FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)

FINAL PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 
FOR THE EVALUATION OF FEMA’S GRANT PROGRAMS 
DIRECTORATE PROGRAMS 

BACKGROUND

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, FEMA’s regulations for implementing NEPA at  44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 10, and the President’s Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations at 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, FEMA prepared a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to evaluate the potential impacts to the human environment resulting from typical actions funded by FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) through the homeland security and emergency preparedness grant programs.  These programs provide grant funding to States, territories, local and Tribal governments, and private entities to enhance their homeland security and emergency preparedness efforts.  The PEA is incorporated by reference into this FONSI.

The PEA is intended for actions that are relatively minor in scale and typically considered for funding under the various GPD programs. The PEA evaluated two alternatives: no action and program implementation. Under the program implementation alternative, FEMA evaluated the following seven project types: planning; management and administration; training; exercises; purchase of mobile and portable equipment; modification of existing structures and facilities; and new construction. FEMA will develop Tiered Site-specific Environmental Assessments (SEA) for those GPD actions requiring evaluation under areas of concern not evaluated in this PEA, having impacts beyond those described in the PEA, requiring mitigation to reduce the level of impacts below significance, or otherwise requiring a Tiered SEA as identified in Table 5-1 in the PEA.  

Notice of the availability of the PEA was published in the Federal Register on April 8, 2010, for a 30-day public comment period.  Based on comments received, FEMA removed communication towers as a project type evaluated in the PEA. FEMA will develop a separate analysis tiered from this PEA to address communication towers and will provide a 15-day public comment period on that document.


CONDITIONS

Actions under this PEA and FONSI must meet the following conditions. Failure to comply with these conditions would make the FONSI determination inapplicable for the project and could jeopardize the receipt of FEMA funding. 

1. Excavated soil and waste materials will be managed and disposed of in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. If contaminated materials are discovered during construction activities, the work will cease until the appropriate procedures and permits are implemented.
2. The applicant will follow applicable mitigation measures as identified in Section 7 of the PEA to the maximum extent possible. 
3. In the event that human remains or archeological deposits, including any Native American pottery, stone tools, etc., are uncovered, the project will be halted. The applicant will stop all work immediately in the vicinity of the discovery and take reasonable measures to avoid or minimize harm to the finds.  All archeological findings will be secured and access to the sensitive area restricted.  The applicant will inform FEMA immediately and FEMA will consult with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) or Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) and Tribes. Project work in sensitive areas cannot resume until consultation is completed and appropriate measures have been taken to ensure that the project is in compliance with NHPA. 
4. The applicant must meet any project-specific conditions developed and agreed upon between FEMA and with environmental planning or historic preservation resource and regulatory agencies during consultation or coordination.
5. The applicant is responsible for obtaining and complying with all required local, State and Federal permits and approvals.


FINDING

Based upon the information contained in the Final PEA, the potential impacts resulting from the seven project types analyzed in the PEA, and in accordance with FEMA's regulations at 44 CFR Part 10 and Executive Orders 11988 (Floodplain Management), 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and 12898 (Environmental Justice), FEMA finds that the implementation of the proposed action will not have significant impacts to the quality of the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will not be prepared. This FONSI is based upon proposed actions fitting one of the seven project types described in the Final PEA and meeting all conditions prescribed for that particular project type. 


APPROVAL

____________________________			Date ____________________
Jomar Maldonado
Environmental Officer
Federal Emergency Management Agency




____________________________			Date ____________________
Elizabeth M. Harman
Assistant Administrator
Grant Programs Directorate