U.S. Department of Homeland Security Louisiana Recovery Office 1 Seine Court, 4th Floor New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for the VERMILION PARISH DETENTION CENTER FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT ABBEVILLE, LOUISIANA FEMA-1603-DR-LA BACKGROUND During Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005, floodwaters came within two (2) inches of the finished floor of the Vermilion Parish Detention Center, located at 14202 Savoy Road, Abbeville, LA. As a result, Vermilion Parish (applicant) has requested federal funding through FEMA’s 404 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to construct a ring concrete flood wall and earthen berm around the Vermilion Parish Detention Center structure, the top of which will be approximately 10 feet above mean sea level (msl), one foot above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) of 9 feet above msl, as indicated on the effective Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs). In accordance with 44 CFR Part 10, FEMA regulations to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared. The purpose of the EA was to analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with construction of a ring concrete flood wall and earthen berm around the Vermilion Parish Detention Center structure and to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The need for the proposed action is to protect the Vermilion Parish Detention Center structure to one foot above the BFE; thereby, reducing the risk of future damage from flooding. The alternatives considered include 1) No Action, 2) Demolish the existing facilities and reconstruct the Vermilion Parish Detention Center structure on the same site, which would be elevated with fill (Eliminated from further consideration), 3) Construction of a ring concrete flood wall/earthen berm around the existing Vermilion Parish Detention Center structure (Proposed Action). The applicant proposes to construct an approximately 2,633 linear feet of earthen berm and 566 linear feet of concrete floodwall around the perimeter of the Vermilion Parish Detention Center. The proposed action will provide protection to one (1) foot above the BFE as indicated on the DFIRMs. The concrete flood/earthen berm will be approximately 5.0 feet above grade on average and will be approximately 1.5 feet above floodwater levels experienced during Hurricane Rita. The proposed project also includes the installation of a pumping station within the proposed berm area and a discharge ditch outside of the berm area. FINDINGS FEMA has evaluated the proposed project for significant adverse impacts to geology, soils, water resources (surface water, groundwater, and wetlands), floodplains, coastal resources, air quality, biological resources (vegetation, fish and wildlife, Federally-listed threatened or endangered species and critical habitats), cultural resources, socioeconomics (including minority and low income populations), safety, noise, and hazardous materials. The results of these evaluations as well as consultations and input from other federal and state agencies are presented in the EA. CONDITIONS The following conditions must be met as part of the implementation of the project. Failure to comply with these conditions may jeopardize federal funds: * The discharge velocities would be high enough that rip-rap is required to be installed at the outfall point to alleviate potential erosion. * The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) has stormwater general permits for construction areas equal to or greater than one acre.  It is recommended that the LDEQ Water Permit Division be contacted at (225) 219-3181 to determine whether the proposed improvements require one of these permits. The contractor is required to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) that meet the LDEQ permitting specifications for storm water discharge regulated under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). All precautions should be observed to control nonpoint source pollution from construction activities. * A Department of the Army permit under Section 404 of the CWA would be required if the applicant proposes to deposit dredged or fill material into Youngs North Coulee or other Waters of the United States adjacent to the property boundaries. * Any changes or modifications to the proposed project would require a revised US Army Corps of Engineers determination. Off-site locations of activities such as borrow, disposals, haul-and detour-roads and work mobilization site developments may be subject to the Department of the Army regulatory requirements and may have an impact to a Department of Army project. * If any solid or hazardous wastes, or soils and/or groundwater contaminated with hazardous constituents are encountered during the project, notification to LDEQ’s Single-Point-of-Contact (SPOC) at (225) 219-3640 is required.  Additionally, precautions should be taken to protect workers from these hazardous constituents. * The proposed mitigation action would entail excavation of the existing shooting range dirt mound. The following procedures shall be followed for removal of shooting range soils: 1. BMPs to reduce or eliminate stormwater run-off and soil erosion into the large drainage ditch and/or Youngs North Bayou should be in place prior to, during, and after excavation in the shooting range area for as long as bare soil exists in this area. 2. The soil to be excavated should be sampled prior to excavation with a bias in the sampling locations to areas with suspected high levels of lead contamination. The first six (6) inches of soil should be collected at each sampling location. 3. Prior to excavation of the ditch, sample and analyze the soil to determine if there are levels of leachable lead above the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (EPA SW-846 Method 1311 Revision 0, November 1990) (TCLP) limit of five (5) milligram/liter (mg/L) and/or 400 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) of total lead by EPA Method 6010B. For soils that would remain at the existing location, analyze soil samples for total lead concentration. 