FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Chrysler Stormwater Pump Station Improvements, San Mateo County, California -- HMGP-4344‐60‐97

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 City of Menlo Park in San Mateo County, California, to mitigate flood risk by increasing the level of protection near the Chrysler Stormwater Pump Station (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 mitigate flood risk by replacing the existing pump station (designed to protect against a 10-year event), with a new pump station designed to protect against a 100-year event and two feet of sea level rise. The existing stormwater pump station will be demolished, and new pump station will be constructed on the same parcel but positioned further back from Chrysler Drive.

The project area is depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), Map Number 06081C0306F, effective April 5, 2019. The proposed action is located in 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 in 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 2, Proposed Action; and Alternative 3, Second Action Alternative. Alternative 1 would not provide further protection. This Alternative is not recommended because the existing pump station can only accommodate runoff from a 10-year storm event and faces an increased risk of failure, affecting life, safety, and structures. Alternative 2 is the preferred action and would increase the level of protection (from a 10-year event to a 100-year event) against future flood events. Alternative 3 is an in-kind replacement of equipment within the existing pump station footprint. This Alternative is not recommended because it does not improve the lack of conformance with current pump station hydraulic design standards, would not increase the pump station capacity, and has a high project cost.

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 will likely have no significant adverse impact on the floodplain and will benefit the area by reducing the risk of flooding and flood damage. Therefore, measures to minimize impacts on the floodplain are not necessary. The City of Menlo Park has declared that the proposed action conforms to local floodplain standards, and is 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, or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests should be received no later than 15 days after publication of this notice. No action will be taken before this date.