Public Notice NHPA/NEPA Seeking Public Comment For the Union Bethel AME Church’s Proposal to Replace the previously demolished Four Freedoms Building at 2321 Thalia Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA Map showing the location of the Union Bethel AME Church (from Google maps 2013) in New Orleans. Photo showing the Union Bethel AME Church and project site to the left behind the Church. FEMA Public Assistance is providing funding for the demolition and replacement of the Four Freedoms Building (see map)1. FEMA has identified that the Union Bethel AME Church Building and its attached Four Freedoms Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, the Union Bethel AME Church demolished the severely damaged Four Freedoms Building after FEMA's initial determination that the facility did not qualify for FEMA Public Assistance. This adversely affected the historic Church building. The construction of a replacement for the Four Freedoms Building adjacent to the Church also has the potential to affect the Church building. FEMA researched belowground historic properties within the project area and preliminarily determined, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, that the archaeological property surrounding Union Bethel is not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Federal regulations2 require FEMA, as a funding agency, to identify if any of the properties affected by the project are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; to assess the effects the project will have on historic properties; to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects to historic properties; and to evaluate the proposed action's potential for significant impacts to the human and natural environment.3 To help develop a course of action for this project, FEMA is requesting input by November 19, 2013 from any member of the public on ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects to this historic building or other significant elements of the human and natural environment. Comments can be posted at http://www.crt.state.la.us/culturalassets/fema106/ Or mailed to: FEMA Mail Center/Historic Preservation 1 Seine Court, New Orleans, LA 70114 All comments must be posted or postmarked by November 19, 2013. 1 The high winds and heavy rains of Hurricanes Katrina and the subsequent widespread flooding damaged many buildings in Orleans Parish, LA. In the aftermath of the hurricane, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing this public notice as part of its responsibilities under the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations, 36 CFR Part 800, implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA). This notice applies to activities carried out by the Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C.§§5152-5206. 2 36 CFR Part 800 and 44 CFR Part 10 3 FEMA is required to following the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (NEPA regulations, 43 FR 55978 (1978)) that provide policy and procedures to enable FEMA officials to be informed of and take into account environmental considerations when authorizing or approving major FEMA actions that may significantly affect the environment of the United States. It is the intent of NEPA that federal agencies encourage and facilitate public involvement to the extent practicable in decisions that may affect the quality of the environment. More information on NEPA and FEMA's Alternative Arrangements process can be found on FEMA's web page at: https://www.fema.gov/new-orleans-metropolitan-area-infrastructure-projects-6