Final Public Notice: BCSP Flood Repair

Buncombe County 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 this project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.

Sub-Applicant: Buncombe County

Project Title: [543133] Buncombe / Enka Sports Park; PA-04-NC-4617-PW-00063

Location of Proposed Work:

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:

This project is for completed repairs to a community sports park in Buncombe County, which is in the AE (1% Chance Annual Flood Risk) & Floodway (Regulatory Floodway) flood zones.  Confirmation of location in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the Buncombe County Effective Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel Number: 3700961700J, dated 01/06/2010. The completed work conforms to all applicable State of North Carolina and local floodplain regulations.  The work has the potential to be impacted by flooding events due to its location in the floodplain. The completed work will not take place in a wetland per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory and will have no potential to impact or affect wetland values. 
 
Proposed Work and Purpose:

Buncombe County completed repairs to Buncombe / Enka Sports Park, which included replacement of park recreational features and equipment, park fencing, and pea gravel along the park trail that parallels Hominy Creek.  The purpose of this project is to repair the damaged park elements and provide continued open space use and recreational space 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 recreational space.

Alternative #2: (Relocation): Relocation is not practicable as the park facilitates open-space use and recreation for the community.  If the park was removed, adverse economic and social impacts may occur.

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-00063 11988 COMMENT].

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

Posted on: (March 18, 2022)