Draft Environmental Assessment FEMA-1603/1607-DR-LA Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Meraux Foundation Property Emergency Temporary Housing Site Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish A. Introduction Hurricane Katrina, a Category 4 hurricane with a storm surge above normal high-tide levels, moved across the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama gulf coasts on August 29, 2005. Maximum sustained winds at landfall were estimated at 140 miles per hour. On September 24, 2005 Hurricane Rita made landfall just east of Sabine Pass, Texas, near the Louisiana border. The storm was a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds in excess of 120 mph. President Bush declared a major disaster for Louisiana due to damages from Hurricane Katrina, and signed a disaster declaration (FEMA-1603-DR-LA) on August 29, 2005, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide federal assistance in designated areas of Louisiana. A second Presidential disaster declaration in response to damages from Hurricane Rita was declared on September 24, 2005. FEMA proposes to administer this federal disaster assistance per the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 USC 5121-5206, as amended (Stafford Act). Section 408 of the Stafford Act authorizes FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program to provide emergency temporary housing for disaster victims whose homes are uninhabitable. This Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1800), and FEMA’s regulations implementing NEPA (44 CFR 10.9). The purpose of this EA is to analyze potential impacts of temporary and transient emergency group housing for disaster victims as part of an expedited review process. FEMA will use the findings in this EA to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). B. Purpose and Need: Catastrophic damage has resulted in an extraordinary demand for housing assistance. To date, about 41,346 requests for federal assistance have been received for St. Bernard Parish. Of these requests, approximately 19,900 are from residents of the City of Chalmette. At this time approximately 5,974 applications for housing assistance have been received for St. Bernard. The number of applications for housing assistance specifically for Chalmette is not available at this time. The purpose of this action is to help satisfy some of the housing demand. C. Environmental Review Process: In order to meet the urgent needs of disaster victims in need of temporary housing, FEMA has implemented an expedited environmental review process. The purpose of this document is to assist FEMA in fulfilling its environmental review responsibilities under NEPA and serve as a vehicle to document compliance under other applicable environmental laws. Laws and Executive Orders addressed through this EA include: the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice), and Farmland Protection Policy Act. Expedited agency consultation consisted of establishing a programmatic agreement with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office and an expedited review process with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Other resource areas or issues evaluated in this EA include noise, visual resources, traffic, socioeconomics, safety and security, and hazardous and toxic waste. The scope of FEMA’s environmental review includes evaluating project alternatives, characterizing the affected environment, identifying potential environmental impacts, and outlining ways to reduce or minimize adverse affects. This EA examines the site-specific environmental impacts associated with building a proposed FEMA group housing park on land to be leased by the General Services Administration for this purpose. This EA was prepared based on site evaluations conducted on September 29 and October 3, 2005, document research, and agency information. An electronic version of the EA will be provided to interested agencies prior to and during the public comment period. The public participation period will be brief, as necessitated by the emergency circumstances. Agency coordination and consultation will be deemed complete at the end of the public comment period. FEMA believes that this process allowed for sufficient action analysis and met the goal of providing timely federal assistance to disaster victims. D. Site Selection and Alternatives Analysis: NEPA requires investigation and evaluation of reasonable project alternatives as part of the project environmental review process. Federally assisted housing options, including hotel/rental assistance and locating a travel trailer or mobile home on a private site or in an existing park are being exhausted first for those requesting housing assistance in St. Bernard Parish. Accordingly, a remaining alternative is to build a group housing site where the above options do not satisfy the demand. In order to expedite the site selection process, FEMA’s contractors initially reviewed available aerial photos and maps, conducted site reconnaissance field surveys, and contacted state and local officials to identify potential sites. Factors considered in choosing a site include: demand for temporary housing in that area, site topography, property owner willingness, cost, past land use, if it is already planned for development, access to existing utilities, engineering feasibility, and environmental/cultural