DR-4611-LA Final Public Notice

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE FEMA-4611-DR-LA

Executive Order 11988: Floodplain Management Executive Order 11990: Protection of Wetlands

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be providing funds authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, or "Stafford Act," P.L. 93- 288, as amended, in response to Disaster Declaration FEMA DR-4611-LA (Hurricane Ida), dated August 29, 2021. Section 408(c)(l)(B) of the Stafford Act, as implemented in 44 C.F.R. Part 206, authorizes FEMA to provide Direct Temporary Housing Assistance or "Direct Assistance" for temporary housing due to a lack of available housing resources. Initial public notice for these activities was provided 10/01/2021.

Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), as implemented in 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 9, requires FEMA to review proposed actions in the floodplain and/or wetland and pursue practicable alternatives outside of floodplains and wetlands. FEMA has exhausted practicable alternatives to include placement of temporary housing units on existing private lots, commercial parks, direct lease of existing housing, and group site development outside of the 100-yr floodplain and/or wetlands. Transportable Temporary Housing Units (TTHUs) are necessary to house disaster survivors throughout Jefferson Parish.

This final public notice addresses FEMA funded upgrades to existing State park recreational campground infrastructure for the purpose of accommodating approximately 98 temporary housing units to shelter eligible applicants under the FEMA direct housing mission, DR-4611-LA. The proposed action is located in Bayou Segnette State Park, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana (29.89092, -90.16457). FEMA has analyzed alternatives sites outside of the floodplain and wetlands against the available resources and are documenting this decision process by way of data analytics and GIS mapping. FEMA has determined that the Bayou Segnette site is the most practicable alternative to address the housing need for Jefferson Parish. Currently, the Bayou Segnette campground has 98 campsites with water and electrical hookups and can accommodate tents and/or travel trailers. Proposed FEMA upgrades include expanding the pre-existing concrete pads to accommodate FEMA manufactured housing units, pre-existing roadway improvements (gravel to asphalt paved), and installation of associated utilities for sewer, electrical (light poles, transformers, distribution panels, and meter sockets), water (fire hydrants, and expansion of existing municipal lines). In addition, a new road (272 ft by 24 ft) with culverts will be constructed to join the existing unnamed western boundary road with the southwestern loop of the existing campground.

The proposed site is located in the 100-year floodplain (areas that have been determined to have a one percent probability of flooding in any given year) and the action is anticipated to impact approximately 3 acres of wetlands. Placement of housing units will be performed in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program, and/or other local codes and standards, to elevate units to the highest extent practicable. Infrastructure upgrades will also utilize mitigation measures where feasible, to reduce impacts to the floodplain and wetlands. Unavoidable impacts to wetlands will be mitigated through permitting requirements in accordance with Section 404 of

the Clean Water Act. Due to the emergency need to provide housing, the public comment period on this final public notice will be limited to 5 days. Interested parties may request additional information or provide comment on the proposed action via email to dr-4611-ehp- ia@fema.dhs.gov

Figure 1. Bayou Segnette State Park Campground Site Location