Federal Emergency Management Agency Semi-Annual Report on the Louisiana Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Programmatic Agreement (LA HMGP PA) Louisiana Recovery Office July 31, 2014 Federal Emergency Management Agency Semi-Annual Report on the Louisiana Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Programmatic Agreement (LA HMGP PA) Louisiana Recovery Office July 31, 2014 Environmental/Historic Preservation Section Federal Emergency Management Agency 1 Seine Court, 4th Floor New Orleans, LA 70114 Introduction FEMA is providing this report pursuant to Stipulation XV of the Louisiana State-Specific Programmatic Agreement Among the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP);Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer of the Department of Culture Recreation & Tourism (SHPO); Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (ACTT); Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana (CTL); Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO); Jena Band of Choctaw Indians (JBCI); Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI);Seminole Tribe of Florida (STF); and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Regarding FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (LA HMGP PA), executed January 31st, 2011. The Jena Band of Choctaw Indians signed the LA HMGP PA on February 8, 2011. Tribes that are recognized as Participating Tribes in the document and have not yet signed the LA HMGP PA include: The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas (ACTT), the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana (CTL), the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO), the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI), and the Seminole Tribe of Florida (STF). These Tribes are consulted per the terms of the LA HMGP PA. Other Consulting Parties who have signed the LA HMGP PA as Concurring Parties are the Office of Community Development-Disaster Recovery Unit, Calcasieu Parish, Jefferson Parish, Saint Tammany Parish, the City of New Orleans, and the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. FEMA is producing this Semi-Annual Report in accordance with Stipulation XV, and contains updates for the Grantee per Stipulation III.A.7 and Stipulation VII.C. In Accordance with Stipulation XV.C, FEMA is providing Consulting Parties 30 days to comment on the Semi-Annual Report. Comments should be addressed to Gail Lazaras via e-mail at gail.lazaras@fema.dhs.gov or via phone at 504-715-6076. If any relevant comments are received, FEMA may convene a meeting or telephone conference call of the Consulting Parties to discuss these comments within 60 days of submittal. If it is determined that a meeting is necessary, FEMA will further notify Consulting Parties. Methodology The information provided in this report is applicable to the reporting time period of February 1, 2014 through July 31, 2014 unless otherwise noted. The summary data was extracted from internal tracking databases maintained by FEMA's Environmental and Historic Preservation Section and HMGP Program as well as tracking sources from the Office of Community Development. In some instances the reconciliation of projects takes several weeks. Therefore, FEMA has not received complete information that is reflective of all funding activities through July 31, 2014; this information will be captured in future reports. Data Stipulation II.G: Update to Contact Information In this reporting period, there have been no updates to contact information. LA HMGP PA Report - Page 1 July 2014 Stipulation VI: Programmatic Allowances In this reporting period, FEMA completed review for 14 Undertakings utilizing the Programmatic Allowances in Appendix C of the LA HMGP PA. Stipulation IX: Section 106 review procedures specific to archaeological historic properties, also known as Archaeological Exclusion Properties (AEXP) AEXP are defined as properties located within, adjacent to, or within 100 meters of the boundaries of an archaeological site recorded with SHPO and that is previously determined as NR-eligible or of undetermined eligibility. The following table provides a summary of FEMA's efforts to identify, evaluate, assess and treat effects for AEXP for the reporting time period (note that no action was taken in this reporting period): Stipulation Reference Description # of Properties Identified Date(s) of FEMA determination Response from Consulting Parties, if applicable IX.D.1 Total number of properties identified as AEXP as of 7/31/2014 148 Identified since LA HMGP PA was signed n/a IX.D.1 Number of AEXP identified within the reporting timeframe 0 n/a n/a IX.F Finding of No Historic Properties Affected 0 n/a n/a IX.H Finding of No Adverse Effect 0 n/a n/a IX.I Strategies to avoid or minimize Adverse Effects 0 n/a n/a IX.J Finding of Adverse Effect 0 n/a n/a Reporting Stipulation XV.B.i: The number of residential properties funded under Programmatic Treatment Measures to date Projects funded under Programmatic Treatment Measures (PTM) include HMGP Limited Exception properties (including Pre-Effective Date and Grace Period Undertakings), Post-Grace Period Undertakings, and all residential properties submitted via Large-Scale Sub-Grantee applications. The total number of projects funded under PTM as of July 8, 20141 is 9,604. 