Seeking Public Comment NHPA/NEPA1 Orleans Parish School Board Demolition of Albert Wicker Elementary School 2011 Bienville Street, New Orleans, Louisiana Site of Albert Wicker Elementary School, 2011 Bienville Street, Google Maps 2017 Albert Wicker Elementary School, Bienville Street elevation Google Maps 2017 As part of the School Facilities Master Plan, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) is requesting that FEMA provide funds2 to demolish the Albert Wicker Elementary School. There are ground-disturbing activities associated with this project, including demolition of all standing structures, building slabs and foundations, and all paved surfaces. Work will also include required remediation measures, erosion control, site security fencing, and site restoration. The current project is limited to demolition of the existing school. Federal regulations require FEMA, as funding agency, to identify if any of the properties are historic properties (listed in 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. FEMA has determined that Albert Wicker Elementary School, constructed in 1973, is not individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It is located within the Mid-City (aka Upper Canal) National Register Historic District, but is a non-contributing element since it was constructed outside the historic district's period of significance (1860-1961). The school property contains a National Register-eligible archaeological site that will be adversely affected by demolition activities. FEMA proposes to mitigate the adverse effects through Standard Mitigation Measures (data recovery and interpretive plan) in accordance with Stipulation IX.A.2 of the RSD/OPSB 2PA. Any member of the public is encouraged to provide views on how the project may affect historic properties and ways that these effects may be avoided, minimized, or mitigated. FEMA requests comments by December 14, 2017 from any member of the public on this proposal. Comments can be posted at this website: https://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/culturalassets/fema106 Or mailed to: FEMA Mail Center/Historic Preservation 1500 Main Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Post your comments soon - all comments must be posted or postmarked by December 14, 2017. 1Caused by 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 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. 2In 2009, FEMA, RSD, Orleans Parish School Board, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation entered into a Secondary Programmatic Agreement (RSD/OPSB 2PA) in order to fulfill FEMA's responsibilities under Section 106 of the NHPA and 36 CFR Part 800 regarding the implementation of the School Facilities Master Plan, which will be funded with assistance from FEMA and other Federal agencies.