Federal Emergency Management Agency PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the Proposed City of Clute Parks and Recreation Building Replacement Project Brazoria County, Texas The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to reimburse eligible applicants for eligible costs to repair and/or replace facilities damaged by high winds, storms and flooding associated with Hurricane Ike, which made landfall on September 13, 2008. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206. Interested persons are hereby notified that the City of Clute has applied to FEMA for assistance with the proposed replacement and expansion of the Clute Parks and Recreation Building that was damaged by high winds associated with Hurricane Ike, causing a large tree to break and fall on the building. This project is located within the Clute Municipal Park at latitude 29.02391, longitude -95.40827, at 100 Parkview Drive, Clute, Texas in south central Brazoria County approximately 60 miles south of Houston. The proposed project will replace the original 2,652 square foot Clute Parks and Recreation Building at its previous location with a 12,452 square foot facility. The expanded facilities will include office space for the City’s Park and Recreation Department, a new community center and will house a visitor’s bureau. The purpose for the project would restore the community-use function of the Parks and Recreation Department Building with a new permanent facility, additional park amenities to better serve the community and would support local tourism for the City. The need for the expanded facility is to meet increased public demand for the delivery of public services since the original facility was built in 1984. The expansion would require the demolition of the former building slab foundation, tree removal, and site leveling and grading. The construction of this project will take place outside of the 100 and 500-year floodplains. The new facility would connect to existing water and sewer utilities that served the former building. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the implementing regulations of FEMA, a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared to assess the potential impacts of the proposed action on the human and natural environment. The Draft EA summarizes the purpose and need, alternatives, affected environment, and potential environmental consequences for the proposed action. The Draft EA is available for comment and can be viewed and downloaded from FEMA’s website at http://www.fema.gov/plan/ehp/envdocuments/ea-region6.shtm. The Draft EA can be viewed at the Clute Library located at 215 North Shanks Road, Clute, TX 77531 between the hours of 10:00am to 6:00 pm Monday or Wednesday; 10:00am to 8:00pm Tuesday or Thursday; Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm. The Draft EA can also be viewed at the City of Clute Parks and Recreation Department at 218 Highway 332, Clute, TX 77531 during the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday. The comment period will end 30 days from the initial notice publication date of February 24, 2012. Written comments on the Draft EA can be mailed or faxed to the contact below. If no substantive comments are received, the Draft EA will become final and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be issued for the project. Substantive comments will be addressed as appropriate in the final documents. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region VI c/o Alan Hermely 800 North Loop 288, Denton, TX 76209 Fax: 940-383-7299