1The reconciliation process for projects funded under the PTM takes 6 - 8 weeks; therefore, FEMA is unable to report on projects funded through July 31, 2014. The data for the remaining reporting period will be captured in a future report. LA HMGP PA Report - Page 2 July 2014 Reporting Stipulation XV.B.ii: The number of non-residential properties that went through the Standard Review process The Standard Review process applies to Undertakings submitted through traditional applications, which include residential properties, commercial properties, private non-profit properties and all public properties that do not meet the criteria to be considered Pre-Effective date Undertakings or Archaeological Exclusion properties. The Standard Review is used for Undertakings that do not meet the Programmatic Allowances set forth in the LA HMGP PA. FEMA HP reviewed a total of 3 Undertakings for non-residential properties using the Standard Review Process between January 1, 2014 and July 31, 2014. Reporting Stipulation XV.B.iii: Adverse effects or potential adverse effects addressed through Standard Treatment Measures (STM) or project-specific Memorandum of Agreements (MOA). Note this applies to STM and/or MOA executed during the reporting period. No STM and/or MOA executed during the reporting period. Stipulation XV.B.iv: Summary of public input and outreach measures Per Stipulation XV.D, FEMA posted the January 31, 2014 Semi-Annual Report to the CRT website between February 10 and March 12, 2014 for public review and comment. No comments were received. See reporting under Stipulation XV.B.v for more information on the Programmatic Treatment Measures associated with Community Education and Outreach Measures (Stipulation XII.D.2). Reporting Stipulation XV.B.v: Summary of the execution of Standard Treatment Measures (STM), Programmatic Treatment Measures (PTM), and treatments under any project-specific Memorandums of Agreement FEMA acted to fulfill treatment measures as described in MOA, STM and PTM to mitigate adverse effects to historic properties through the following activities: The State has completed archaeological fieldwork per the Bayou Yscloskey MOA in coordination with FEMA and the property owner. The State has completed a revised draft report entitled Phase III Excavations and Analysis at 16SB8/46, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana that is currently under review by FEMA, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, SHPO and other Consulting Parties. FEMA is currently addressing adverse effects to historic properties through implementation of the 1st Amended Memorandum of Agreement Among FEMA, the City of New Orleans, Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer of the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Regarding the Elevation/Wind Retrofit of Residential Structures, Orleans Parish, LA (CNO-Elevations MOA as amended_ NEMIS #1603-0073 & #1607-0107. FEMA produces a separate report regarding the execution of all treatment measures resulting from the CNO-Elevations MOA as amended per Stipulation I.I of this agreement. LA HMGP PA Report - Page 3 July 2014 FEMA and GOHSEP addressed some adverse effects to historic properties through PTM and the following outline summarizes these efforts during the reporting period and/or to date: PTM, Stipulation XII.D.1, SHPO Liaison Position All actions completed and described in previous report. PTM, Stipulation XII.D.2.a, Community Education, Outreach & Preservation Workshops for Built Environment and Archaeology Programs The Interagency Agreement between GOHSEP and SHPO is active and has been in effect since August 2012. Activity #1: Community Education, Outreach and Preservation Workshops for the Built Environment: The Historic Preservation Public Workshops have been completed. Mitigated Virtual Demonstration Home: The Division of Historic Preservation Staff within SHPO is progressing on the "Mitigation Virtual Demonstration Home" booklet, web content and video. Due to the prohibitive costs of producing the 3-minute video illustrating "Best Historic Preservation Practices" to accompany the 12-page, double-sided Mitigation Booklet, SHPO