FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The Town of Black Mountain has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program funding through the North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) as a sub- recipient.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives, and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority and low-income populations. This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.

Sub-Applicant: Town of Black Mountain

Project Title: [436912] Veteran's Park River Restoration Damage; PA-04-NC-4617-PW-00075

Location of Proposed Work: 

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:

This project is for repair of multiple eroded stream banks and replacement of berm with a shrub fence in an Regulatory Floodway and AE flood zone. Confirmation of location in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the Buncombe County Effective Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel Number: (3710060900J), dated 01/06/2010. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of North Carolina and local floodplain regulations. The proposed work has the potential to be impacted by flooding in the future but is functionally dependent on its location in the floodplain. The proposed work will take place in a Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland (PFO1A) per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory but will have no potential to impact or affect wetland values.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

The Town of Black Mountain will utilize contracts to repair sections of eroded streambank along the Swannanoa River and remove a berm and replace it with a shrub fence. Repairs involve restoring the bank and protecting it from future erosion utilizing bioengineering techniques, bolder vanes and bolder spurs. These measures will also be installed in locations within the stream to prevent future erosion. The purpose of this project is to prevent future erosion within Veteran’s Park which provides open space use and recreation for the community.

Project Alternatives:

Alternative #1 (No action alternative): The 'no action' alternative would ultimately result in a negative impact on the community as the park serves as open space use and recreation for the community and tourists. As a result of no action, stream banks would continue to erode.

Alternative #2: (Relocation): Relocation is not practicable as the berm/shrub fence and streambanks are functionally dependent on their close proximity to the water. Adverse economic and social impacts would result with relocation as this area provides open space use for the community.

Comment Period:

Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing and addressed to:

FEMA Internal 11988 Reviewer

FEMA Region 4

3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road

Atlanta, Georgia, 30341

Alternatively, comments may be emailed to: FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Please send comments with the subject line [DR-4617-NC-00075 11988 COMMENT].

All comments are due by no later than 30 days of the posted date of this notice.

THIS PHYCIAL NOTICE IS POSTED AT VETERANS PARK - 10 Veterans Park Dr. Black Mountain, NC 28711

POSTED ON: (4/29/2022)

End of Notice