CRS UNIFORM MINIMUM CREDIT RHODE ISLAND SUMMARY The Community Rating System (CRS) provides Uniform Minimum Credit (UMC) for certain state laws, regulations, and standards that support floodplain management and have proven effective in reducing flood damage. The following table summarizes UMC credit available to all communities. It also includes possible additional credit available for selected areas or state activities. The Insurance Services Office (ISO)/CRS Specialists and the communities need to determine which possible additional credits apply to their area. These UMCs do not necessarily apply to Tribal Nations. The range of credit available to communities within the state is shown below, followed by an explanation of each activity. The credit is based on the 2013 CRS Coordinator s Manual. Activity Element Coastal credit Non-coastal credit Uniform Minimum Credit 340 Other Disclosure Requirements (ODR) 10 10 450 Erosion & Sedimentation Control (ESC) 10 10 430 Building Codes (BC) 48 48 Total 68 68 Possible Additional Credit 410CE Mapping Coastal Erosion (MCE) 25 0 420CE Coastal Open Space Preservation (CEOS) 35 0 430 Freeboard (FRB) 7.5-100 7.5-100 420 Natural Shoreline Protection (NSP) 0 120 0 430CE Coastal Erosion Regulations (CER) 30 0 430 State-mandated Standards (SMS) 20 12.3-15 440 Additional Map Data (AMD) 100 100 450 Stormwater Management Regulations (SMR) 32.85-219 32.85-219 450 Water Quality (WQ) 20 20 630 State Dam Safety (SDS) 0-5 0-5 Total 270.35-674 172.65-459 Credit for activities in the 400 series can increase based on the Community Growth Adjustment. The CRS requires participating communities to maintain elevation certificates, which provide an additional 38 points. Five hundred points are needed for Class 9. Rhode Island Uniform Minimum Credit 1 August 2014
UNIFORM MINIMUM CREDIT Activity 340. Flood Hazard Disclosure Other Disclosure Requirements (ODR) 10 points are awarded for the requirement that sellers disclose whether a property is located in a flood zone or wetland, and has flood insurance. The Rhode Island Realtors Association has developed a form that complies with requirements set in General Law. Legal basis: Rhode Island General Laws, Title 5, Chapter 5-20.8.2, Real Estate Sales Disclosure at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes/title5/5-20.8/5-20.8-2.htm. Annual UMC verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the law is still is in effect. Activity 430. Higher Regulatory Standards Building Codes Up to 48 points may be given for the 2010 Rhode Island State Building Code, which all communities in Rhode Island have adopted. The state adopts the code and communities are required to abide by it. The State Code incorporates the most recent 2012 International Codes Series (Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel and Gas). Legal basis: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes/title23/23-27.3/23-27.3-100.1.7.htm. Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that communities have adopted the 2010 Rhode Island State Building Code, without amendments. Annual UMC verification: ISO/CRS Specialists and Building Technical Reviewer will verify that the regulations are still in effect. Activity 450. Stormwater Management Erosion & Sedimentation Control (ESC) 10 points are awarded for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Phase II Program, which requires all construction activities greater than one acre to obtain a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency, a delegated state, or a community with a MS4 permit. Rhode Island Uniform Minimum Credit 2 August 2014
Legal basis: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/permits/ripdes/stwater/i ndex.htm. Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify credit by reviewing permits and erosion control plans. Annual UMC verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the regulations are still in effect. Rhode Island Uniform Minimum Credit 3 August 2014
POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL CREDIT Some state standards are eligible for CRS credit, but may not be in effect in every community. These standards are addressed below. ISO/CRS Specialists and the communities need to determine whether they are creditable in their area. Activity 410CE. Additional Flood Data Mapping Coastal Erosion (MCE) 25 points are available for setbacks determined using the rates of change, as found on the Shoreline Change Maps for Watch Hill to the Easternmost Point of Quicksand Beach (Little Compton), abutting Massachusetts. Legal basis: Title 46, Chapter 23, Section 140. C. Rhode Island General Laws - Coastal Resources Management Council, at: http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/crmc/4611.pdf Verification: The technical reviewer will review maps provided by the community showing setback lines and the erosion rate data. Annual UMC Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the regulation is still in effect. Activity 420. Open Space Preservation Natural Shoreline Protection (NSP) Up to 120 points are awarded to all communities with Coastal Buffer Zones, based on the Coastal Resources Management Council s legislative mandate to preserve, protect and, where possible, restore ecological systems. Legal basis: Title 46, Chapter 23, Section 150. Rhode Island General Laws - Coastal Resources Management Council at: http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/crmc/crmc_ 2632.pdf and http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/crmc/crmc_ 1061_.pdf. Verification: ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer will verify credit by reviewing a copy of the regulations or policy, a description of the restoration program or projects, and an impact adjustment map. Annual UMC Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the regulation is still in effect. Rhode Island Possible Additional Credit 4 July 2014
