APPENDIX C 

Public Involvement 


FEMA PUBLIC NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR 

VAL REISS PARK, 

CHALMETTE, ST. BERNARD PARISH, LOUISIANA 

 

 

Interested parties are hereby notified that the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) for a proposed park enhancement. St. Bernard Parish has 
prepared and submitted an application to FEMA for funding under FEMA’s Public 
Assistance Program being administered in response to FEMA-1603-DR-LA. The 
Presidential Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1603-DR-LA, was signed on August 29, 2005, 
for this event. 

 

The proposed action includes the construction of a new recreational complex for St. 
Bernard Parish. The project shall include one (1) youth baseball/softball quadraplex, one 
(1) mixed youth/adult baseball/softball quadraplex, a muti-purpose building, picnic areas, 
parking lots, circulation roads, a walking path, playground lots, a restroom/concession 
building, a shuttle road, a scout house, fencing, and utility infrastructure. The proposed 
project location is on a parcel of land currently owned by St. Bernard Parish. The parcel 
covers an area of approximately thirty-three (33) acres located at 1101 Magistrate St. in 
Chalmette, Louisiana 70043. Per the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
4371 et seq.), and associated environmental statutes, a draft EA was written to evaluate 
the proposed action’s potential impacts on the human and natural environment. The draft 
EA summarizes the purpose and need, site selection process, affected environment, and 
potential environmental consequences associated with the proposed action. The draft 
FONSI will be FEMA’s finding that the proposed action will not have a significant effect 
on the human and natural environment if no additional substantive information is 
discovered during the comment period. 

 

The public comment period will be August 29, 2008 to September 12, 2008. Written 
comments on the draft EA can be faxed to FEMA’s Transitional Recovery Office in New 
Orleans at (504) 762-2871; and verbal comments will be accepted at (832) 851-3832 
between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. The draft EA can be viewed and downloaded from 
FEMA’s website at http://www.fema.gov/ehp/docs.shtm and is also available for public 
review at the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex Office of Homeland Security and 
Emergency Preparedness, 8201 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043. The 
Government Complex hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If no 
substantive comments are received, the draft EA and draft FONSI will become final and 
this initial Public Notice will also serve as the final Public Notice. 

 

 

Scanned image of St. Bernard Parish's log of public participation during planning of Val Reiss Park