Public Notice for FEMA buyouts (Irene and Lee)

Public Notice of the Intent of FEMA to Fund a Project - March 26, 2013

Notification is hereby given to the public that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reviewing a grant application for Hazard Mitigation Assistance funding from Ulster County, New York.


The grant application was submitted to FEMA through the New York State Office of Emergency Management and seeks Federal funding for 75% of the cost of acquiring up to (four) 4 properties and demolishing all structures.

The subject properties are in the hamlet of Wallkill, the Town of Shandaken and the Town of Ulster and were damaged by flood waters from Hurricane Irene and/or Tropical Storm Lee in August and September 2011. They are located within the following subwatersheds (HU-12): Muddy Kill-Wallkill River; Birch Creek-Esopus Creek, and Stoney Creek-Esopus Creek.

Acquisitions will be from willing sellers only. Properties will be acquired, structures demolished, and sites graded and seeded. Deed restrictions will prohibit future development and sites will be maintained in perpetuity as open space under municipal ownership.

Federal Executive Orders 11988, Floodplain Management, and 11990, Protection of Wetlands, require federal agencies to review proposed actions in floodplains and/or wetlands and explore practicable alternatives to avoid, minimize or mitigate potential impacts. The alternative to acquisition/demolition would be to leave these flood-prone properties in private ownership for the potential repair and rebuilding of structures or for future development. The proposed project will remove structures from the floodplain and create open space to restore the beneficial values served by floodplains and wetlands.

The public is invited to provide comments about this project. Written comments may be submitted by mail to FEMA Region II, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Leo O’Brien Federal Building, 11A Clinton Square, Room 742, Albany, New York 12206-5421 or by email to FEMA-R2-HMA@fema.dhs.gov. Comments should be submitted within 15 days of this notice.