Public Notice

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FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Application

Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a 100 Year Floodplain - Jarvis Creek System Outfall

January 13, 2022

The Town of Hilton Head Island has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant funding through the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) as a sub-recipient. Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws, regulations, flood plain standards, and 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, 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).

Applicant: Town of Hilton Head Island

Project Title: Jarvis Creek System Outfall

Location of Proposed Work:

           Address of Structure: See Table Below

Facility Address Latitude Longitude Date of Construction
Flood Control Pump Station 4 Natures Way 32.210663 -80.739144 TBD


A map showing the location of the property is available by contacting Marcy Benson, Senior Grants Administrator for the Town of Hilton Head Island, at 843-341-4689 or MarcyB@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone (SFHA): This project is an enhancement to an existing flood control pump station facility located in Flood Zone AE (1% annual chance flood elevation) and Zone X. Confirmation of location was made by reference to the latest Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel 450250 0453G dated March 23, 2021. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of South Carolina and local floodplain regulations. The proposed work will involve the installation of two 84-inch diameter flap gates on the downstream end of two pipes located on Jarvis Creek at the Cross Island Parkway on previously disturbed ground and will have no effect on the local floodplain. The proposed work has the potential to be affected by the location in a SFHA. The action will be mitigated by the installation of flap gates.

Proposed Work and Purpose: This Town of Hilton Head Island proposed project is for mitigation activity to reduce repetitive damage of property, prevent losses of life, and reduce the financial impact caused by flooding. The installation of flap gates will mitigate the flood risk by ensuring the flood control pump station system will operate at optimal efficiency by preventing potentially adverse tidal storm surges from overwhelming the pump station facility.

Project Alternatives:

Alternative #1 (no action alternative): No action was considered for this project and deemed not an option because no benefit would be obtained as no greater resilience would be provided for this pump station and flood protection system.

Alternative #2: Reconstruction of Natures Way adjacent to the pump station facility and raising the minimum crown elevation to prevent storm surge from entering the intake chamber was considered and deemed not an option because the of the expense and disruption to surrounding area compared to alternative #3.

Alternative #3: Installation of steel combination lift/flap gates on the downstream end of two 84-inch reinforced concrete pipes to prevent tidal backflow into the system if a storm event were to threaten the island and result in storm surge was considered and deemed the best option as it is less disruptive to the surrounding area.

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 Marcy Benson, Senior Grants Administrator, Town of Hilton Head Island, 1 Town Center Court, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 or via email at MarcyB@hiltonheadislandsc.gov. All comments are due within 30 days of this notice. The Town of Hilton Head Island 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:

Marcy Benson, Senior Grants Administrator
Town of Hilton Head Island
1 Town Center Court
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843-341-4689
MarcyB@hiltonheadislandsc.gov

Submit Comments Online

Contact
Marcy Benson, Senior Grants Administrator
843-341-4689
CarolynG@hiltonheadislandsc.gov