DR- 4828, 4834 Cumulative Public Notice Covered actions A zone Debris

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to provide funding to reimburse eligible applicants for eligible costs for debris removal operations associated with the staging of disaster generated debris at Disaster Debris Management Sites (DDMS) or Temporary Debris Site Reductions (TDSRs) and to repair or replace facilities damaged by Hurricane Helene (FEMA-DR-4828-FL), during the incident period of Sep 23rd, 2024 and continuing, and Hurricane Milton (FEMA-DR-4834-FL), during the incident period of October 5th, 2024, and continuing. 

An initial disaster-wide Public Notice was published on October 3rd, 2024, for Hurricane Helene (https://www.fema.gov/disaster-federal-register-notice/dr-4828-public-notice-001). The Declaration Map identifying counties as adversely affected by the disaster and eligible for assistance with Debris Removal and Permanent Work (Categories A and C – G) can be   referenced at  https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4828/designated-areas.

An initial disaster-wide Public Notice was published on October 19th, 2024 for Hurricane Milton (https://www.fema.gov/disaster-federal-register-notice/dr-4834-initial-public-notice). The Declaration Map identifying counties as adversely affected by the disaster and eligible for assistance with Debris Removal and Permanent Work (Categories A and C – G) can be   referenced  at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4834/designated-areas.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is the regulatory agency for solid waste permitting. The Disaster Debris Management Sites (DDMS) or Temporary Debris Site Reductions (TDSRs) that are authorized to operate can be referenced at https://floridadep.gov/waste/permitting-compliance-assistance/documents/solid-waste-facility-list.

Comments and other information received were considered by FEMA along with evaluation of social, economic, environmental, and safety considerations.

This notice serves as a cumulative final public notice for FEMA’s funding actions located within floodplains. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA) program, implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 United States Code Parts 5121 to 5207. This notice is to inform the public of FEMA’s intent to allocate grant funds to State, local, tribal governments, and non-profit organizations for debris removal operations associated with DDMSs and TDSRs and the repair or replacement of facilities. These flood zones include A Zones, which are areas susceptible to a 1% annual chance of flooding (100-year) up to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and Shaded X Zones, which are areas susceptible to 0.2% annual chance of flooding (500-year), are considered with respect to Critical Actions (actions for which even the slightest chance of flooding is too great). In all cases, FEMA has followed the 8-step decision-making process described in 44 CFR Part 9 to determine the overall effect of projects within these areas and this notice shall only pertain to those projects which were determined to be practicable.

For Special Flood Hazard Areas (A Zones), this notice represents those projects that require the full 8-step decision-making process as set forth by 44 CFR Part 9 and in which the function is not otherwise served by a more practicable alternative. For these types of projects, not removing and staging debris, or the relocation or abandonment of the facilities would cause adverse health and safety, social, and economic impacts to the local community. Flood risk will be minimized by all practicable means and projects would not adversely affect the floodplain.

This notice does not apply to projects constituting substantial improvement or to facilities which have been deemed substantially damaged. The notice also does not apply to Critical Actions located in the A Zone.

For such projects described above, this cumulative public notice hereby fulfills the requirements of Executive Orders 11988: Floodplain Management and Executive Order 11990: Protection of Wetlands as regulated by 44 CFR Part 9.12. Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 and 44 CFR Part 9.12, final notice is hereby given of FEMA’s intent to provide funding for these projects under the Public Assistance (PA) Program.

Funding for the proposed projects will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions. This action complies with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.

For those projects where the above criteria are not met, a project-specific final public notice will be published, allowing the public 15 days, as prescribed in 44 CFR 9.12, to comment upon proposed projects in the floodplain.

This will serve as the final public notice regarding the above-described actions funded by the FEMA PA program. Interested persons may submit comments, questions, or request a map of this specific project by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 4, 3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30341 or by emailing FEMA-R4EHP-FLORIDA@fema.dhs.gov. Comments should be sent in writing with the subject line, “4828-4834 DR FL Cumulative Final Public Notice” at the above address within 15 days of the date of this notice.