May 29, 2008
Dear Friends:
The National Park Service has put out this notice for a June 10th public scoping meeting to review proposed designs for an improved levee system at 17th Street to stop floodwaters from inundating Downtown DC and the National Mall. To learn more about the flood issue, read our January 24 UPDATE.
PUBLIC NOTICE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for actions to be implemented near the intersection of 17th Street, N.W. and Constitution Avenue, N.W, in Constitution Gardens and the Washington Monument Grounds, and near 23rd Street, to improve the reliability of and reduce the long term operations and maintenance costs of the Potomac Park Levee system. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), authorized by the 1936 Flood Control Act, completed the Potomac Park levee in 1938. Respectful of the historic city design, the project is currently reliant upon the placement of a temporary earthen embankment by the NPS. In January 2007, the USACE determined the temporary levee closure to be unreliable and rated the levee as unacceptable. As a result, the levee no longer meets the requirements established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 44CFR65.10 and must be recertified. The EA will assess the impacts of the interim actions which will be designed to meet the FEMA 100-year flood protection requirements and permanent solution alternatives to meet the requirements of the 1936 Flood Control Act. This NEPA effort will also incorporate all past NEPA efforts and update that compliance for the entire Potomac Park Levee system. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the USACE are cooperating federal agencies.
A public scoping meeting will be held by the NPS on June 10, 2008 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the NCPC offices at 401, 9th Street, NW, Suite 500, North Lobby, Washington, DC 20004. Staff of the USACE, the NPS, and their consultants will be available with displays to discuss alternatives, site characteristics, requirements of the project and to take comments from the public at this roundtable discussion. Written scoping comments on the project can be submitted through June 20, 2008 to Glenn DeMarr, Project Manager, Office of Lands, Resources and Planning, National Capital Region, National Park Service, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC 20242. It is recommended that due to delays in mail delivery, comments be provided via fax to (202) 401-0017 or email to comments@potomaclevee.com. Comments will also be collected via the National Park Service website.
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