Draft FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WILLIAM JOHNSTON PROPERTY TEMPORARY HOUSING SITE, CAMERON PARISH, LOUISIANA 70607 FEMA-1607-DR-LA As a result of damages from Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was authorized under a Presidential disaster declaration (FEMA-1607-DR-LA) to provide Federal assistance to designated disaster areas in western Louisiana. Section 408 of the Stafford Act authorizes FEMA’s Individual Assistance (IA) Program to provide emergency temporary housing for disaster victims whose homes are uninhabitable. There are insufficient rental units available to house displaced disaster victims. The use of hotel rooms, shelters, or staying with family/friends is only appropriate for a very limited time period. In response to this need, FEMA is proposing to build emergency disaster group housing for residents in Cameron Parish. In order to implement its IA Program in a timely and effective manner, FEMA proposed an expedited process to assess the potential environmental impacts of building emergency temporary housing for displaced disaster victims. A draft Environmental Assessment (EA), dated December 28, 2005 was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the President’s Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and FEMA regulations for NEPA compliance (44 CFR Part 10). The EA’s purpose is to analyze and document the proposed alternative’s potential environmental impacts, serve as a vehicle to document compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, and to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The EA is hereby incorporated by reference. The proposed site, known as the William Johnston Property, is located on the north side of Louisiana Highway 384 between Newell Road (PR-4104) and Alfred Duhon Road in the Sweet Lake area of southwestern Louisiana. The site is bordered by single-family housing on the east and west; Highway 384 on the south; and an open field to the north. FEMA contractors have been tasked with constructing a new group housing site (hereafter “Park”) of approximately 135 modular structures and 15 travel trailers on land to be leased by the General Service Administration. At this time, Park occupancy is not expected to exceed 18 months . New utilities to be installed would include connecting potable water, electrical service, and a sanitary wastewater treatment system. The gravity flow sanitary treatment system would collect and treat wastewater from the site. The treated effluent from the sanitary wastewater treatment plant would be discharged to the drainage ditch at the northern portion of the site. Access to the site would be from Highway 384. Site preparation would include mowing and site grading. Geotextile grade fabric and limestone rock would be used for the interior roadways and trailer pads. The remaining disturbed area would be seeded following grading activities. A safety fence would be installed and maintained around the Park perimeter. When the temporary housing need has ended, FEMA expects that the modular structures and travel trailers would be hauled from the site, to suitable locations elsewhere (to be determined on case-by-case basis). The Park site would then be seeded and restored to its previous condition, to the extent practicable, and/or used by the landowner in a manner consistent with parish zoning classification. The public comment period for the Draft EA was from January 4 to 6, 2005, with notice published in The American Press and on FEMA’s web site at http://www.fema.gov/ehp/docs.shtm. FINDINGS FEMA has made the following determinations from the information contained in the William Johnston Property Temporary Housing Project draft EA: The above described action will not result in any significant adverse impacts related to geology and soils; hydrology and floodplains; wetlands and jurisdictional waters of the U.S.; water quality; air quality; vegetation and wildlife; state and federally listed threatened and endangered species; cultural resources; socioeconomics (including minority and low income populations); safety and security; hazardous materials and toxic wastes; and traffic and transportation. The proposed alternative has been reviewed and, to the best of our knowledge, does not have the potential for significant cumulative effects when combined with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions in accordance with 44 CFR Part 10.8 (d)(3)(x). The following summarizes much of what is outlined in the mitigation column of Table 1 of the EA and are the conditions that must be met as part of implementing this proposed action alternative: 1. Construction contractor is required to obtain and comply with all applicable local, parish, state and federal laws, ordinances and permits (or applicable waivers). This may include, but is not limited to, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits, stormwater construction permits (e.g., a Louisiana Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit), Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals permits, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality permits, and meeting codes and standards for utility hookups, housing, and the National Fire Code. 2. Preparing (clearing and grading) of the proposed temporary emergency housing site will require removal of vegetation and may increase short-term soil erosion. Appropriate erosion control measures will be used during construction, including the use of best management practices (e.g., installation of silt fences and straw bales), to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation. If fill is stored on site, the contractor is required to appropriately cover it to prevent erosion. 3. Construction contractor is to comply with Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LADHH) and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) standards and permits for wastewater treatment plant effluent and discharge. 4. A reasonable potential exists for archaeological properties to be present within the project area. Therefore, an archeological monitor, meeting Secretary of the Interior Standards in Archaeology, must be present during subsurface excavations. This individual will have authority to stop construction in affected area, until the discovery is evaluated. 5. If necessary, the following noise reduction measures should be considered: (1) restricting the 24-hour schedule to the first two weeks of construction; (2) using a 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. construction schedule; (3) completing construction closest to adjoining residents first; and (4) completing noisier activities during the day if a 24-hour schedule is used. 6. If any hazardous materials are found during construction or Park occupation, all hazardous materials shall be remediated, abated, or disposed of as appropriate, and otherwise handled in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. 7. The contractor will post appropriate signage and fencing to minimize potential adverse public safety concerns. Appropriate signage and barriers should be in place prior to construction activities in order to alert pedestrians and motorists of project activities and traffic pattern changes. 8. Once the temporary housing need has ended, the site would be seeded and restored to previous conditions to the extent practical and/or used by the landowner in a manner consistent with local zoning. This may include a requirement to use native species to re-vegetate the site. Informal consultation with state and federal resource agencies will ensure that the project does not adversely impact regional species diversity. CONCLUSIONS Based upon the incorporated EA, and in accordance with Presidential Executive Orders 12898 (Environmental Justice), 11988 (Floodplain Management), and 11990 (Wetland Protection), FEMA has determined that the proposed action implemented with the conditions and mitigation measures outlined above and in the EA will not have any significant adverse effects on the quality of the natural and human environment. As a result of this FONSI, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared (44 CFR Part 10.8) and the proposed action alternative as described in the EA may proceed. APPROVE: ___________________________________________________ Donald R. Fairley, REM Date Environmental Liaison Officer FEMA- DR-LA-1607 ___________________________________________________ Stephen DeBlasio Housing Officer Date FEMA- DR-LA 1603/1607 ___________________________________________________ Scott Wells Date Federal Coordinating Officer FEMA- DR-LA-1607 CONCUR: ____________________________________________________ Scott Armey Date Regional Administrator General Services Administration FEMA-1607-DR-LA William Johnston Temporary Housing Site Finding of No Significant Impact January 9, 2006 Page 4 U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA Region 6 FEMA-1603/1607-DR-LA 800 N. Loop 288 Denton, Texas 76209-3698