FEMA PUBLIC NOTICE 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to assist the State of Vermont, Department of Mental Health, with the installation of a temporary secure residential facility in the Town of Middlesex, Washington County, VT.  The State of Vermont intends to install a 6,000 +/- square foot facility, consisting of two prefabricated modular units, to house up to seven (7) mental health patients in order to alleviate a critical deficiency of mental health beds.  The facility will be located on state-owned land adjacent to the Middlesex General Services Center at 1078 Route 2, Middlesex, VT. The Vermont State Police barracks is situated nearby.

This facility is intended to be temporary in nature, not to exceed three (3) years.  Site improvements will be minor.  Parking facilities exist.  A septic system consisting of double septic tanks and a leach field and a well drilled on site to provide potable water will be required.  The State has reviewed several alternative locations and determined that this is the most feasible. 

To meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FEMA has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to identify and evaluate any historic and environmental resources that might be affected by limited site preparation and installation of the temporary prefabricated units. As part of its goal to ensure that good management decisions are made, FEMA invites the public to review and comment on the Draft EA and to provide the Agency with information it may not have considered in its review.

Beginning on October 27, 2012, the Draft EA will be posted on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/environmental-planning-and-historic-preservation-program/environmental -documents-public-notices, on the Vermont Emergency Management website at http://www.vem.vermont.gov, and on the Department of Mental Health website at  http://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/.  A copy of the Draft EA will also be available for public review by October 27 at the Town Clerk’s Office, 5 Church Street, Middlesex (Monday – Thursday 8:30AM - 4:30PM, but office closed daily from Noon-1:00PM; Friday - 8:30AM - 12:00PM) and the Kellogg-Hubbard Public Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier (Monday-Thursday 10AM - 8PM; Friday & Saturday 10AM - 5:30PM) .  
The comment period will last for a total of 15 days, ending on November 10, 2012.  Comments on the Draft EA can be submitted by mail to Jack Sullivan, Regional Environmental Officer, FEMA Region 1, 99 High Street, 6th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts  02110, or by emailing him at Jack.Sullivan@fema.dhs.gov, or by sending a fax to him at 617-956-7574.