CUMULATIVE FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE
Pursuant to Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, Executive Orders 11988 (Floodplain Management) and 11990 (Wetlands), FEMA hereby provides cumulative final notice of its decision to provide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funding and Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current Program Funding for actions located in or near floodplains and/or near wetlands. Funding would be provided through Vermont Emergency Management for structure demolitions and related site restorations throughout Vermont.
Eligible actions would be located in or near a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), a Moderate Flood Hazard Area (MFHA), or near a designated wetland throughout Vermont. Work would include the demolition and removal of structures, associated impervious surfaces, outbuildings, and facilities; minor ground disturbance; site preparation and restoration work; and the use of fill for minor grading and/or filling subsurface facilities where fill would meet existing grade.
Demolition work and associated site restorations would have limited temporary effects and no permanent adverse effects on the natural and beneficial values served by floodplains or wetlands. Long-term, the values of the floodplain and/or wetlands would be restored and natural flood storage capacity at the sites would improve.
Other alternatives considered include relocation, elevation, and “no action.” The relocation and elevation alternatives were deemed technically impracticable and not cost effective. The “no action” alternative would leave the community at risk. Demolition is the preferred alternative as it is cost effective, eliminates flood risk to homeowners to the maximum extent, promotes open space use, and restores natural floodplain and wetland values.
Grant conditions will require compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, including coordination with the local floodplain administrator, local wetland permitting as needed, and proper removal of demolition debris where applicable. Comments about these projects and potential floodplain and/or wetland impacts should be submitted within 15 days of the date of this publication to:
Mary Shanks, Deputy Regional Environmental Officer
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cambridge, MA
fema-r1-hma-ehp@fema.dhs.gov