DR-5278-CA Final Public Notice 002

Notice Date

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Hazardous Tree Removal For Fire Prevention, San Mateo County, California | HMGP 5278-186-8

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to the Town of Woodside in San Mateo County, California, to mitigate impacts from wildfire by reducing hazardous fuels and removing hazardous trees (proposed action). 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 final decision and an explanation of the alternatives that were considered.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce wildfire hazards. The proposed action consists of the removal of up to 60 hazardous trees within the Town of Woodside rights-of-way and hazardous fuels reduction work at the Joan Olson Preserve and the Junior Riders Facility. Hazardous trees would be cut by hand to ground level, lifted by crane, and trucked offsite. Any remaining vegetation would be chipped and hauled offsite. The hazardous fuels reduction work would include ladder fuel reduction by limbing up to 10 feet from the ground surface, creating a 100-foot buffer along the property boundaries, and selective thinning of the remaining vegetation on the properties. Native vegetation that is not considered hazardous and all healthy trees would be retained. No tracked equipment or herbicides would be used and vegetation would be cut by hand. Cut vegetation that cannot be left on site would be chipped and hauled offsite.

A small portion of the Junior Riders Facility is in the 100-year floodplain as depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Number 06081C0292E, effective date October 16, 2012. The FIRM shows that the northeastern portion of the Junior Riders Facility lies within Zone AE, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have been established.

A map of the project area and its location within the floodplain is available for public inspection. Parties interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer using contact information provided in this notice.

Two alternatives to the proposed action were considered: Alternative 1, No Action alternative and Alternative 2, Second Action alternative. Under Alternative 1 hazarous trees and vegetative debris would not be removed and defensible space would not be enhanced. This Alternative is not recommended because the wildfire risk in the project area would continue. Under Alternative 2, fewer hazardous trees would be removed than under the proposed action. This Alternative is not recommended as the wildfire risk to the community would not be fully mitigated. FEMA has determined that the proposed project is the only practicable alternative available; therefore, the proposed action must be located in the floodplain. The proposed action would have no significant adverse impact on the floodplain and would benefit the area by reducing the risk of wildfire damage to the floodplain. Therefore, measures to minimize impacts on the floodplain are not necessary. The Town of Woodside has declared that the proposed action conforms to local floodplain standards, and would be responsible for the management, construction, and maintenance of the proposed action.

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action may be requested by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov. All requests should be received no later than 15 days after publication of this notice. No action will be taken before this date.

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