1. In order to assure the continued availability of flood insurance in any community described in subdivision two or four of section 36-0105 of this article while it completes the process of qualifying as a participant in the national flood insurance program, the department is authorized and directed to provide technical assistance necessary to enable such local governments to assume their responsibilities in as expeditious a manner as possible.

2. The commissioner shall review, and appropriately amend or repeal, all regulations of the department relating to the implementation of the former article thirty-six of the environmental conservation law which was repealed by the same chapter of the laws of nineteen hundred ninety-two that enacted this article thirty-six.

3. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to affect the validity of any local law or ordinance heretofore enacted by any local government.

4. If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be adjudged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such order or judgment shall be confined in its operation to the controversy in which it was rendered, and shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of any provision of any section or the application of any part thereof to any other person or circumstances and to this end the provisions of this article are hereby declared to be severable.