Activity 420CE. Open Space Preservation Coastal Erosion Open Space (CEOS) 35 points are available for at least five acres of preserved open space in coastal dune and beach areas, protected by coastal setback regulations. Legal basis: Title 46, Chapter 23, Section 140. C. Rhode Island General Laws - Coastal Resources Management Council at: http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/crmc/crmc_ 3867.pdf and http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/crmc/crmc_ 3200.pdf Verification: Documentation that at least five-acres seaward of the frontal dune are protected as open space will be reviewed. Annual UMC Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the regulation is still in effect. Activity 430. Higher Regulatory Standards Freeboard (FRB) 7.5 to 100 points may be available for one foot of freeboard in A and V zones, mandatory for all communities. If freeboard does not apply to utilities and ductwork, the credit is reduced by 25 percent. The credit is further reduced if the community has Approximate A Zones in its floodplain and flood elevations are not required to be determined in those areas. Legal basis: The Rhode Island State Building Code incorporates ASCE-05 which provides for one foot of freeboard. Section 1612.4 and 1612.5 of 2010 State Building Code refers to ASCE 24-05. Source: Hard copies of the Code are available from the state; it is not available in electronic form. Requirements for communities to adopt the code are at: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes/title23/23-27.3/index.htm Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify credit by reviewing elevation certificates, permits, site plans, and similar documents for new developments in the regulatory floodplain. Annual UMC verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the regulations are still in effect. Rhode Island Possible Additional Credit 5 July 2014
Activity 430CE. Coastal Erosion Regulations (CER) Coastal Erosion Regulations (CER) 30 points are available for the requirement that the minimum distance of a setback must be not less than 30 times the calculated average annual erosion rate for less than four dwelling units, and not less than 60 times the calculated average annual erosion rate for commercial, industrial, or dwellings of more than 4 units. At a minimum, setbacks must extend either 50 feet from the inland boundary of the coastal feature or 25 feet inland of the edge of a Coastal Buffer Zone, whichever is further landward. Legal basis: Title 46, Chapter 23, Section 140. C. Rhode Island General Laws - Coastal Resources Management Council at http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/crmc/4611.pdf Verification: The technical reviewer will review a copy of the erosion hazard map and the erosion rate data for the community, as well as a copy of shoreline permits and variances. Annual UMC Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the regulation is still in effect. State-mandated Standards (SMS) 20 points are awarded for state-mandated regulatory standards in coastal areas; and 12.3 to 15 points are awarded in non-coastal areas. Credit equals 0.10 times the sum of credit points for floodplain management regulatory standards. Total SMS is limited to 20 points. State-mandated Standards Activity Element Credit 410CE Mapping Coastal Erosion 25 420CE Open Space Preservation (CEOS) 35 420 Natural Shoreline Protection (NSP) 0-120 430 Freeboard (FRB) 75-100 430CE Coastal Erosion Regulations (CER) 30 430 Building Codes (BC) 48 Total 213-358 x 0.1 20 Source: Section 432.n of the CRS Coordinator s Manual. Activity 440. Flood Data Maintenance Additional Map Data (AMD): Up to 100 points are awarded if a community uses the Rhode Island Flood Mapping Tool data layers, maintained by the State of Rhode Island. The layers would need to be used for a community s floodplain management purposes. The state updates the data as new information becomes available, so the community will need to ensure that the data are always up-to-date. Rhode Island Possible Additional Credit 6 July 2014
Legal basis: Rhode Island Flood Mapping Tool http://www.riema.ri.gov/prevention/floods/flood_mapping.php. Verification: Based on requirements in the CRS Coordinator s Manual Annual UMC verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the state s flood mapping tool is still in effect. POSSIBLE 440 AMD DESCRIPTION OF DATA POINTS AMD1 Showing the SFHA boundaries, corporate limits, streets, and parcel or lot boundaries 20 AMD2 Showing building outlines, or footprints (building information must be kept up to date to reflect new construction) 26 AMD3 Floodways or coastal high hazard areas 12 AMD4 Base flood elevations 12 AMD5 FIRM zone attributes (e.g., A3, VE, etc.) 10 AMD6 500-year floodplain elevations or boundaries 10 AMD8 Topographic contour lines 10 TOTAL 100 Activity 450. Stormwater Management Stormwater Management Regulations (SMR) From 32.85 to 219 points are provided if a community adopts and implements the state s Stormwater management standards. 60 points for size of development (SZ), 114 points for the design standard, 25 points for requiring LID techniques, and 20 points for requiring inspections and maintenance of facilities. The impact adjustment could range from 0.15 to 1.00, which results in a score of 32.85 to 219 points. Water Quality Regulations (WQ) 20 points may be awarded if new developments stormwater management facilities are required to improve the quality of stormwater management runoff. Legal basis: This is part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Phase II Program requirements. Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will review a copy of the local ordinance language that requires best management practices for water quality and copies of development plans showing implementation of the law. Annual UMC verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that best management practices for water quality are required. Rhode Island Possible Additional Credit 7 July 2014
Activity 630. Dams State Dam Safety (SDS) Up to 5 points of credit for State Dam Safety Program activities based on the Dam Safety Program Management Tool. 5 points awarded for Risk Communication and Public Awareness. Verification: ISO/CRS Specialists will verify that the community is in compliance with the State Dam Safety Program. SDS credit is limited to communities that would be affected by a flood from the failure of a high-hazardpotential dam. This must be documented with a description and a map. Annual UMC verification: The Federal Emergency Management Agency s Dam Safety Office annually verifies SDS credit. Rhode Island Possible Additional Credit 8 July 2014