This is to give notice that Escambia County under Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 24 Part 58 has determined that the following proposed action under U.S. Department of Housing (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding in accordance with Florida Department of Commerce Grant No. HS005 is located partially within the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain and wetlands, and Escambia County will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the action within the floodplain and wetland and the potential impacts on the floodplain and wetland from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988 in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands. The proposed project is located at four locations; the intersection of Brickyard and Barth Road, Monroe Avenue between North Palafox Street and State Highway 291, East Olive Road west of State Highway 291, and areas adjacent to North Palafox Street and Handcock Lane in Escambia County, Florida.
The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using the 0.2 percent flood approach. Wetland presence was determined using National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) data. Construction at the Brickyard Road site would result in approximately 0.2 acres of impact within the 500-year floodplain (0.2 percent annual flood occurrence probability). That work would include construction of culverts, outfalls, and erosion-control measures. Some temporary impacts may also occur in that 0.2-acre area resulting from access and incidental activities. No other portions of this or the other project sites would occur within the FFRMS floodplain.
NWI indicates a freshwater pond (palustrine, unconsolidated bottom, permanently flooded diked/impounded feature) upstream (west) of Brickyard Road and a freshwater forested/shrub wetland (palustrine, forested, broad-leafed deciduous, needle-leaved deciduous, semi-permanently flooded wetland feature) downstream of Brickyard Road. Approximately 0.15 acres of impacts would occur in these wetland features. On the Olive Road site, NWI indicates riverine habitat (riverine, unknown perennial, unconsolidated bottom, permanently flooded wetland feature) associated with Carpenter Creek. Impacts may result from construction of a bridged footpath; however, the extent of the impacts is yet unknown. An existing stormwater pond adjacent to North Palafox Street would be impacted by the project. NWI identifies this feature as a freshwater pond (palustrine, unconsolidated bottom, permanently flooded, excavated wetland feature). The pond would be impacted by construction of a culvert outfall and an overflow pipe). No other portions of these or the other project sites would occur within NWI-indicated wetlands.
The floodplains and wetlands currently provide water quality benefits, stormwater retention and conveyance, and habitat. The nature and extent of these benefits varies, especially between the constructed and more natural features. The proposed project would not substantially disrupt any of these existing benefits.
The purpose of these proposed projects is to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Sally as well as mitigate future flooding to prevent future damage to the area. The culvert on Brickyard near Barth Road will be reconfigured to provide dedicated drainage for the ditch east of Brickyard Road and the impoundment pond that flows east. Existing ditches on Monroe Avenue will be repaired to improve conveyance. East Olive Road will be resurfaced and installed with curb-and-gutter stormwater collection systems, along with underground conveyances to replace the existing roadside drainage ditches. Improvements for North Palafox Street include grading existing ditches, installing new stormwater inlets and underground conveyances, and excavating a new stormwater pond south of Hancock Lane. Adjacent improvements to roads experiencing inadequate drainage will be constructed within the existing right-of-way of Monarch Lane, Duchess Road, and Dodge Road.
There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in the floodplain and wetland 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. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain and wetland, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate project impacts on the floodplain and wetland. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts 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 a floodplain, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Written comments must be received by Escambia County at the following address on or before Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025: Escambia County, 221 Palafox Place Pensacola, FL 32502 and (850) 595-3935, Attention: Elizabeth Kissel, Government Liaison. A full description of the project may also be reviewed from Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 221 Palafox Place Pensacola, FL 32502 and MyEscambia.com. Comments may also be submitted via email at [email protected].
Date: July 21, 2025
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