Public Comment Period: Alton, Illinois Three-Part Flood Mitigation Project
The City of Alton, Madison County, Illinois in conjunction with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, has been awarded funding through FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Congressionally Directed Spending program for a three-part flood mitigation project.
Date: February 3, 2023 - March 6, 2023
Important Date
Event Details
The PDM grant program makes federal funds available to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to plan for and implement sustainable cost-effective measures designed to reduce the risk to individuals and property from future natural hazards, while also reducing reliance on federal funding from future disasters. The City of Alton will use those funds to construct a floodwall and implement sewer improvements downtown, as well as mitigate against future flooding damages to a critical thoroughfare in the industrial area east of downtown Alton.
The proposed flood wall will consist of a poured in place concrete footing and stem wall to a height sufficient to fight floods with a 1% annual chance of recurrence, protecting the downtown commercial district from future flooding events. A grout curtain wall will be built under the flood wall to resist the under seepage that may occur. A second component of the proposed project is to improve floodwater handling downtown by isolating gravity sewers from backup associated with rising flood waters, allowing the downtown sanitary facilities to function during flooding events. A duplex pump station and new shut off valves that can be closed during flood events will complete the improvements protecting the downtown from sewer backups and other effects of future flooding. The final component will mitigate impacts of flooding along a stretch of Chessen Lane that provides access to industrial facilities as well as to the local wastewater treatment facility. Work along Chessen Lane includes reconstructing the roadway and improving drainage through ditching and culvert installation.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act, EO 11988 and EO 11990, public notice is required of any federal actions that may affect floodplains or wetlands. Under the National Historic Preservation Act, public notice is also required for some projects which have the potential to affect historic properties. The proposed floodwall and sewer improvements will be conducted within and adjacent to two historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Middletown Historic District and the Christian Hill Historic District. There is also the potential for impacts to archaeological resources from ground disturbance necessary to implement the project. All necessary permits and approvals will be obtained prior to construction and completion of the project.
Public participation is encouraged. Those interested are invited to comment within 30 days by e-mail to fema-r5-environmental@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to:
Duane Castaldi, Regional Environmental Officer
FEMA Region 5
536 South Clark Street, 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60605