U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA-I603/1607-DR-LA 415 N 15th Street Baton Rouge. LA 70802 FEMA September 27,2006 Johnny Gonzales GOHSEPPAO FEMA-1603-DR-LA 415 N. 15th Street Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 RE: Alternative Arrangements, Reconstruction of Critical Infrastructure in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, HR-Ochsner Early Intervention Center Building, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, PW#: 12184, DR-1603-LA, PA ID: 000-U050N-00. Dear Mr. Gonzales: The purpose ofthis letter is to notify you that the Public Assistance project for HR-Ochsner Early Intervention Center Building, 400 Coolidge Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana 70121, (29.96437N, 90.14217W), qualifies for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Alternative Arrangements for the Reconstruction of Critical Infrastructure in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Under the regular Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) NEPA review process; this project would have qualified for categorical exclusion in accordance with 44 CFR Part 10.8(d)(2)(xv). However, due to the unprecedented number of grants requested that need to be processed in a short time, the potential cumulative effects, and potential environmentally-related socio-economic effects ofFEMA's funding in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, FEMA has detennined that this type of action may have significant impacts that cannot be reviewed under the nonnal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) have adopted the Alternative Arrangements to address the basic elements ofNEPA under these circumstances. For more infonnation visit www.fema.gov/plan/ehp/nomalindex.shtm. While the use of Alternative Arrangements meets NEPA compliance requirements, there are requirements of other Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) laws and executive orders that must be individually complied with. For the work described in this Project Worksheet (PW) the following conditions relating to those requirements apply: • Applicant should handle, manage, and dispose of potentially hazardous waste, biomedical waste, radioactive waste, universal waste, and hazardous materials in accordance with the requirements of local, state, and federal regulations. These materials may include but are not limited to asbestos, leadbased paint, laboratory reagents, propane cylinders, paints and solvents, coolants containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used oil, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), other petroleum products, used oil filters, fuel filters, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, batteries, and unlabeled tanks and containers. Equipment that may include these materials are ice machines, refrigerators, generators, computers, televisions, mercury switches, fluorescent lights, fluorescent light ballasts, sandblast units, paint sprayers, etc. • This project is located within the Louisiana Coastal Management Zone. Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LA DNR) has detennined that receipt offederal assistance is consistent with the Louisiana Coastal Resource Program. Projects within the coastal zone may still require a Coastal Use Pennit or other authorization from DNR. Projects may be coordinated by contacting LA DNR at 1-800267- 4019. Johnny Gonzales September 27,2006 Page 2 • Unusable equipment, debris, and material shall be disposed of in an approved manner and location. In the event significant items (or evidence thereof) are discovered during implementation of the projects applicant shall handle manage and dispose of petroleum products, hazardous materials and/or toxic waste in accordance to the requirements and to the satisfaction ofthe governing local, state and federal agencies. • This project involves the demolition or renovation of a public structure. Regardless ofthe asbestos content, the applicant is responsible for ensuring that renovation or demolition activities are coordinated with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) in accordance with the LDEQ "Sixth amended Declaration ofEmergency and Administrative Order" dated June 9,2006, incorporating the provisions ofEPA's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and the Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC) 33.1II.5151 and chapter 27. Should asbestos containing materials (ACMS) be present at the project site, the applicant is also responsible for ensuring proper disposal in accordance with the previously referenced administrative order. • In accordance with the Formosan Termite Initiative Act, (LA R.S. 3:3391.1 thru 3391.13) the Louisiana parishes ofCalcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington are under quarantine. The movement of wood or cellulose material, temporary housing or architectural components (e.g. beams, doors and other wood salvaged from a structure) may not leave the quarantined parishes without written authorization from the commissioner ofthe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry or his designee(s). Please note that this transmittal is a notification that this project has been cleared under NEPA only. This is not a notice of final approval or eligibility. Any change beyond the approved scope of work for this project will require additional environmental review by FEMA. Sincerely, tAf7~~N~~' Howard R. Bush .Environmental Liaison Officer FEMA-160311607-DR-LA Enclosures: P.W. 1284 Cc: Oliver Mack, FEMA DPAO for Grants