resource sensitivities. FEMA continues to evaluate alternative sites in St. Bernard Parish, and other parishes within southeast Louisiana. Although various alternatives have been and continue to be identified, the extraordinary housing need has limited this EA to analysis of one suitable site alternative at this time. The Meraux Foundation site was selected for further analysis because it meets specific site selection criteria. E. Project Location: The proposed project, known as the Meraux Foundation Property, is located at 8301 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, Louisiana 70043 (Figures 1 and 2). The project is located north of West St. Bernard Highway and south of West Judge Perez Drive. F. Site Description: The site consists of approximately 6 acres of an open, grass field (Figure 3). The land slopes slightly east and west towards wetlands on either side of the site. The northern limit of the property is bounded by West Judge Perez Drive. The southern limits are bounded by a cattle fence and adjacent open field/pasture. The eastern limits are bounded by Jean Lafitte Parkway. The surrounding land use consists of both residential and commercial buildings to the north and west. G. Project Description: The project description is based on the preliminary site design completed on November 15, 2005 (Fluor 2005). The proposed action would involve the construction and installation of approximately 120 travel trailers and associated infrastructure and utilities on the approximately 6 acre site (Figure 4). Prior to the start of construction, all necessary permits would be obtained by the contractor. Based on the site design (Fluor, 2005), the following components would be included is developing this temporary housing site: * Site preparation would include mowing and site grading to provide positive drainage of stormwater. * Potable water and sewer would be below grade and connected to existing infrastructure along West Judge Perez Drive. * Electrical services may be installed below ground and connected to existing utilities available in the right-of-way along West Judge Perez Drive. * Ten percent of the travel trailers would be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. Parking areas of ADA trailers would be paved. * Construction of a 22 to 24 foot wide, gravel access loop driveway within the Park. * Access to the Park would be provided via a gated entryway off West Judge Perez Drive. * Additional fire hydrants along West Judge Perez Drive, would be necessary to meet the 250-foot horizontal distance requirements. * The entire perimeter of the Park would be surrounded with a 8-foot high, 9-gauge chain link fence. When the temporary housing need has ended, FEMA expects that the travel trailers would be transported from the site to suitable locations elsewhere (to be determined on a case-by-case basis). The Park would then be seeded and restored to previous conditions, to the extent practicable and/or used by the landowner in a manner consistent with the parish zoning classification. H. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Table 1 summarizes the results of the environmental review process. Potential environmental impacts that were found to be negligible are not evaluated further. Resource areas that have the potential for impacts of minor, moderate, or major intensity are further developed in the following Section I. Definitions of the impact intensity are described below: Negligible: The resource area (e.g., geology) would not be affected, or changes would be either non-detectable or if detected, would have effects that would be slight and local. Impacts would be well below regulatory standards, as applicable. Minor: Changes to the resource would be measurable, although the changes would be small and localized. Impacts would be within or below regulatory standards, as applicable. Mitigation measures would reduce any potential adverse effects. Moderate: Changes to the resource would be measurable and have both localized and regional scale impacts. Impacts would be within or below regulatory standards, but historical conditions are being altered on a short-term basis. Mitigation measures would be necessary and the measures would reduce any potential adverse effects. Major: Changes would be readily measurable and would have substantial consequences on a local and regional level. Impacts would exceed regulatory standards. Mitigation measures to offset the adverse effects would be required to reduce impacts, though long-term changes to the resource would be expected. Table 1. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Matrix Resource Area Impact Intensity Impact Summary Agency Coordination / Permits Mitigation Negligible Minor Moderate Major Geology and Soils X Potential for localized increase in soil erosion during construction. LAPDES stormwater construction permit to be obtained by construction contractor. Implement construction BMPs, install silt fences/straw bales to reduce sedimentation. Area soils would be wetted during construction to minimize wind erosion. If fill is stored on site, the contractor would be required to cover it appropriately. Hydrology and Floodplains (Executive Order 11988) X Project area is located in Zone A3, within the 100-year floodplain. FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (Panel 225204 0290 B) (FEMA 1985). Completion of this EA is consistent with FEMA’s 8 