DR-4393-NC Public Notice 001

FEMA-DR-4393-NC-PW00234

The public is hereby notified of the intent of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare an Environmental Assessment. The Assessment will analyze the effects of alternatives related to the proposed construction of a new fire station facility at the on the east side of Aberdeen Road in Laurinburg, NC by the City of Laurinburg.

The City of Laurinburg seeking reimbursement for federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the form of Public Assistance (PA) Program Funding.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FEMA is required to consider practical alternatives for proposed actions. The draft environmental assessment will consider at least three alternatives. These will include the following:

Alternative No.1, "The No Action Alternative"

The "no action alternative" proposes that there should be no effort to build a new fire station in a location outside of the floodplain. The existing fire station would continue to be utilized in the same manner it has been since the existing station was flooded in 2018, leaving it at risk for future flooding.

Alternative No.2, "The Proposed Alternative"

This alternative proposes to construct a new fire station facility on the east side of Aberdeen Road. The proposed fire station is located outside of the floodplain, reducing the potential for future flooding. The location will also decrease response times for constituents within the fire district served by this station.

The President of the United States has issued Executive Orders (EO) that require federal agencies to focus attention on the environment and on human health when considering a proposed action or the funding of an action. Particular attention is to be paid to Floodplain Management (EO 11988), Wetland Protection (EO 11990) and Environmental Justice (EO 12898). Compliance with the Executive Orders, NEPA, and other environmental laws, will be documented in the draft EA.

During the preparation of the draft EA, FEMA will consult with the Lumbee Tribe, Catawba Indian Nation, Shawnee Tribe, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Seminole Tribe of Florida in North Carolina and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, there will be consultation with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other appropriate agencies.

Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing and addressed to:

FEMA Internal 11988 Reviewer FEMA Region 4

3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road

Atlanta, Georgia, 30341

Alternatively, comments may be emailed to: FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Please send comments with the subject line [DR-4393-NC-00234 11988 COMMENT].