The City of Gastonia has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Program funding through North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) 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, 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.
Sub-Applicant: City of Gastonia
Project Title: City of Gastonia Pump Station Mitigation; PDMC-PJ-04-NC-2019-004
Location of proposed work/Facility: Big Lakewood Pump Station
Address: 410 Armstrong Drive, Cramerton, NC 28012
Latitude/Longitude: 35.23722 / -81.06694
Original Date of Construction: 7/1/1974
Approximate Date(s) of New Construction: 9/1/2020-9/1/2023
Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:
This project is for the repair and relocation of the Big Lakewood Pump Station. The station is currently located in an AE Flood Zone. Confirmation of location in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the Gaston County Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel Number: 3710358400J, dated 9/28/2007. The primary goal of the station replacement is to be outside of the 100‐year floodplain and floodway. The existing pump station site is large enough to allow for the station to be moved to the north approximately 100’, such that the new station will be outside the floodplain. The existing entrance road and parking area can be reused for the new station site. Mature holly bushes will provide a good landscape buffer from the existing single‐family residence. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of North Carolina and local floodplain regulations. The proposed work will not take place in wetlands per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory and will have little potential to impact or affect wetland values.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
The City of Gastonia will repair and relocate the pumps station outside the 100-year floodplain and floodway. The new Big Lakewood Pump Station would consist of a new precast wet well to be constructed approximately 100 feet to the north of the existing wet well, outside the floodplain. This location will allow the rim of all concrete structures to be constructed at‐grade and be more than 2 feet above the base flood elevation. Due to the topography of the site compared to the existing gravity sewer lines, the new wet will extend to a depth of approximately 35 feet below the existing grade. This will require special methods of construction and increases the cost of the wet well noticeably. A decorative fence, either dipped chain link or vinyl would surround the entire new site, with additional landscaping to buffer the site from the nearby residence. After the new station is operational, the old station will be demolished, backfilled with sand and select material, and restored to a natural state. This pump station is a significant component part of the city; and as such, its continued function is important for public use.
Project Alternatives:
Alternative #1 (No action): The ’no action’ alternative would ultimately result in a negative impact on the community. If the pump station is not repaired or relocated, the pump station may continue to deteriorate, making it an unsafe for continued use.
Alternative #2 (Repair in-place): Repairing the pump station without relocating it outside of the flood zone will continue to expose it to flood risk resulting in similar damages from future events. In addition, repairs to the station without relocating is a safety health hazard for the public.
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:
FEMA Region 4
3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road
Atlanta, Georgia, 30341
Alternatively, comments may be emailed to: FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Please send comments with the subject line [PDMC-PJ-04-NC-2019 11988 COMMENT].
All comments are due by no later than 30 days of the posted date of this notice.
