FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant application

To:  All interested Federal and State Agencies, Local Groups and Individuals - Public Notice

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) have received an application for Federal grant funding from the South Carolina Office of Resilience through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program (BRIC). Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws, regulations, flood plain standards, permit requirements and conditions.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and for social, economic, historic, environmental, and legal and safety considerations. Under executive order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990 FEMA is required to consider alternatives to, and to provide public notice of, any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains and wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority or low-income populations.

Applicant: South Carolina Office of Resilience

Project BRIC FY 2022: Saluda River Basin Community Flood Mitigation & Resilience Initiative

Project location: Saluda River Basin, as delineated in the Department of Health and Environmental Control’s South Carolina Watershed Atlas. The basin begins at approximately 35.135270N, 80.627844W and ends at approximately 33.739980N, 80.627844W.

Project Description:  The project is a watershed-based resilience planning and implementation initiative focusing on the Saluda River Basin. The South Carolina Office of Resilience will coordinate with communities across the Saluda River Basin to identify risk and vulnerability, scope flood mitigation and resilience solutions, build community capacity, and implement prioritized projects that mitigate flood risk and increase watershed resilience.

If the South Carolina Office of Resilience is funded under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, subsequent public notices will be published as necessary as more specific information regarding implementation of projects come available. The public is invited to participate in the process of prioritizing and implementing projects throughout the program.

Alternatives Considered: Alternatives for this project which have been considered and rejected:

1. Alternative #1 (no action alternative): If no action is taken to study and protect the flood prone areas, it will increase the danger of impact from flooding during a severe weather event.

The public is invited to participate in the process of prioritizing and implementing projects throughout the program, with subsequent public notices published.

The South Carolina Office of Resilience will be responsible for facilitating and monitoring the proposed project. Interested persons may review project files, including maps, or direct any comments or questions to Fran Varacalli at (803) 354-1261 or written questions to frances.varacalli@scor.sc.gov. These are due within 15 days of this notice.