Final Public Notice – Multiple Stormwater Repairs
The City of Southport has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program funding through the North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) as a sub- recipient.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives, and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority and low-income populations. This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.
Sub-Applicant: City of Southport
Project Title: Town-wide storm drain repairs
| Location of Proposed Work:
Facility and Address |
Latitude | Longitude |
| 319 Herring Drive culvert | 33.926341 | -78.016030 |
| Willis Drive & Moore Street culvert | 33.922585 | -78.011535 |
| Willis Drive & Nash Street service road | 33.923250 | -78.012581 |
| N. Atlantic Avenue culverts | Start: 33.924330
End: 33.927752 |
Start: -78.019730
End: -78.020598 |
| South Caswell Avenue culverts | Start: 33.917640
End: -78.021763 |
Start: 33.916763
End: -78.021564 |
| West Bay Street & South Caswell Avenue culvert outflow | 33.916377 | -78.021540 |
Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:
This project is for repairs to the City of Southport’s Storm Drain System which is located in an Unshaded X, AE, and VE Zone. Confirmation of location in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the latest Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel Number: 3720209600K, dated 08/28/2018. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of North Carolina and local floodplain regulations. There is a
potential for the facility to be impacted by similar flooding events due to its location within an AE and VE Zone. As such, measures have been identified to protec these facilities against future flooding events, as well as minimize the short-term and long-term impacts on the floodplain. Portions of the proposed work will take place in an Estuarine and Marine Wetland classification per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory. The actions will have little potential to impact or affect wetland values.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
The City of Southport will utilize contracts for the repairs to the storm drainage system to restore facilities back to pre-disaster function within the existing footprint. Repairs will consist of street repairs and drainage pipe replacements. Applicant is upgrading damaged Vitrified Clay Pipes (VCP) to Polyvinyl Chloride Pipes (PVC) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes and replacing a damaged discharge box with a 24-inch flare section to upgrade for Codes and Standards. These improvements allow for system durability during similar events in the future.
Project Alternatives:
Alternative #1 (No action): The ‘no action’ alternative would ultimately result in a negative impact on the City of Southport. The storm drainage system functions as a crucially important hazard mitigation resource for the city as it transports storm waters away from the public right-of-way.
Alternative #2: (Relocation) Relocation of the system is not a practicable alternative as it is functionally dependent on remaining within the floodplain to transport storm surge away from improved property. The outfall pipe is functionally dependent on remaining within the VE Zone as the system utilizes gravity to perform its function and the current location of the outfall allows for storm surge to drain into the Cape Fear River instead of back into the floodplain, protecting improved property and promoting public safety.
Comment Period:
Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing an addressed to:
FEMA Internal 11988 Reviewer FEMA Region 4
3003 Chamblee-tucker Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30341
Alternatively, comments may be emailed to: [email protected]. Please send comments with the subject line [DR-4393-NC-01823 11988 COMMENT].
All comments are due by no later than 30 days of the posted date of this notice.
POSTED ON: October 21, 2019
End of Notice
