Federal Emergency Management Agency PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) For the Water And Sewer District Office And Maintenance Facility Hancock County, Mississippi FEMA – 1604 – DR – MS Interested persons are hereby notified that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing to assist in the funding of construction of a new Water & Sewer District office and maintenance facility, in Hancock County, Mississippi. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina storm surge severely damaged the Hancock County Water & Sewer District (HCWSD) operations and maintenance/shop buildings, located on Longfellow Road in Bay St. Louis. Damages to the HCWSD operations and maintenance buildings meet FEMA’s repair/replacement ratio for the demolition and replacement of the structures. HCWSD has proposed to construct a new office and maintenance facility north of Interstate-10. A new location is required to meet the directive that utility facilities be re-built in non-flood hazard areas, with a minimum finished floor elevation of 21 feet above sea level. The site would remain inside the ABFE. The construction site comprises approximately 3.1 acres. Access to the new facility would be provided by Stennis Airport Road. Wetland impacts of the project would be mitigated through purchase of mitigation bank credits. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Executive Order 11988, Executive Order 11990, and the implementing regulations of FEMA, and 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 and its associated Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) can be viewed and downloaded from FEMA’s website at http://www.fema.gov/plan/ehp/envdocuments/ea-region4.shtm or viewed and copied at the following location: * Bay St. Louis - Hancock County Library 312 Highway 90 Bay St. Louis, MS The comment period will end 15 days from July 11, 2007, the notice publication date, which is July 26, 2007. Written comments on the Draft EA can be mailed or faxed to the contact below. If no substantive comment are received, the Draft EA and associated FONSI will become final. Substantive comments will be addressed as appropriate in the final documents. Michael Grisham FEMA Environmental Liaison Officer FEMA/State Transitional Recovery Officer 220 Popps Ferry Road, Building A South Biloxi, MS 39565 FAX – (228) 385-7884