Public Notices

To: All interested Agencies, Groups, and Individuals

This is to give notice that the City of Oldsmar, FL has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection. The activity is funded by a grant from the Community Program Funding [HUD Grant #B-22-CP-FL-0244].

The proposed project involves in-kind replacement of an existing culvert to improve stormwater flow in an existing residential area by installing, in sections, a 7ft by 4ft concrete box culvert along a portion of State Street in the City of Oldsmar, FL. The proposed project will include excavating and moving utilities as needed within an existing earthen drainage ditch, from the edge of the existing paved road to the near edge of the paved residential sidewalk, for a distance of approximately 1,241 Linear Feet. The project site begins at the headwalls of an existing culvert, located south of the intersection of State St/Clarendon St (28.020262 N/82.392346 W) to just south of the intersection of State St/Arlington Ave (28.015904 N/82.391835 W). The culvert sections will be covered over with earthen material created during excavation to create a green space. Culvert installation is anticipated to take several months to complete and would impact four existing residential properties that are adjacent to the north side of the Project Site. The benefits of this solution include reduced flooding, reduced erosion, reduced stormwater restrictions, and reduced pollutants. The entire Project Site, 1,241 LF or approx. 0.46 acres, is within Zone AE. There are no wetlands in or adjacent to the Project Site.

City of Oldsmar has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to be taken to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial values: (i) Reasons why the action must involve the floodplain: : 1) the function of the culvert depends upon being in an area that routinely experiences flooding, 2) to protect loss of property and life, while preserving the benefits and function of the floodplain the proposed project must be done at the Proposed Site; (ii) Alternatives considered: Alt 1: No Action: continued reliance on the existing earthen drainage ditch as the primary method of conveyance of stormwater away from the adjacent properties on State St. and away from the driving surface of State St.. Excavation of the existing earthen ditch would not need to be done as no concrete culvert would be installed. Should the ditch become clogged with sediment and debris it will cease being able to function as intended, resulting in overtopping and flooding of the surrounding area. A flooded roadway will result in unsafe driving conditions that could hamper emergency rescue vehicle access and travel during and following storm events. For these reasons, the No Action Alternative is not practicable. Alt 2 - Construct Pump Station (PS) at corner of Clarendon and State Street, on the northwest area of residential parcel at 600 Clarendon St (tax parcel ID: 23-28-16-63936-091-0010) and install an underground pipe to conduct water collected during high flow conditions to an interceptor at the sewer plant, located at 423 Lafayette Blvd (tax parcel ID: 25-28-16-18432-000-0001; approx. 726 feet southeast of the Project Site). The existing earthen ditch would remain in use to conduct water away from the area during low flow conditions and would not have to be excavated as a concrete culvert would not be installed. The City would have to confirm that the size pump required to carry the anticipated volume of stormwater flow would fit on the land area available at the intersection of Clarendon/State St. PS requires connection of a power source to operate the pump and would result in an above ground structure in an area with a lot of vehicular traffic. The PS would also require a back-up source of power to remain operational during and following storm events. The PS would be located within the 100-year floodplain (Zone AE FEMA FIRM Panel Nos. 12103C0091H and 0092H, eff. 08/24/2021); it would therefore have to be designed to be elevated at least 3 ft above 100-year flood elevation and floodproofed, e.g., rubber gaskets on the doors, use of a submersible pump. The city would have to get permission from construct the PS on the northwest are of the residential at the intersection of Clarendon/State St. It is unlikely the homeowner would want the issues of safety, noise, and visual impact of a PS on their property. The siting, operational, maintenance, and safety concerns associated with constructing a PS to convey from State St. in-lieu of installing a concrete box culvert, render Alt 2 not practicable. Alt 3 - Installation of a corrugated metal pipe culvert to convey stormwater flows from State Street – this culvert type is meant for use in locations where the culvert would bear weight and is commonly used under roadways and railways. The existing earthen drainage ditch would have to be excavated to install the pipe. Pipe corrosion from the from chemicals in the water or abrasion of galvanizing by sand and gravel in the water will occur over time and could lead to pipe failure during a storm event. The improper use of a corrugated metal pipe culvert and future corrosion render Alternative 3 not practicable, and iii) Mitigation measures:

The City of Oldsmar has reevaluated the alternatives to conducting excavation and culvert installation activities in the floodplain and it has determined that it has no practicable alternative to convey a greater volume of stormwater away more efficiently from the residential area along State St. due to: 1) the function of the culvert depends upon being in an area that routinely experiences flooding, 2) to protect loss of property and life, while preserving the benefits and function of the floodplain the proposed project must be done at the Proposed Site.

This activity will have no significant impact on the environment for the following reasons: the proposed project is consistent with current land use, there will be no impacts to wetlands, floodplains, or threatened and endangered species. The City of Oldsmar will comply with state and local floodplain procedures.

Environmental files that document compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Order 11988, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments.

There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains 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 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 floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Written comments must be received by the City of Oldsmar at the following address on or before Wednesday July 7, 2023, to Attention: Jesus Sanchez, City Engineer, 100 State St W, Oldsmar, FL 34677. A full description of the project may also be reviewed weekdays from 8AM to 5PM at the above address. Comments may also be submitted via email to Laine Crump at TechServices@myoldsmar.com.

Dated June 28, 2023.

Kristin Garcia, CMC, City Clerk, City of Oldsmar, Florida