Step-Planning Process. Per the 8 Step Planning Process there are limited practicable alternatives to siting temporary housing sites in the floodplain in this parish. Coordination with the parish floodplain administrator to ensure compliance with the NFIP as administered in the local floodplain ordinance including issuance of appropriate permitting. To be coordinated by construction contractor. This site is located in the floodplain and must accordingly comply with the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program as outlined in 44 CFR Part 60. Wetlands (Executive Order 11990) X On site wetlands would be avoided by the project design. See also Section I. USACE Coordination November 9, 2005 Matt Estopinal. Avoidance of adjacent wetlands, implementation of LAPDES stormwater BMPs, install silt fences/straw bales to reduce sedimentation. See also section I. Coastal Zone Management X Project site is located within the boundaries of the Coastal Zone, but occurs on fallow herbaceous field. No impacts to the Louisiana Coastal Zone. Coordination with LA Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Coastal Zone Management Division 9/21/05. Water Quality X Potential for localized increase in sedimentation during construction. Potential impact to water quality in downstream swales, ditches, and streams (e.g., turbidity, siltation, biological oxygen demand). LAPDES stormwater construction permit to be obtained by construction contractor. Contractor to implement requirements of LAPDES stormwater construction permit. Implement construction BMPs, install silt fences/straw bales to reduce sedimentation. Air Quality X Parish is in attainment for criteria pollutants per the Clean Air Act. Negligible impact would be anticipated from vehicle exhaust emissions and increased dust during construction. EPA Region 6 Designation Area soils would be covered and/or wetted during construction to minimize dust. Rock cover for roads and housing pads would be wetted and/or treated periodically with a commercially available product approved for use in residential areas to minimize dust particles. Vegetation and Wildlife X Site vegetation consists of fallow herbaceous plants suitable for use by fringe species. 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. Threatened and Endangered Species (Endangered Species Act Section 7) X No threatened or endangered species or critical habitat occurs at the site. No effect to threatened or endangered species or their habitat. USFWS concurrence of no effect (11/9/05). Cultural Resources (National Historic Preservation Act Section 106) X There are no known historic properties eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in the area of potential effect (APE). However based on site research, it was determined that a reasonable potential exists for historic resources to be present within the project area. See Section I. Consultation letter to LA SHPO initiated 12/07/05 Archaeological monitoring to be done during construction. See Section I. Socioeconomics X Park occupancy is expected to be about 300 people (120 units x estimated 2.5 people per unit). It is anticipated that many Park residents would be displaced St. Bernard Parish residents. See also Section I. Environmental Justice (Executive Order 12898) X The proposed action is not expected to pose disproportionately high and adverse public health or environmental effects to minority and low-income populations. Also see Section I. Noise X During the construction period (approximately 7-14 days), residents immediately adjacent to the project site would experience an increase in noise levels. The vehicles from Park occupants would also increase the level of vehicular noise in the area. 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. Residents should be notified of the potential noise from Highway 18 prior to occupancy. Safety and Security X No concerns anticipated. The contractor would place fencing around the site perimeter to protect residents from trespassers and provide a barrier to surrounding properties. The contractor would 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. Hazardous Materials and Toxic Wastes X A slight dusting of sediment was deposited on the site during site reconnaissance on September 29,2005. Due to the limited quantity, effects of the sediment were considered negligible and would require no remediation measures. A search of hazardous materials databases was completed on December 2, 2005. No potential environmental conditions were identified within a 1 mile radius of the site. See Section I. Environmental FirstSearch Network Database 10/8/05, and LADEQ search, 12/07/05. Sediment testing locations and results, EPA website, 12/12/05 Traffic and Transportation X Traffic volumes in Chalmette, and specifically along West Judge Perez Drive, a 4-lane highway, would increase during Park construction. It is assumed that residents of the park would be current St. Bernard Parish residents therefore effects to local traffic would not change. St. Bernard Parish has a public transportation system, St. Bernard Urban Rapid Transit (SBURT). Due to damage from the hurricanes, it is unknown when SBURT would start providing service again. I. Additional Impact Analysis Wetlands (Executive Order 11990) During a site visit on October 3, 2005, wetlands were identified on the eastern and western edges of the proposed property. On November 9, 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicated that the wetlands were likely jurisdictional and an individual permit would be required if the wetlands were impacted as a result of the proposed action. In accordance with EO11990, which requires Federal agencies to avoid wetland impacts where alternatives exists, the on site wetlands would be avoided by design. