Final Public Notice for FEMA Grants Application - City of Portola Water and Sewer System

PA-09-4699-PW00241-PN732838

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has received a subgrant application for City of Portola, Plumas, CA. Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 11988 and 44 CFR Part 9.12, final notice is hereby given of FEMA’s intent to provide funding for this project under the Public Assistance Grant Program (PA).

An initial disaster-wide Public Notice for DR-4699-CA was published November 1, 2023. 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.

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. EO 11988 and EO 11990 requires FEMA to consider alternatives and provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 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).

This notice serves as a project‐specific final notice for FEMA’s funding action located within a Special Flood Hazard Area. FEMA has determined the only practicable alternative is to fund replacement of 1 electric motor and 1 chopper lift pump. This action complies with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. There is a potential for the facility to be impacted by future flooding events due to its location within the Flood Zone AE. The proposed work will not take place in wetlands per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory and will have little potential to impact or affect wetland values.

Applicant: City of Portola
Project Title: PW 00241, PN 732838, City of Portola (063-58352-00) - Water Plant and Sewer System
Location of Proposed Work and Floodplain Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Panels:
Facility: Water Plant and Sewer System, Pump and Motor
GPS: 39.80527, -120.48519
FIRM Panels: 06063C1311E
FIRM Date: 3/2/2005
Proposed Work and Purpose: The applicant, City of Portola, utilized contracts for the repairs to the wastewater treatment plant. During the March event, flooding created conditions that exceeded the capacity of the wastewater facility pump, causing it to fail. Flooding also created conditions that exceeded the capacity of the Aeration Tanks, 1 each of U.S. electric aerator motor, 10 hp, causing it to fail as well. Repairs were done to a submersible chopper lift pump and 1 U.S. electric aerator motor (10HP). These repairs restored the facility back to its pre-disaster design, function, and capacity.
PA-09-4699-PW00241-PN732838

Project Alternatives:
(1) (No Action) This alternative would result in a continued disruption of services and risk of additional damages. If the damage is not repaired, then adverse economic and social impacts may occur and continued negative impacts may be experienced.
(2) (Relocation) Floodplain avoidance by relocating the facility is not a practicable alternative as the damaged portions are part of a larger infrastructure system.
Comments: This will serve as the final public notice regarding the above‐described action funded by the FEMA Public Assistance program. Interested persons may submit comments, questions, or request a map of this specific project by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 9, 1111 Broadway #1200, Oakland, CA 94607, or by emailing FEMA-RIX-EHP-Documents@fema.dhs.gov . Comments should be sent in writing with the subject line “City of Portola (063-58352-00) - Water Plant and Sewer System” at the above address within 15 days of the date of this notice.

THIS NOTICE MAY BE REMOVED FROM PUBLIC VIEW ON THE 15th DAY FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF POSTING.
NOTICE WAS POSTED ON 8th DAY OF JANUARY 2024
***END OF NOTICE***