EARLY NOTICE AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF PROPOSED ACTIVITIES IN A 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN 

October 30, 2014:

To: All Interested Agencies, Groups & Individuals

This is to give notice that the State of Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Orders 11988 and 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management, for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) State of Connecticut Disaster Recovery Program activities under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL 93-383).to determine the potential effect that its activity in the floodplain will have on the human environment. 

The proposed Pine Creek Culvert Replacement project is located north of Fairfield Beach Road and south of the Fairfield Wastewater Treatment Plant. The proposed project includes replacing the existing 48-inch corrugated metal pipe (CMP) culvert under Pine Creek Dike with two 60-inch high density polyethylene (HDPE) culverts and two 48-inch HDPE culverts, with headwalls at the culvert inlets and an endwall and tide gates at the culvert outlets. The existing culvert does not have sufficient capacity to convey a major storm surge event. During Superstorm Sandy, the culvert became obstructed and caused severe flooding in the Pine Creek area for several days. Self-regulating tide gates will be installed on the two 48-inch culverts to allow muted tidal flushing. Manually operated sluice gates will be installed on the outlet side of the 60-inch culverts. These gates will normally be in a closed position but will be opened at the onset of a large storm surge event. The total floodplain area affected is anticipated to be approximately 0.06 Acres.

There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains and wetlands and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public education tool. The dissemination of information about floodplains and wetlands can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains and wetlands, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Written comments must be received by DOH on or before November 13, 2014. DOH encourages electronic submittal of comments to CT.Housing.Plans@ct.gov. In the alternative, comments may be submitted on paper to: Hermia Delaire, Program Manager, Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program, Department of Housing, 505 Hudson Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06106 by November 13, 2014, where a full description of the project may also be reviewed
during the hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Evonne M. Klein, Commissioner, DOH