PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) FOR BUENA VISTA, CHAFFEE COUNTY, CO EMERGENCY SERVICES BUILDING

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing notice of its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate a proposed Public Safety and Emergency Services Building in Buena Vista, Colorado. We provide this notice to advise other Federal and State agencies, Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations, and the public of FEMA’s intention, as well as to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider during the project planning process. These actions are part of our effort to comply with the general provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); other Federal laws, regulations, and Executive Orders; and our policies for compliance with those laws and regulations including 44 CFR Part 9 and FEMA Directive 108-1 & Instruction 108-1-1.

The purpose of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting a flexible, sustainable, secure, strategically located, and fully operable EOC. The proposed action is needed to provide an EOC as part of a new Public Safety and Emergency Services Building to be used by the Chaffee County Emergency Medical Services, the Emergency Operations Management Department for Chaffee County, and the Chaffee County Sherriff’s Office, to serve the needs of Northern Chaffee County. The proposed site consists of 2.14 acres near 301 Steele Drive, Buena Vista, Colorado. The EA will focus on construction of a new building funded through FEMA’s Emergency Operation Center-Legislative Grant Program (EOC-L).

All FEMA funded actions will be completed in compliance with applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws, regulations, Executive Orders, etc. including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice).

Comments for consideration in the development of the EA will be accepted for 14 days following publication of this notice. After gathering public comments, a draft EA will be prepared and available for public review and comment according to FEMA Directive 108-1 & Instruction 108-1-1, FEMA’s implementing procedures for NEPA.

You can provide comments or obtain more detailed information about the proposed project by contacting FEMA Region 8 by email at fema-r8ehp@fema.dhs.gov and including ‘Buena Vista EOC EA’ in the subject line or by U.S. Mail at “Denver Federal Center, Building 710, Box 25267, Denver, Colorado 80225-0267 Attn: “Kyle Cheeseman.”