DR-4344-CA Public Notice 015

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Reclamation District 1001, Auxiliary Pump Station Phase 2 Project, Sutter County, California │ HMGP-4344-399-114

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to Reclamation District 1001 in Sutter County, California, to mitigate the impact of flood hazards as a result of flooding at the district’s main pumping plant (Proposed Action). Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its final decision and an explanation of the alternatives that were considered.

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide RD 1001 with an auxiliary pump station during times of power outages.  This will act as a buffer and add operational flexibility in continuing to drain the district without interruption, while electrical service to the main pumping plant can be brought back online. The proposed project will construct an auxiliary pumping station to house two 28,000 gallons per minute pumps powered by two 325 horse-power propane/natural gas engines and provide drainage outflows through two 42-inch diameter pipes into the adjacent Natomas Cross Canal. The proposed auxiliary pumping station will be located adjacent to the main pumping plant along Drainage Lateral No. 4, roughly 1 mile upstream to the northeast on the landside of the levee embankment. The project area is depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) 0603940815F, effective date June 16, 2015. The Proposed Action lies within Zones A and AE. Zones A and AE are defined as an area that has a 1 percent probability of flooding every year.

A map of the project area and its location within the floodplain is available for public inspection. Parties interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer using contact information provided in this notice.

Two alternatives to the Proposed Action was considered: Alternative 1, No Action; Alternative 2, construct an auxiliary pump station at a different location. Under Alternative 1, no improvements would be made, and RD 1001's drainage pumps would continue to be operated in the current manner. This would continue to pose a risk of operational shutdowns during storm events from electrical power outages and subsequent repairs. These outages would put increased stresses on the internal drainage system within RD 1001 and cause drainage flows overland, flood risk increases to critical infrastructure and 2,100 residents, decreased emergency response times during flooding, flooded evacuation routes, and the increased usage of the existing pumping plant which would generate increased maintenance actions. A No Action alternative would not add operational flexibility to current system, and leave the current aging pumping plant vulnerable to future power outages and service interruptions. Therefore, Alternative 1 is not recommended.

Alternative 2 would construct an auxiliary pump station to increase operational flexibility related to interior drainage during storm events, and would be constructed at different location within RD 1001.  The location would be at the existing main pumping plant located (Latitude: 38°47'25.78"N  Longitude: 121°35'51.06"W) approximately 1 mile downstream of the Proposed Action location, to the southwest along the north levee of the Natomas Cross Canal. This project would include the same infrastructure in terms of pumps, engines and outlet pipes and would provide similar operational flexibility during pumping operations. In comparing Alternative 2 to the Proposed Action the following factors contributed to not selecting this as the proposed alternative: Constructing Alternative 2 at a viable location within the existing pumping plant would require an amount of channel excavation greater than the Proposed Action location near Lateral No. 4. The environmental footprint associated with this alternative would be larger in comparison and potentially increasing the amount and level of compliance actions to be considered. The amount of fill required to construct a similar style of pumping plant to that of the Proposed Action would be greater due to existing topography thus increasing the cost. There is the possibility that construction of Alternative 2 could impact operations and maintenance actions of the existing pumping plant, leading to potential service outages. The location of Alternative 2 would be located a greater distance laterally from the channel increasing construction costs with respect to pipe, welding, and crane operators in relation to the proposed project. Therefore, Alternative 2 is not recommended.

FEMA has determined that the Proposed Action is the only practicable alternative available; therefore, the Proposed Action must be located in the floodplain. The Proposed Action would have no significant adverse impact on the floodplain and would benefit the area by reducing the risk of flooding and flood damage. Therefore, measures to minimize impacts on the floodplain are not necessary. Reclamation District 1001 has declared that the Proposed Action conforms to local floodplain standards, and would be responsible for the management, construction, and maintenance of the Proposed Action.

Additional information about FEMA’s Proposed Action may be requested by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov, or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests should be received no later than 15 days after publication of this notice. No action will be taken before this date.