Notice of Application for Funding Through FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program

Poplar Street, Orangeburg County

Public Notice:

The South Carolina Office of Resilience has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) as a sub-recipient.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to, and to provide a public notice of, any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority and low-income populations. This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.

Applicant: South Carolina Office of Resilience

Project Title: Orangeburg County Poplar Street Project

Location of Proposed Work: In the Even Branch floodplain. Poplar Street between Oliver Street and Charleston Highway in Bowman, SC

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone: This project is for an upgrade to the current drainage system. This section of Poplar Street is located in Zone AE (1% annual chance flood elevation). Confirmation of location in an SFHA was made by reference to the latest Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel 45075C0606C effective date 2014.  The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of South Carolina and local floodplain regulations.

 

Proposed Work and Purpose:

Previous:

Proposed drainage designs for Adden Street were developed for the 10-year and 25-year storms. To provide adequate drainage for the 10-year storm, an extension of the existing stormwater system along Adden Street towards both Windsor Street and Riverside Drive is needed to meet the spread requirements. The existing stormwater system also needs to be upsized to meet capacity and hydraulic grade line requirements. The upgrade to the existing systems requires that the existing valley gutters be replaced along with repairs to the existing sidewalk along the southern side of Adden Street. The existing ditch will need to be regraded to provide positive drainage from the drainage system outfall to the concrete ditch. An easement will be needed to regrade the existing ditch. The 10-year upgrades also meet the design requirements for the 25-year upgrades, so no additional upgrades are needed from the 10-year to 25-year storm events.

NEW:

Proposed drainage designs for the residential driveway and Homestead Road were developed for the 10 and 25-year storms. An alternative model was designed with the utilities at the driveway crossing relocated. To eliminate the roadway over topping at Homestead Road, the crossing will be up-sized to a 10’ x 6’ box culvert. The driveway crossing will also be up-sized to a 10’ x 6’ box culvert to reduce the impacts of roadway overtopping. There is also a bend in the channel upstream of the driveway crossing that has been heavily impacted by scour and should be reinforced with rip rap.

 

Project Alternatives: 

Alternative #1 Proposed drainage designs for the residential driveway and Homestead Road were developed for the 10 and 25-year storms. An alternative model was designed with the utilities at the driveway crossing relocated. 

To eliminate the roadway overtopping at Homestead Road, the crossing should be upsized to a 10’ x 6’ box culvert. The driveway crossing should also be upsized to a 10’ x 6’ box culvert to reduce the impacts of roadway overtopping. There is also a bend in the channel upstream of the driveway crossing that has been heavily impacted by scour and should be reinforced with riprap.

Alternative #2:  The alternative design is the relocation of the utilities upstream and downstream of the driveway crossing. Currently there are two pipes that obstruct the flow as the channel increases. Removing the obstructions in conjunction with upsizing will eliminate overtopping for the 10-year storm event along with the benefits provided in the alternative 1 design. Alternative 2 has been chose to be implemented.

Alternative #3: The third alternative requires no changes to the two existing crossings. This alternative design will pave and extend Tuepelo St as well as create a new driveway at the end of Tuepelo St to 391 Poplar St so that the residents have another way to access their property when their original driveway is overtopping. No flooding reductions will occur with this alternative.

 

Comment Period:

Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing and addressed to SC Office of Resilience, Mitigation Department, 632 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201. All comments are due within 30 days of this notice.  The Mitigation Department will forward comments to applicable regulatory agencies as needed.

Interested persons may submit comments, obtain more detailed information about the proposed action, or request a copy of the findings by contacting:

SC Office of Resilience

Mitigation Department

Mitigation@scor.sc.gov

803-832-8004

POSTED ON: Rev March 3, 2024

End of Notice