Public Notice Regarding Section 106 Review of Interior Rehabilitation; New Addition Construction; and Demolition of Outbuildings and Custodial Lodge Audubon-Montessori School, 428 Broadway Street, New Orleans, LA Applicant: Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) Seeking Public Comment The high winds and heavy rains of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the subsequent widespread flooding damaged many buildings in Orleans Parish. In the aftermath of the hurricanes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing this public notice as a part of its responsibilities under 36 CFR Part 800, the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA). This notice applies to activities carried out by FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5152-5206. Marked aerial photograph showing the location of Audubon-Montessori School (click to enlarge) Audubon-Montessori School - southeast elevation facing north (click to enlarge) In 2009, FEMA, the Recovery School District (RSD), OPSB, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation entered into a Secondary Programmatic Agreement (RSD/OPSB 2PA) in order to fulfill FEMA's responsibilities under Section 106 of the NHPA and 36 CFR Part 800 regarding the implementation of the School Facilities Master Plan, which will be funded with assistance from FEMA and other Federal agencies. As part of the School Facilities Master Plan, the OPSB is requesting that FEMA provide funds for the following projects on the Audubon-Montessori School campus: Interior Rehabilitation New Addition Construction Demolition of outbuildings Demolition of custodial lodge The regulations at 36 CFR Part 800 and the RSD/OPSB 2PA require FEMA to identify if any of the properties are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP); to assess the effects the work will have on historic properties; and to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects. The Audubon-Montessori School campus is located within the Uptown New Orleans NRHP Historic District. FEMA has identified the main building and the custodial lodge as contributing resources. The outbuildings are less than 50 years of age and FEMA has determined that they are ineligible for NRHP listing. Additionally, the Audubon-Montessori campus lies within the boundaries of a previously identified archaeological site. Archaeological testing was conducted within the archaeological Area of Potential Effect (APE). Based on the results of this testing, FEMA determined that the portion of the archaeological site situated within the APE was not eligible for NRHP listing. FEMA has determined that the proposed interior rehabilitation; new addition construction; and demolition of the custodial lodge will have an adverse effect to historic properties and is proposing to mitigate the adverse effects through Standard Mitigation Measures (large format photographs of exterior; digital photographs of interior; copies of original architectural drawing; treatment of character defining features; and interpretive plan) in accordance with Stipulation IX.A.2 of the RSD/OPSB 2PA. Any member of the public is encouraged to provide views on how the project may affect historic properties and ways that these effects may be avoided, minimized, or mitigated. Comments may be submitted to FEMA for a 15-day period starting May 22, 2012 by regular mail or at www.crt.state.la.us/culturalassets/fema106. Mailed comments should be sent to: FEMA Mail Center Historic Preservation 1 Seine Court, 1st Floor Mail Room New Orleans, LA 70114 If mailed, comments and requests must be postmarked by June 5, 2012.