FEMA SECTION 106 Notices for Louisiana

Public Notice for Section 106 and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Reviews of the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) Proposal to Construct New Family Housing (Guste III) at the William J. Guste Homes Public Housing (Guste) in Central City, New Orleans, LA

Figure 1. Google map showing the location of the Guste III project, the archaeological Area of Potential Effect (APE) is outlined in yellow and the standing structures APE in red. (2013)

FEMA Public Assistance is partially funding the construction of Guste III family housing near the intersection of Simon Bolivar Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (See map).¹
In the project area, FEMA has identified archaeological sites that are still intact and contain information about the history of the Central City neighborhood. FEMA has identified no historic buildings in the project area. FEMA will continue to evaluate additional archaeological deposits (sites) associated with construction activities to determine the importance and integrity of these sites and develop an appropriate course of action.
Federal regulations in 36 CFR Part 800 and 44 CFR Part 10 require FEMA, as a funding agency, to identify if any of the properties affected by the project are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; to assess the effects the project will have on historic properties; and to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects to historic properties; and to evaluate the proposed action's potential for significant impacts to the human and natural environment.²
To help develop a course of action for this project, FEMA is requesting input by February 6, 2013 from any member of the public on ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects to these intact archaeological sites or other significant elements of the human and natural environment.
Comments can be posted at http://www.crt.state.la.us/culturalassets/fema106/
Or mailed to:
FEMA Mail Center/Historic Preservation
1 Seine Court,
New Orleans, LA 70114
All comments must be posted or postmarked by February 6, 2013.

¹ The high winds and heavy rains of Hurricanes Katrina and the subsequent widespread flooding damaged many buildings in Orleans Parish, LA. In the aftermath of this hurricane, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing this public notice as part of its responsibilities under 36 CFR Part 800, the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. This notice applies to activities carried out by the Public Assistance program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C.งง 5152-5206.
² FEMA is required to following the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (NEPA regulations, 43 FR 55978 (1978)) that provide policy and procedures to enable FEMA officials to be informed of and take into account environmental considerations when authorizing or approving major FEMA actions that may significantly affect the environment of the United States. It is the intent of NEPA that federal agencies encourage and facilitate public involvement to the extent practicable in decisions that may affect the quality of the environment.