PUBLIC NOTICE
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby provides final notice of its decision to provide Public Assistance Program funding for actions located in a floodplain. Funding would be provided through the Maine Emergency Management Agency to the City of Biddeford to reconstruct 200 ft of retaining wall on the Saco River. The proposed retaining wall would be a soldier pile and pre-cast concrete panel lagging design. The proposed action is located at 2 Main Street, Biddeford, Maine. The project is within a mapped special flood hazard area (100-year floodplain) and floodway.
The retaining wall is functionally dependent on its river location thus the proposed action must take place in the floodplain. The project is not expected to result in loss of flood storage or exacerbate flood hazards to others. The action would conform with applicable state and local floodplain protection standards. Any potential project impacts would be mitigated by compliance with permit conditions issued by state and federal agencies, and any conditions required by the local floodplain administrator.
Alternative designs considered included mechanically-stabilized earth (MSE) wall, cast-in-place concrete wall, and replacing the retaining wall in-kind. These alternatives were rejected because the City determined the proposed design was structurally superior, lower cost, and could be constructed in a more timely manner.
Maps of the project areas are available upon request to linda.hutchins@fema.dhs.gov or (202) 718-3367. Comments about these projects and their floodplain and wetland impacts can be submitted within 15 days of the date of this publication to:
Linda Hutchins, Environmental Protection Specialist
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Boston, MA
Linda.hutchins@fema.dhs.gov; (202) 718-3367