4. All soils excavated from the shooting range area must be segregated from all other excavated soils. All stockpiles of shooting range excavated soil should be stored on 6-mil impermeable plastic to prevent leaching of lead onto other areas of the proposed project site. The stockpiles should be covered with weighted plastic sheeting to prevent wind and/or rain erosion and migration to other areas of the project site or to off-site locations. These stockpiles should be removed from the project site within 72 hours of their creation. After the removal of the stockpiles, confirmation soils samples should be collected of the surface soil to determine that no contamination has been transferred to the stockpile location. 5. Any proposed soil treatment options should meet the requirements the LDEQ Hazardous Waste Regulations, Chapter 33, Part V. To determine if a proposed treatment option would be acceptable, contact the LDEQ Enforcement Division, Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, and UST Enforcement Section by phone at (225) 219-3715, by fax at (225) 219-3708, or by email at: deqenforcement@LA.GOV. 6. For all required solid and hazardous waste permits and manifests, contact the LDEQ Waste Permits Division by phone at (225) 219-3070 or by fax at (225) 219-3309 or online at: http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2586/Default.aspx. 7. All coordination, sampling and analysis forms, and permits and manifest forms pertaining to these activities should be documented and copies forwarded to the state and FEMA as part of the permanent project files. * The applicant would be responsible for contacting the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) if there is a change in the scope of work, the project necessitates removal of mature pine trees or if construction activities have not been initiated within one year. If at any time Heritage tracked species are encountered within the project area, contact the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP) Data Manager at (225) 765-2643. * If a bald eagle or its nest is spotted within 1,500 feet of the project site during the months of October through mid-May, the applicant must cease construction activities and contact Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the USFWS immediately. All correspondence must be documented and remain in the project permanent files. * Construction traffic should be closely monitored and controlled as appropriate. All construction activities would be conducted in a safe manner in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements. To alert motorists and pedestrians of project activities, appropriate signage and barriers should be used during construction. During construction activities, the construction site(s) would be fenced off to discourage trespassers. Traffic on affected streets would be controlled, as necessary, during construction and excavation activities. * If archaeological artifacts or features (prehistoric or historic) are discovered during the course of FEMA funded work at the project site, the applicant must ensure that their Contractor stops work in the vicinity of the discovery and takes all reasonable measures to avoid and minimize harm to the discovery. The applicant shall inform the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSHEP) and FEMA of the discovery, and FEMA would deploy an archaeologist to the location to conduct a site condition assessment. The applicant would not proceed with work until FEMA has completed consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer and other appropriate consulting parties on the treatment of the discovery. * In addition, if human remains are discovered during the course of FEMA funded work, the applicant and the Applicant’s Contractor are responsible for immediately halting work within the vicinity of the human remains finding. The applicant will immediately notify GOHSEP, FEMA, the local Police Department, and the local Coroner’s Office of the discovery. The local Coroner’s Office will assess the nature and age of the human skeletal remains.  If the Coroner’s Office determines that the human skeletal remains are older than 50 years of age, the Louisiana Division of Archaeology will take jurisdiction over the remains. Within seventy-two (72) hours, the applicant will notify FEMA and the Louisiana Division of Archaeology (225-342-8170) of the finding. FEMA will assist, as requested, the Louisiana Division of Archaeology and other interested parties, as necessary, to ensure compliance with the Louisiana Unmarked Human Burial Sites Preservation Act (R.S. 8:671 et seq.) and other applicable laws.  In addition, the applicant must afford FEMA the opportunity to comply with the “Human Remains Policy” set forth by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.    * Any change to the approved scope of work will require reevaluation under Section 106. * The applicant must follow  all applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations and requirements and obtain and comply with all required permits and approvals prior to initiating work. CONCLUSIONS Based upon the incorporated EA, and in accordance with Presidential Executive Orders 12898 (Environmental Justice), 11988 (Floodplain Management), and 11990 (Wetland Protection), FEMA has determined that the proposed action implemented with the conditions and mitigation measures outlined above and in the EA will not have any significant adverse effects on the quality of the natural and human environment.  As a result of this FONSI, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared (44 CFR Part 10.8) and the proposed action alternative as described in the EA may proceed. APPROVALS Katherine Zeringue, Date FEMA Environmental Officer Louisiana Recovery Office FEMA 1603-1607-DR-LA ____________________________________________________ Joseph Threat Date Executive Director Louisiana Recovery Office FEMA 1603-1607-DR-LA Vermilion Parish Detention Center Flood Protection Project FEMA-1603-DR-LA Finding of No Significant Impact May 2012 Page 5