PDM - Railroad Grade Wash Flood Control Public Notice

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Railroad Grade Wash Flood Control, Town of Taylor, Navajo County, AZ │ PDMC-PJ-09-AZ-2018-008

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Pre-Disaster Grant Program to the Town of Taylor in Navajo County, AZ, to provide flood control features along and around Paper Mill Road. 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 flood hazards along Railroad Wash and Paper Mill Road in the Town of Taylor. The proposed action would construct flood control features beginning approximately 400 feet north of Angus Road and following Foothills Boulevard approximately 600 feet west to Paper Mill Road, arching to the east over the neighborhood that is at 1100 Street West, and ending at Centennial Boulevard approximately 600 feet north of Paper Mill Road. Elements of the project include channelization of the wash and construction of road crossings, a spoils area, and detention basins. There would be approximately 1,800 feet of channelization up to 50 feet wide and 2 feet deep. There would be road crossings at Indian Village Road, Palomino Drive, Ranch Road, and Centennial Boulevard. Each crossing would either be a roadway dip or culvert and they would be up to 8 feet deep. There would be six basins constructed, with the largest basin, Casa Linda basin, measuring 14 acres; the deepest basin, South Papermill Basin, would be up to 8 feet deep. Lastly, an approximately 4-acre spoil and borrow area would be created north of Freeman Park. The total ground disturbance area would be approximately 37 acres.

The project area is depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), Map Numbers 04017C4251E and 04017C4253E, effective September 26, 2008. The proposed action lies within Zone AE, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year. The project area is also within the floodway.

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.

Three alternatives to the proposed action were considered: Alternative 1, Large Upstream Detention Basin; Alternative 2: Channel Improvements; and Alternative 3, No Action. Alternative 1 would add a large upstream detention basin to catch floodwaters before they enter the wash. This Alternative is not recommended due to large number of un-named tributaries that enter the wash downstream of where the basin would be located. This Alternative is not recommended due to the large number of un-named tributaries that enter the wash downstream of where the basin would be located. There would still be flooding issues along Railroad Wash because the basin would not hold floodwaters from these tributaries. Alternative 2 included improving current channels with new lined channels and installing box culverts at intersections. Alternative 2 would improve current channels with new lined channels and install box culverts at intersections. This Alternative is not recommended due to the cost of the project outweighing the benefits it would provide. Under Alternative 3, no project would be undertaken. Therefore, Alternative 3 is not recommended because the flooding issues would continue along the wash. 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 flooding and flood damage. Therefore, measures to minimize impacts on the floodplain are not necessary. The Town of Taylor 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.