DR-4353-CA Public Notice 002

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intends to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to the City of Calistoga to reduce the vulnerability of Kimball Reservoir to earthquake and flood hazards. This would be done by replacing the existing intake with a sloped intake, replacing the existing drain valve and vault, updating a portion of the existing pipeline, and improving the access road. These repairs have been recommended by the California Division of Safety of Dams. Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its intent to carry out an action affecting a floodplain. 

During an emergency event, the existing infrastructure at Kimball Reservoir could cause the City of Calistoga to not be able to drain the reservoir quickly enough to prevent catastrophic dam failure. The purpose of the proposed action is to improve and replace infrastructure on the existing dam to reduce the risk of potential catastrophic dam failure. The project areas are depicted on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Number 06055C0230E, effective September 26, 2008. The FIRM shows that the western portion of the proposed project staging area lies within Zone A, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have been established. 

The proposed action consists of replacing and rehabilitating aging infrastructure at Kimball Reservoir. Maps of the project areas and their locations within the floodplain are available for public inspection. All parties interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at the address or phone number below. 

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action may be obtained by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607; fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov; or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests and comments should be received no later than 15 days after publication of this notice.