Federal Emergency Management Agency PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the Blanco County Round Mountain and Church Tank Tower Sites Blanco County, Texas Homeland Security Grant Program Project # 2009-SR-48031-01 Interested persons are hereby notified that Blanco County, Texas has applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Homeland Security Grant Program for funding to assist with the construction of two communication towers located in Blanco County. The first tower, known as the Round Mountain Tower, is located at 862 RR 962E, Round Mountain, Blanco County, Texas 78663 at the coordinates of Latitude 30-25-43.14N and Longitude 98-19-55.02W. The second tower, known as the Church Tank Tower, is located at 3944 S. U.S. 281, Blanco, Blanco County, Texas 78606 at the coordinates of Latitude 30-01-40.87N and Longitude 098-14-46.82W. These two towers are the last two needed to complete the Regional Radio System for Public Safety in this three county area of Texas. The proposed Round Mountain Tower height is 300 feet above ground level and 1,563 feet above mean sea level. The proposed Church Tank Tower height is 300 feet above ground level and 1,497 feet above mean sea level. Both towers will be a self-supporting lighted tower structures. The towers will be painted and lighted with white strobe and red strobe lights in accordance to Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. Ground disturbance for new construction and structure modification including trenching for utility lines, installation of fencing and light posts, tower footing and pads, etc. will be minimal and are estimated to be 145 feet x 85 feet or less than (1/3) acre for both tower sites. The trenching for utility lines will be approximately 24 inches in depth x 20 feet in length, installation of fencing approximately 24 inches to 36 inches in depth, the tower footings will be approximately 3 feet in diameter x 21 inches in depth x 3 and pads 20 feet in length x 12 feet wide. A National Priority of the 2009 Homeland Security Grant Program is to “strengthen chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear, and explosive detection, response, and decontamination. Statewide interoperable communications is integral to the accomplishment of this priority and all other National Priorities. These two new regional communications towers are needed in Blanco County to improve public safety and interoperable communications among emergency responders during such an emergency event. 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 also be viewed at the Johnson City Library, located at 501 Nugent Ave, Johnson City, TX 78636, Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and the Blanco County Courthouse, located at 101 E. Pecan Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the office of County Judge Bill Guthrie. The comment period will end 15 days from the initial notice publication date of October 15, 2011. 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