received approval from FEMA and GOHSEP in April 2014 to utilize the funds originally allocated for the video for enhancing the web content associated with the deliverables required under the LA HMGP PA, as well as for increasing the number of pages for the Mitigation Booklet to up to 30-pages. Information has been gathered and compiled in order to produce the Mitigation Booklet and corresponding web content. Activity #2: Community Education, Outreach & Preservation for Archaeology: Task #1: Web-Based Framework: The Division of Archaeology staff has completed the web-based framework. Webpage user evaluations have been conducted. The web portal and first webpage, Poverty Point, has been completed and the webpage will be officially launched within the next month. Webpages for Marksville and Los Adaes will follow and are expected to be launched in the upcoming quarter. Other sites researched were Bayou Jasmine, Watson Brake, El Constante, and Bailey's Dam. Site visits, correspondence, and interviews were performed with many of the Archaeologist who has worked at the aforementioned sites. Interpretations of the available data for these sites, and clarification about complex, technical, and historical aspects of fieldwork and data analysis were derived from the research. Task #2: Teaching Materials: SHPO is near completion in the hiring process to obtain a new employee that will complete the Louisiana Archaeology teaching modules, curriculum, distribution strategy, and list of schools. Task #3: KnowLA Information: Five essays on Louisiana Archaeology historic sites have been completed and the material has not yet been finalized and uploaded to KnowLA. PTM, Stipulation XII.D.2.b, Update State Multi-hazard Mitigation Plan to include information on cultural resources and historic preservation topics. LA HMGP PA Report - Page 4 July 2014 The 2014 State Hazard Mitigation Plan Update was approved by FEMA on April 2, 2014 and will expire April 1, 2019. All information contained in the cultural and historic preservation appendix to the 2011 Plan was inserted into the appropriate places throughout the new Plan. The 2014 State Hazard Mitigation Plan can be viewed at: http://www.getagameplan.org. PTM, Stipulation XII.D.3, Analysis and Reporting of Existing Archaeological Collections for Outreach Materials FEMA has submitted the following Final reports to SHPO, Participating Tribes, and other stakeholders. Prehistoric Collections: The final report entitled, The Tchefuncte Culture and the Early Woodland Period in Coastal Louisiana has been accepted by SHPO as final and all associated artifacts and records have been curated. Historic Collections: The final report entitled, Analyses of the Archeological Collections from Three Sites in New Orleans: 400 Chartres Street (160R467), Costa (160R62), and Dufour-Baldwin (160R126) has been accepted by SHPO as final and all associated artifacts and records have been curated. PTM, Stipulation XII.D.4.a, Digitization of Standing Structures Surveys and National Register Files All actions completed and described in previous report. PTM, Stipulation XII.D.4.b, Resurvey Existing National Register Historic Districts All actions completed and described in previous report. PTM, Stipulation XII.D.4.c, Prepare National Register District Nomination for Edgewood Park FEMA presented the nomination to the National Register Committee July 24, 2014. The Committee voted unanimously to forward the nomination to the National Park Service for consideration. PTM, Stipulation XII.D.4.d, Archaeological Testing of Parks FEMA has submitted the following Final reports to SHPO, Participating Tribes, and other stakeholders. Fontainebleau State Park: The final report entitled, Phase I/II Archaeological Investigations of Portions of Fontainebleau State Park in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana has been accepted by SHPO as final and all associated artifacts and records have been curated. City of New Orleans Parks: The final report entitled Phase I archaeological Survey and Cultural Resources Inventory of 30 Parks in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana has been accepted by SHPO as final and all associated artifacts and records have been curated. LA HMGP PA Report - Page 5 July 2014 New Orleans City Park: The final report entitled, Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of Portions of New Orleans City Park and Phase II testing and Evaluation of Sites 16OR626 and 16OR19 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana and Analysis of 1976 Archaeological Collection From Fort St. John/Spanish Fort (Site 16OR19) has been accepted by SHPO as final and all associated artifacts and records have been curated. LA HMGP PA Report - Page 6 July 2014