Final Public Notice - FEMA PA Program Final Public Notice RE: Mashes Sands Beach Parking Lot and Bathhouse Repairs Due to Damages in Hurricane Michael

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE -
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has received the subgrant application for Wakulla County’s Mashes Sands Beach parking lot and bathhouse repairs due to damages in Hurricane Michael (DR-4399-FL PW-01126). Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 and 44 CFR Part 9.12, final notice is hereby given of FEMA’s intent to provide funding for this project under the Public Assistance (PA) Program.
 
An initial disaster-wide Public Notice was published October 30, 2018 for Hurricane Michael. Comments and other information received were fully evaluated by FEMA along with evaluation of social, economic, environmental, and safety considerations. This notice serves as a project-specific final notice for FEMA’s funding action located within the floodplain.
 
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. This action complies with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.
 
Responsible Entity: FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program
 
Applicant: Wakulla County
 
Project Title(s): PA-04-FL-4399-PW-01126 PN 77089 - Mashes Sands Beach Bathhouse, Parking Lot
 
Location of Proposed Work: Address: 801 Mashes Sands Road, Panacea, FL 32346 GPS Coordinates: (29.97344, -84.34075)
 
Floodplain: Project is located in the VE Zone, otherwise known as the Coastal High Hazard Area, per Wakulla County FIRM Panel #12129C0525E dated 09/26/2014.
 
Proposed Work and Purpose: Wakulla County restored the Mashes Sands Beach parking lot back to its pre-disaster condition by replacing 103.28 tons (TN) of asphalt, wooden guardrail posts and rails, and removing 182 cubic yards (CY) of beach sand that was blown there by the storm. The county demolished the concrete block bathhouse and concrete sidewalk, and instead of replacing the bathhouse in its original location on the beach, purchased a mobile bathhouse and placed it in an alternative location, the parking lot, outside of the natural beach habitat.
 
Project Alternatives: FEMA has considered the no-action alternative and has found that it would not be feasible as the area will remain vulnerable to further property damage. The no-action alternative would potentially have adverse social, economic, and public safety impacts to the community. The bathhouse was relocated to an alternative location and upgraded to a mobile unit to allow the applicant to relocate the facility out of the floodplain in anticipation of storm events. Mashes Sands Beach is functionally dependent upon its location within the floodplain and also provides open space uses for recreation.
 
Comments: This will serve as the final public notice regarding the above-described action funded by the FEMA PA program. Interested persons may submit comments, questions, or request a map of this specific project by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 4, 3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30341 or by emailing FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Comments should be sent in writing with the subject line FL-4399-PW-01126, Wakulla County at the above address within 15 days of the date of this notice.

DATE OF NOTICE: JUNE 01, 2021