FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funding Request

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Florida Division of Emergency Management have received the following application for Federal grant funding. Final notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) consideration to provide funding in the form of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Funds will be provided in accordance with Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288, as amended.

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 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 or low-income populations.

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

Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA)

Project Title

HMGP-4673-(607) – Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA), Lift Stations, Bypass Pumps

Location of Proposed Work

The area affected by this project consists of homes in the following locations:

• Lift Station #000368 – E Beechfern Ln, Jacksonville, FL 32244
• Lift Station #000629 – Coralberry Ln, Jacksonville, FL 32244
• Lift Station #001459 – Mill Creek Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32211
• Lift Station #000205 – Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225
• Lift Station #000486 – Broward Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32218

Proposed Work and Purpose

JEA will install fixed diesel-powered bypass pumps at each of the five listed lift stations, providing an alternate power source and improved ancillary equipment. Currently, there are no alternate power sources or backup pumps at these five facilities, and they have been identified as critical and are being prioritized due to unique characteristics that make power outages particularly detrimental to their areas. The grant will pay for the fixed diesel pumps themselves, while JEA will supply the piping and other appurtenances appropriate for installing these pumps in accordance with federal requirements, including labor and parts. Supplying lift stations with fixed diesel-powered bypass pumps will allow for uninterrupted service in the event of a primary power source failure and have major resiliency advantages over traditional generators because they supply an entirely separate pumping system as opposed to simply an emergency power supply.

Project Alternatives

The alternatives to the project that have been and will be considered are 1) the no action alternative and 2) installing a connection at the lift station for a trailer-mounted emergency pump station to be brought in during the event of a facility failure. These alternatives to the proposed project are not viable because under Alternative 1) if the power to the lift station is lost or it ceases to function for any other reason, there will be no alternate power source or bypass solution to continue the facility’s vital operations until the issue is rectified. This could potentially result in wastewater flowing into the street and backing up into local homes and businesses, exposing the area to human and environmental hazards; and Alternative 2) JEA staff is required to respond to the lift station failure in person, directly exposing them to hazardous conditions during extreme weather events and contributing to traffic and clogging at a time when it is crucial that roadways remain as clear as possible.

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 the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Bureau of Mitigation, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100. These are due within 15 days of this notice (or the actual date). The State 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:

Janie K. Smalley
Senior Advisor
JEA
(904) 665-4147
smaljk@jea.com

Kayla Born
State Lead Environmental Specialist
Florida Division of Emergency Management
(850) 273-9289
Kayla.Born@em.myflorida.com

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Posted March 12, 2024