[Amended 2-27-1991]
A. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the one-hundred-year flood elevation shall be used as the basis for regulation. When available, information from other federal, state and other acceptable sources shall be used to determine the one-hundred-year elevation, as well as a floodway area, if possible. When no other information is available, the one-hundred-year elevation shall be determined by using a point on the boundary of the identified floodplain area which is nearest the construction site in question.
B. 
In lieu of the above, the municipality may require the applicant to determine the elevation with hydrologic and hydraulic engineering techniques. Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses shall be undertaken only by professional engineers or others of demonstrated qualifications, who shall certify that the technical methods used correctly reflect currently accepted technical concepts. Studies, analyses, computations, etc., shall be submitted in sufficient detail to allow a thorough technical review by the Township.
The delineation of any of the identified floodplain area may be revised by the Township of Independence where natural or man-made changes have occurred and/or more detailed studies conducted or undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers documents the notification for such changes. However, prior to any such change, approval must be obtained from the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA).
Should a dispute concerning any identified floodplain boundary arise, an initial determination shall be made by the Township of Independence Planning Commission, and any party aggrieved by this decision may appeal to the Township of Independence. The burden of proof shall be on the appellant.
[Added 6-19-1985]
A. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the one-hundred-year flood elevation shall be used as the basis for regulation. To determine the one-hundred-year flood elevation, the elevation at a given point on the boundary of the identified floodplain area which is nearest the construction site in question will be used. In helping to make this necessary elevation determination, other sources of data, where available, shall be used, such as:
(1) 
United States Army Corps of Engineers Floodplain Information Reports.
(2) 
United States Geological Survey Flood-Prone Quadrangles.
(3) 
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service County Soil Surveys (Alluvial Soils) or PL 566 Flood Information.
(4) 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Flood Control Investigations.
(5) 
Known high-water marks from past floods.
(6) 
Other sources.
B. 
In lieu of the above, the municipality may require the applicant to determine the elevation with hydrologic and hydraulic engineering techniques. Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses shall be undertaken only by professional engineers or others of demonstrated qualifications, who shall certify that the technical methods used correctly reflect currently accepted technical concepts. Studies, analyses, computations, etc., shall be submitted in sufficient detail to allow a thorough technical review by the Township.