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and implementation of BMPs would minimize any potential adverse affects. Cultural Resources (National Historic Preservation Act Section 106) Background research conducted at the Louisiana Division of Archaeology indicates that Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery are situated approximately 0.8 miles to the south of the project Area of Potential Effect (APE). Chalmette Battlefield is the site of the 1815 Battle for New Orleans. Recorded as Louisiana Site No. 16SB147, the battlefield is listed on the NRHP and forms part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Chalmette Battlefield is a nationally significant historical, archaeological, and cultural resource. Also, the 1909 edition of the Mississippi River Commission Survey Maps indicates that several historic features were situated either in immediately adjacent to the project APE. These include two small residential buildings, a 19th century levee referred to as “Old Earthworks,” and a pair of wagon roads that connected the APE to nearby Western Railroad lines. Because a reasonable potential exists for archaeological historical properties to be present within the project APE, FEMA recommends that a professional meeting Secretary of the Interior Standards in Archaeology be present to monitor ground-disturbing activities. If cultural resources are discovered during site construction, they would be further evaluated as necessary with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Socioeconomics The proposed project site is located in the City of Chalmette, LA. According to the 2000 Census, Chalmette had approximately 32,100 residents and about 13,000 housing units at the time of the Census. The median household income was estimated at approximately $37,000 (based on 1999 dollars adjusted for inflation) (Census 2000). The primary employment sectors (over 50 percent of all jobs) were sales and office occupations and management, professional, and related occupation. The unemployment rate for Chalmette at that time was about 3 percent of the civilian labor force. With the establishment of the Park, up to approximately 300 residents would be temporarily relocating and/or returning to St. Bernard Parish and the Chalmette area (120 units x an estimated 2.5 people per unit). Due to the demand for housing in St. Bernard Parish and FEMA’s policy to place displaced residents as close to their homes as possible, it is likely that many of the potential Park residents would be residents of the Parish, currently displaced from their homes. Therefore, the demand for public and commercial facilities, such as schools, police services, grocery stores, would not be expected to be greater than the pre-hurricane demand and the socioeconomic impacts associated with the proposed action are expected to be negligable. Environmental Justice Executive Order (EO) 12898 requires that each Federal agency identify and address the effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. The function of the EO is to avoid disproportionately high and adverse public health or environmental impacts to the target populations. Further, EO 12898 also tasks Federal agencies to ensure that public notifications regarding environmental issues are concise, understandable, and readily accessible. According to 2000 Census, the population of the Chalmette census-designated place (CDP) is approximately 93 percent white, 2 percent black or African American, and 5 percent some other race. Approximately 9 percent of families live below the poverty level, and 12 percent of individuals live below the poverty level. In comparison, St. Bernard Parish has approximately the same percentage of minority residents and families below poverty and the State of Louisiana has a higher percentage of minority populations (Table 2) (Census 2000). Table 2: Minority and Low Income Populations Summary Statistics Subject City of Chalmette St. Bernard Parish Louisiana Demographics White 92% 88% 64% Minority (non-white) 8% 12% 36% Families below poverty 9% 12% 9% Individuals below the poverty line 9% 12% 12% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 From the perspective of both prospective Park residents and residents of the adjacent community, the proposed action would not pose disproportionately high and adverse public health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations. The availability of Federal assistance, including temporary housing for displaced individuals, is consistent with EO 12898. All forms of FEMA disaster housing assistance are available to any affected household that meets the conditions of eligibility, demographics are not among the eligibility requirements. The specific demographics of Park occupants are not available at this time because specific individuals or families are in the process of being identified for this park. However, the demographic makeup of the future Park residents is expected to be similar to the community as a whole. Further, the availability of temporary housing