DR-4407-CA Public Notice 008

INITIAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing to fund four projects for the Town of Paradise, California (Paradise): the Town of Paradise Defensible Space Code Enforcement, the Town of Paradise Residential Ignition-Resistant Improvement Program, the Town of Paradise Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program, and the Town of Paradise Removal of Dead or Dying Trees (collectively referred to as “the Projects”). Funding would be provided by the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) as authorized by Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief Act, 42 United States Code.

FEMA intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Projects in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); Executive Order (EO) 11988, Floodplain Management; EO 11990, Wetlands Protection; and EO 12898, Environmental Justice.

Paradise has applied for HMGP funds for the Projects, with matching funds (25 percent) provided by Paradise and affected property owners. The purpose of the Projects is to protect people and property by reducing the risk of wildfire-related impacts within Paradise. The Projects would implement wildfire mitigation actions throughout Paradise limits, including 1) enhancing code enforcement activities to manage hazardous fuels and defensible space, 2) introducing a residential ignition-resistant improvement program to provide incentives to homeowners to retrofit existing homes and create defensible space, 3) reducing hazardous fuels along both sides of the 99 miles of public roads in Paradise to reduce hazardous fuel loads and provide safer passage for residents and first responders in the event of a wildfire evacuation, and 4) removing hazardous burnt trees on private property from the 2018 Camp Fire to allow residents to safely rebuild. Per Paradise, the Projects would enhance fire safety and mitigate the threat of wildfire. Paradise also provides that its wildfire mitigation actions would be adjacent to ongoing and planned defensible space and hazardous fuel reduction projects within high and very high fire severity zones. Cumulatively, Paradise posits these projects are designed to reduce wildfire risk throughout Paradise

Initial comments concerning the Projects, potential alternatives, and preliminary identification of environmental issues will be accepted from the affected public; local, state, and federal agencies; Tribes; and other interested parties to assist FEMA with identifying the scope of the EA and inform decision-making. Comments should be made in writing and sent to the FEMA contact listed below. Comments must be received by Friday, March 4, 2022 to be considered.

Additional information about the Projects, including a brief fact sheet, may be obtained by contacting Paradise or at the following website: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4407/news-media. Once complete, the draft EA will be made available for public review and comment.

FEMA Contact:	Town of Paradise Contact:
Michael Audin, Environmental Officer (Acting) FEMA Region 9, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94607-4052 fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov	Brian Solecki, Project Manager, Recovery and Economic Development, 5555 Skyway, Paradise, CA 95969 recovery@townofparadise.com 530-872-6291 x 165