Notification is hereby given to the public that the Barnes County, North Dakota has requested funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a proposed road inslope stabilization mitigation project. This notification is provided pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Federal agency implementation procedures described in 44 C.F.R. Part 9.12 and FEMA Directive 108-1. Funding from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will be utilized. The purpose of FEMA’s mitigation program is to implement cost-effective mitigation projects that will reduce the overall risk to populations and property.
Barnes County proposes to address significant ground slumping along County Road 21 (46.9596, -97.9967), where the road crosses a tributary of the Sheyenne River, that has caused instability jeopardizing the integrity of the roadbed. The project will include reestablishment of the affected inslope and stabilization to mitigate any future instability Through the failure area the existing embankment material will be excavated and benched according to the geotechnical report. An engineered fill material will be placed back in the excavation area to provide stability and proper drainage. Drain tile will also be installed adjacent to the roadbed to further promote proper drainage throughout the project limits. Once the inslope is reestablished, topsoil will be replaced and seeding and erosion control measures will be installed. Traffic will be maintained throughout the project duration utilizing temporary lane closures and flagging.
Construction activities would be in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances. This action requires the County to acquire a Floodplain Development Permit, and to comply with their local floodplain ordinance and the National Flood Insurance Program regulations.
44 C.F.R. part 9 requires FEMA to avoid to the extent possible the long and short-term adverse impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of floodplains and wetlands and to avoid direct and indirect support of floodplain development wherever there is a practicable alternative. With this public notice, FEMA is informing the public that the proposed action will occur in areas that are mapped within the 100-year floodplain per the best available data from the North Dakota Risk Assessment Map Service website. Based on the purpose of the project, all practicable alternatives contain project features located in the floodplain and are functionally dependent at their location according to project design considerations. Any impacts will be minimized to the extent possible. It is anticipated that long- term impacts to the floodplain will be beneficial, with potential minor, short- term impacts during the construction process.
FEMA has also evaluated and addressed potential effects of the proposed project on threatened and endangered species and historic properties.
A public comment period for the proposed project described in this notice will remain open for 15 days from date of posting. If no substantive comments are received, the proposed project may proceed no sooner than 15 days after the comment period closes. Interested persons may obtain more detailed information about the proposed project by contacting Bryan Tykwinski , by phone at 701-845-9422 or by email at bryan.tykwinski@kljeng.com. Information may also be requested from the FEMA Region VIII Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation office by email at fema-r8ehp@fema.dhs.gov or by mail at the Denver Federal Center, P. O. Box 25267, Denver, Colorado, 80225.