would result in a positive impact to displaced individuals, regardless of whether they are minority and/or low income. Hazardous Materials According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, updated December 2, 2005, Murphy Oil USA, Inc. requested assistance from the EPA on September 4, 2005, in regards to an oil spill at their Meraux Refinery in St. Bernard Parish, approximately four miles southeast of the proposed temporary housing site. Flooding associated with Hurricane Katrina caused a 250,000 barrel above ground storage tank (tank # 250-2) to be dislodge, lifted, and damaged. Approximately 25,110 barrels (1,050,000 gallons) of the 65,000 barrels of mixed crude oil, that was stored in the tank at the time of the incident was released. The release impacted approximately a 1 square mile area, including 1700 homes. A news release dated November 22, 2005, reported results of sediment sampling data within the affected area. The primary contaminants detected were polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), diesel and oil range organic chemicals, and arsenic, all of which were reported at levels in excess of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Screening Standards for Soil. The oil spill occurred approximately four miles down gradient of the proposed temporary housing site, due to the distance between the oil spill and the proposed project location, FEMA has determined that residents of the travel trailer park would not be negatively impacted by the oil spill. A slight dusting of residual flood sediment was noted on the site during the September 29, 2005 site visit. An EPA news release dated, December 2, 2005, reported soil re-sampling results for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. The most frequently detected chemicals included some metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and PAHs and to a lesser extent pesticides. EPA stated that the levels detected are similar to the historical levels found in these parishes before Hurricane Katrina and to other urban areas throughout the nation. Based on the small amount of sediment present at the site and the latest EPA sampling data for the area, the Meraux Foundation Property would not require any mitigation of the sediments. Potential impacts related to site sediments would be negligible. J. Public Involvement Public involvement is being performed in compliance with NEPA, FEMA’s regulations implementing NEPA at 44 CFR 10.9(c), and Executive Order 12898. Given the emergency need for temporary housing and the expedited environmental review process, public involvement activities were implemented to the extent practicable under the circumstances. A Public Notice is being published in the Times Picayune from December 14 to 16, 2005. The public comment period will be brief, from December 14 to 16, 2005. Written comments on the Draft EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) can be faxed to FEMA’s Joint Field Office in Baton Rouge at (225) 346-5848; and verbal comments will accepted at (225) 376-5137 and TTY for hearing or speech-impaired at 800-462-7585; between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.. The Draft EA and FONSI can be viewed and downloaded from FEMA’s website at http://www.fema.gov/ehp/docs.shtm. The Draft EA and FONI are also available for public review at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) located in Chalmette at 8101 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, Louisiana 70043. The DRC hours are 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. If no substantive comments are received, the Draft EA and FONSI will become final and this initial Public Notice will also serve as the final Public Notice. Substantive comments will be addressed as appropriate in the final document. K. References Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Murphy Oil Spill. September 4, 2005. http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/murphy/index.html. Website accessed December 12, 2005. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Sediment Re-sampling. December 4, 2005. http://www.yosemite.epa.gov/r6/press.nsf/name/Sediment_12-2. Website accessed December 12, 2005. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 1983. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). Community Panel 225204 0290 B, Revised May 1981. Fluor Enterprises. 2005. Meraux Foundation Property Temporary Housing Site. November 15, 2005 and revised, November 15, 2005. U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, New Orleans District. Letter dated September 9, 2005. U.S. Bureau of the Census (Census). 2000. American Factfinder. http://www.census.gov. Website accessed December 9, 2005. U.S. Geological Survey. 2005. The National Map. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory Map. http://nationalmap.gov/. Website accessed December 9, 2005. L. Figures Figure 1: Site Location Figure 2: Project Location Figure 3: Photographs Figure 4: Preliminary Site Plan Attachment 1. Hazardous Materials Database Search Attachment 2. Finding of No Significant Impact Draft Environmental Assessment Meraux Foundation Emergency Temporary Housing Site Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana FEMA-1603/1607-DR-LA Draft Environmental Assessment Meraux Foundation Emergency Temporary Housing Site Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana FEMA-1603-DR-LA