The City of St. Louis Seeks FEMA Funding for Street Department Building Repairs
The City of St. Louis is facing potential flooding risks and is taking action to protect its essential public services. The city has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) funding through the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to repair damages to the Street Department Building and its contents.
Federal Requirements for Consideration and Public Participation
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), all federal actions must undergo a thorough review and evaluation process to consider feasible alternatives and potential impacts on social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety factors. Additionally, Executive Orders 11988 and 11990 require FEMA to consider alternatives and provide public notice for any proposed actions that may affect floodplains or wetlands. Furthermore, Executive Order 12898 mandates public participation in the planning process and consideration of potential impacts on minority and low-income populations. This notice also fulfills requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Funding for the proposed project is contingent upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements, and conditions.
Project Details
Subrecipient: City of St. Louis
Project Title: FEMA-4665-DR-MO-246 [685618]; Street Department Building and Contents
Location of Proposed Work: 1900 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139 (38.6205825803, -90.284358799). See Figure 1 at the end of the notice.
Special Flood Hazard Area Zone: The Street Department of St. Louis is located in an AE Zone Special Flood Hazard Area. Confirmation of location within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the City of St. Louis, 2903850081C, dated 05/24/2011 (Figure 1). The facility is at risk for future flooding due to its proximity to the floodway. The proposed work will not take place in wetlands, according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory.
Proposed Work and Purpose
The City of St. Louis utilized force account labor to repair damages to the Street Department Building, including additional floodproofing measures. The repairs include carpet, ceiling tile, baseboard, sheetrock, floor tile, doors, and equipment. The applicant also requests mitigation measures such as raising electric outlets, elevating HVAC systems, transformer, cabling, and breaker box, and replacing interior framing with metal. These repairs and improvements will allow the department to continue using the building while reducing the potential for future flood damage.
Project Alternatives
Alternative #1 (No action): Not funding the repairs to the Street Department Building would leave the City of St. Louis without an essential public service. The building is used for towing, permits, inspections, traffic control, and lighting, and also houses necessary equipment. The public is able to access in-person services, such as discussing concerns or applying for permits, when the office is open. Relying solely on online portals may create accessibility issues and place a burden on the public.
Alternative #2 (Relocate the structure outside of the floodplain): Relocating the Street Department Building outside of the floodplain would require significant resources and may not be a feasible option. It would also disrupt the essential public services provided by the department.
