Public Notice - 25 Laurel

PUBLIC NOTICE

Federal Emergency Management Agency

In accordance with 44 CFR §9.8 for Executive Orders 11988 & 11990

Township of Berkeley Flood Mitigation Project

Township of Berkeley, Ocean County, New Jersey

Notification is hereby given to the public of the intent of the Department of Homeland Security-Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS-FEMA) to provide federal funding to the Township of Berkeley as Subrecipient for financial assistance. The Township is requesting funds to elevate a private residence that is subject to repeat flooding. Funds are being requested through the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program. The purpose of the FMA grant program is to proactively invest in hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks that communities face from flooding disasters. This notification is given in accordance with Executive Order (EO) 11988 (Floodplain Management), EO 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, and 44 CFR Part 9, regulations for implementing EO 11988 and EO 11990.

The Township of Berkeley has submitted an application for a flood mitigation project at a private residence at 25 Laurel Avenue, Pine Beach, NJ, 08741. The grant will assist the homeowners to raise the structure above the base flood elevation plus two (2) feet of free board to the lowest structural member. The existing structure will be elevated within the existing footprint and should provide flood protection for up to 30 years. This activity will also include engineering design, architectural/structural plans, soil analysis, survey, new elevation certificate, plot plans, site preparation, and material disposal. Elevation of this structure will effectively reduce the risk of flood damage and loss of life.

This action would take place within the 100-year floodplain per the current preliminary flood insurance rate map, which means that the action has the potential to affect, or be affected by, the floodplain. Alternatives considered include: 1) taking no action, or 2) to construct and elevate a new structure. FEMA has determined that proposed action is the most cost and time effective method to address flooding hazards and is the practicable alternative. FEMA has also determined that investment of funds to reduce flood risk is in the public interest. Potential impacts to water quality or aquatic habitat are anticipated to be negligible during construction and minimized through best management practices and conservation measures incorporated from resource agency recommendations and required regulatory permits.

Comments about this project, potential alternatives, and floodplain impacts may be submitted in writing within 15 days of the date of this publication to: FEMA Region 2, Attn: Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY, 10278 or via email to FEMAR2COMMENT@fema.dhs.gov. If substantive comments are received, FEMA will evaluate and address the comments as part of the environmental documentation for this project.