DR-4339-PR SJ Pier 15-16 Public Notice 003

PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING THE SECTION 106 REVIEW AND THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW GRAVING DOCK SHED AND THE DEMOLITION OF FIVE BUILDINGS AT THE SAN JUAN PIERS #15 AND #16

 

The Graving Dock facilities of Piers #15 and #16, located in the Hoare Sector in the municipality of San Juan, suffered considerable damage caused by Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017, which resulted in the federally declared disaster DR-4339-PR. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing this public notice as part of its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), as interpreted by 36 CFR Part 800, the regulations for the implementation of Section 106 of the NHPA (Section 106). This notice applies to activities carried out by FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C.§§ 5152-5206.

The Puerto Rico Port Authority (PRPA) is proposing to improve the San Juan Piers #15 and #16 facilities by the construction and installation of a new 674 FT long x 200 FT wide x 148 FT tall pre-engineered shed over the existing graving dock and the demolition of five (5) buildings, all which were built between 1938 and 1941 as part of the former the Isla Grande Naval Air Base and 10th Naval District of San Juan. The proposed scope of work also includes improvements to the existing water drainage system, the installation of a new sanitary line, the construction of a new pump station and the installation of a new water pipeline and hydrants. The implementing regulations of Section 106 require FEMA, as the federal funding agency, to identify if any of the properties within the project area are listed in or are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP); to assess the effects the undertaking will have on historic properties; and to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects.

FEMA, in consultation with the Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), determined that the old graving dock structure and associated buildings are eligible for listing in the NRHP, under Criterion A (Event/History) and Criterion C (Design/Construction), for its historic association with the 1938-41 Isla Grande Naval Air Base and because the existing graving dock represents the distinctive engineering characteristics of a unique type of construction in Puerto Rico. In addition, Piers #15 and #16 are adjacent to the Miramar Neighborhood, which was designated as a Historic Zone by the Government of Puerto Rico by virtue of Law No. 3 of March 15, 2005 (2007-18-JP-ZH), which is also eligible to the NRHP as it is considered the first planned residential suburb of San Juan and for containing buildings designed by the most outstanding architects and engineers who worked in Puerto Rico during the first half of the 20th century.

After evaluating the project plan proposed by PRPA, FEMA, in consultation with SHPO, determined that the undertaking will adversely affect the historical design, setting, feeling and association of Pier #15 and #16, and that the proposed 148 FT high metal shed structure will adversely affect the viewshed and surroundings of the nearby Miramar Historic Zone. Furthermore, these activities will impact and transform the historical composition of Pier 15.  

FEMA, in consultation with PRPA, the Puerto Rico Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), and the SHPO (consulting parties), propose to resolve the adverse effect through the development of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) as set forth in Stipulation II.C.6.b of the Programmatic Agreement among FEMA, SHPO and COR3, as amended on May 5, 2023. This MOA considers the implementation of mitigation measures which include the following: (1) Public display of original industrial machinery found in “Building B”; (2) Digital photography documentation package of the buildings to be demolished; (3) Revised design of the proposed new Graving Dock metal shed structure to minimize the adverse effect to the viewshed and surroundings of the Miramar Historic Zone, including that the appearance must be harmonious with the industrial character of the area in which it will stand.

In accordance with 36 CFR Part 800.2(d), FEMA is inviting members of the public to comment on the FEMA-funded undertaking and provide any comments on the MOA and the proposed treatment measure to mitigate the adverse effect. This MOA is available for public comment for a period of fifteen (15) days. The MOA document is available for download at DR4336/4339-PR - Home (sharepoint.com) and at COR3’s website, Puerto Rico Disaster Recovery Transparency Portal - COR3 (pr.gov).

People interested may submit written comments on this MOA by writing to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region II, Caribbean Area Division, P.O. Box 70105, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8105, or by emailing José G. Baquero, Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator (FDRC), to FEMAR2COMMENT@fema.dhs.gov. All comments are due within 15 days of this notice and must include the email subject line, “San Juan Piers #15 and #16 MOA”.