violations were also put into place.
RESULTS
SMG was able to show that the company complied with the relevant TSCA regulations and was improving their TSCA policies and procedures to assure that future issues were less likely to occur. The company was not subjected to the proposed penalties and now has mechanisms in place to maintain TSCA compliance.