PUBLIC NOTICE FEMA - 3574 - EM - LA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to reimburse eligible applicants for emergency protective measures (Category B) limited to direct Federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support sustained during severe storms and flooding occurring on September 12, 2021 and ongoing. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206.

Under an Emergency Declaration (FEMA – 3574-EM-LA) signed by the President on September 13, 2021, all 64 parishes have been designated adversely affected by the disaster and eligible for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support.

This public notice concerns activities that may affect historic properties, activities that are located in or affect wetland areas or the 100-year floodplain, and critical actions within the 500-year floodplain. Such activities may adversely affect the historic property, floodplain or wetland, or may result in continuing vulnerability to flood damage.

Presidential Executive Orders 11988 and 11990 require that all federal actions in or affecting the floodplain or wetlands be reviewed for opportunities to relocate, and evaluated for social, economic, historical, environmental, legal and safety considerations. Where there is no opportunity to relocate, FEMA is required to undertake a detailed review to determine what measures can be taken to minimize future damages. The public is invited to participate in the process of identifying alternatives and analyzing their impacts.

For routine activities, this will be the only public notice provided. Other activities may be required to undergo more detailed review, including study of alternate locations. Subsequent public notices regarding such projects will be published if necessary, as more specific information becomes available.

Presidential Executive Order 12898, Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, directs each federal agency to avoid disproportionate and high adverse human health or environmental effects to low-income and minority populations. FEMA aims to identify low income and minority communities at the onset of a declared event to gain better understanding of how response and recovery efforts, including mitigation may impact such groups and communities.

Additionally, once low income and minority communities have been identified, FEMA aims to minimize any potential adverse impacts to those communities through encouraging alternative selection of response and recovery actions

The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. Those actions or activities affecting buildings, structures, districts or objects 50 years or older or that affect archeological sites or undisturbed ground will require further review to determine if the property is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (Register). If the property is determined to be eligible for the Register, and FEMA’s undertaking will adversely affect it, FEMA will provide additional public notices. For historic properties not adversely affected by FEMA’s undertaking, this will be the only public notice.

As noted, this may be the only public notice regarding the above-described actions under the PA program. Interested persons may obtain information about these actions or a specific project by writing to Jerame Cramer, Environmental Historic Preservation Advisor (EHAD), Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1500 Main St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or by emailing fema-liro-ehp-pa@fema.dhs.gov.

Comment period begins on Wednesday, Sep 7, 2022, and concluding on October 6, 2022 at 4pm. Comments should be sent in writing within 30 days of the date of this notice.