The Town 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: Town of Southport

Project Title: [160703] Washouts and damage to Retaining Wall; PA-04-NC-4568-PW-00066

Location of Proposed Work:

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:

This project is for repairs to an eroded bulkhead and road located in Unshaded X (low risk), AE (1% annual chance flooding), and VE (Coastal High Hazard) flood zones. Confirmation of location in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the Brunswick County Effective 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. The proposed work will be done on existing structures and will have no effect on the local floodplain. The proposed work has the potential to be impacted by flooding in the future but is functionally dependent on its location in the floodplain. The proposed work will take place in a wetland per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory but will have no potential to impact or affect wetland values.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

The Town of Southport will utilize contracts to repair washed out rip rap bulkhead embankment and Bay St. damages (33.91724, -78.01771 to 33.91784, -78.01610). Mitigation proposal includes extending the footprint of the bulkhead from (540 FT long X 20 FT wide) to (600 FT long X 35 FT wide) with an addition of 1,400 cubic yards of riprap to better protect against future damages. The purpose of this project is to minimize future damage and return function to Bay St. to provide continued transportation through the town of Southport.

Project Alternatives:

Alternative #1 (no action alternative): The ‘no action’ alternative would ultimately result in a negative impact on the Town of Southport as the road and adjacent bulkhead embankment provide essential transportation through the Town of Southport.

Alternative #2: (Relocation): Relocation is not practicable as the facility is functionally dependent on its location in the floodplain. It would not be economically feasible to relocate the linear road system.

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 and addressed to:

FEMA Internal 11988 Reviewer
FEMA Region 4
3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road
Atlanta, Georgia, 30341

Alternatively, comments may be emailed to: [email protected] Please send comments with the subject line [DR-4568-NC-00066 11988 COMMENT].

All comments are due by no later than 30 days of the posted date of this notice.

POSTED ON: Monday, February 1, 2021.

End of Notice