FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PUBLIC NOTICE
ACQUISITION & DEMOLITION OF SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGE PROPERTIES
TOWN OF LEXINGTON, GREENE COUNTY, N.Y.
FEMA HMGP # 4020-0057 & #4031-0008
Notification is hereby given to the public that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reviewing two grant applications for Hazard Mitigation Assistance funding from the Town of Lexington, Greene County, New York.
The grant application seeks Federal funding for 75% of the cost of acquiring up to three (3) properties and demolishing all structures. The subject properties are located within the base or one percent chance floodplain (also known as the 100-year floodplain) of the Schoharie Creek and West Kill and were damaged by flood waters from Hurricane Irene and/or Tropical Storm Lee in August and September 2011.
The acquisition would be from willing sellers only. The Town of Lexington would acquire the properties, demolish all structures, and grade and seed the parcels. Deed restrictions would prohibit future development and the site would be maintained in perpetuity as open space under municipal ownership.
Federal Executive Orders 11988, Floodplain Management, and 11990, Protection of Wetlands, require federal agencies to review proposed actions in floodplains and/or wetlands and explore practicable alternatives to avoid, minimize or mitigate potential impacts. The alternative to acquisition/demolition would be to leave these flood-prone properties in private ownership for the potential repair and rebuilding of structures or for future development. The proposed project will remove structures from the floodplain and create open space to restore the beneficial values served by floodplains and wetlands.
The public is invited to provide comments about this project. Written comments may be submitted by mail to FEMA Region II, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Leo O’Brien Federal Building, 11A Clinton Square, Room 742, Albany, New York 12206-5421 or by email to FEMA-R2-HMA@fema.dhs.gov. Comments should be submitted within 15 days of this notice.
