The Federal Emergency Management Agency and North Carolina Emergency Management have received the following applications for Federal grant funding. Notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s consideration to provide funding in the form of a Hazard Mitigation Grant.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and provide public notices of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12892 also requires FEMA to provide an opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority or low-income populations.
Funding for the proposed projects will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.
Applicant: Pitt County, North Carolina
Project Title: Pitt County Acquisition Project
Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project consists of potentially 23 properties located on the following streets in Pitt County: Gum Swamp Church Road, Sandstone Court, Joe Gardner Road, Tucker Street, Main Street, South Highland Avenue, Old River Road, Creek Shore Drive, Emma Cannon Road, Contentnea Lane, Casey Drive, Dogwood Lane, Gordon Street, Wiley Gaskins Road, Country Club Drive and Ray Crawford Drive.
Maps of the project areas associated with the grant applications can be reviewed by contacting Mr. Mark Nottingham at 252-902-3258.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
This will be a voluntary acquisition program. For all property owners who decide to participate in this voluntary program, the properties will be acquired using HMGP grant funds. The properties will be deeded as open space in perpetuity and will be allowed to revert to their natural state.
Project Alternatives:
Not taking a mitigation action is an option, but not an acceptable one. The reasoning for rejecting the No Action Alternative is that doing so will not mitigate any risks. The entire project area would remain in danger from future flood events. Without acquiring these structures, damages and the risk of potential loss of life will continue to be a threat.
The second alternative is to elevate the structures. However, the most effective mitigation action is to remove the structures completely from the high-risk area, thereby eliminating any future risk to the structure. These homeowners prefer acquisition and complete elimination of their risk, so elevation is considered a less preferable option.
Applicant: Pitt County, North Carolina
Project Title: Pitt County Generator Project
Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project for one (1) generator to be located at a County facility.
Maps of the project areas associated with the grant applications can be reviewed by contacting Ms. Lora Maynard at 252-902-2656.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
Generators are required to ensure that backup power is maintained at all critical and essential facilities during natural disaster events.
Project Alternatives:
Not taking a mitigation action is an option, but not an acceptable one. The reasoning for rejecting the No Action Alternative is that doing so will not mitigate any risks. The entire project area would remain in danger from future flood events.
The second alternative is to build redundancies of the power grid to the point there would never be any power outages. This is a cost prohibitive alternative. Installing a generator as backup power at this facility will help to ensure continuity of operations during disasters or other events where power may be lost.
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 Pitt County, Attn: Mr. Mark Nottingham, or emailed mark.nottingham@pittcountync.gov by October 31, 2019.