Denver Post, January 4th 2015 PUBLIC NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY FOR COMMENT ON A PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (PEA) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing notice of availability for comment on a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to evaluate utility projects in the State of Colorado. We provide this notice to invite other Federal and State agencies, Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations, and the public to provide commentary or suggestions on the scope of issues considered during the PEA planning process. These actions are part of our effort to comply with the general provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); NEPA regulations; other Federal laws, regulations, and Executive Orders; and our policies for compliance with those laws and regulations including 44 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 9 and 10. Our PEA focuses on numerous utilities located in Colorado that require repair, replacement, restoration, or relocation as a result of damages sustained during disaster events. A "utility" supplies a community with electricity, gas, water, or sewage services. In an effort to restore these utilities or mitigate from future events, FEMA (and other agencies) may provide funds for expansion, enlargement, and other upgrades along with replacement, relocation, or changes in materials. The purpose of the PEA is to provide an assessment of the expected environmental impacts associated with implementing these projects. More specifically, addresses the purpose and need of the proposed projects, project alternatives considered, affected environment, environmental consequences, and impact of mitigation measures. The PEA does not address site-specific impacts, which will be evaluated prior to project approval. The projects will be performed within existing rights of way to the extent practicable. However, because disaster events may have disrupted original footprints there will be situations that warrant upgrading a site to meet existing codes and standards or to address conditions that have changed since the original construction. All Federally-funded projects will be completed in compliance with applicable Federal, tribal, state and local laws, regulations, Executive Orders, etc. Some specific items of work may include, but not be limited to: Placement of temporary crossings, utilities, staging areas, access, and safety features. Repair, replacement, and relocation of production, transmis- sion, and treatment facilities in order to provide communities with utility services. Construction, excavation, trenching, and directional boring to allow repair, replacement, and relocation of utilities and ancil- lary facilities. Upsizing, encasing, armoring, and upgrading utilities to im- prove function and protect from future events. Repair and reconstruction of adjacent roadway and other connected infrastructure necessary to restore function. Operating equipment within waterways to allow repair, re- placement, and relocation of utilities. The Utilities PEA can be found at http://bit.ly/PEA01062015. Comments will be accepted from the affected public; local, state, and federal agencies; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate environmental impacts of the proposed projects. The comment period for this PEA will remain open for two weeks following publication of this notice. You can obtain more detailed information about the proposed PEA from Steven Hardegen, FEMA Region VIII, Regional Environmental Officer, Denver, CO steven.hardegen@fema.gov. Comments should be made in writing to the FEMA point of contact listed above and post-marked within fourteen (14) days of publication of this notice.
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