REVISED

CITY OF OMAHA

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The City of Omaha has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding through Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives, and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority and low-income populations. This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.

Sub-Applicant: City of Omaha

Project Title:

Copper Creek Sewer Interceptor Relocation

Location: City of Bellevue, Sarpy County

Aerial Cross over:

(41.176399°, -95.997024°)

Interceptor:

Start (41.168848°, -95.993782°) to End (41.177407°, -95.996915°)

Year Built: 1972

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:

Work is located in a Floodway. Confirmation of location in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the Sarpy County Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel Number: 31153C0090H, dated 5/3/2010. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of Nebraska and local floodplain regulations. There is a potential for the facility to be impacted by future flooding events due to its location within the floodway. The proposed work will not take place in wetlands per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory and will have little potential to impact or affect wetland values.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

EXISTING FACILITY:

a.) Cross Over – The existing aerial crossing over Copper Creek is located at (41.176399°, -95.997024°), it is a 90-inch steel pipe, approximately 50-feet of it is exposed. The current crossing is submerged during floods and is subject to backflow and damage from debris. There are signs of damage on the pipe due to debris collisions.

b.) Interceptor Pipe – The existing interceptor pipe is 3,000 ft long and was built within the levee prism, underneath the Keystone Trail. The existing interceptor located below the surface is a reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) that was designed with a 3-inch sacrificial concrete layer.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) investigations showed significant signs of deterioration and corrosion. The interceptor is close to reaching its service life expectancy of 50 years (built in 1972) and its current condition is a reflection of its age.

REPAIR TO FACILITY:

a.) Cross Over – The existing pedestrian bridge over the aerial pipe would be temporarily removed during construction in order to remove the existing aerial pipe.

The new crossing of Copper Creek will be relocated approximately 200 ft upstream from the current crossing at (41.176685°, -95.996271°). The approach selected at the new Copper Creek Crossing is to construct a multi-barrel, inverted siphon in addition to relocating the interceptor outside of the levee.

b.) Interceptor Pipe – Applicant proposes to relocate the interceptor to a location outside of the levee prism to protect it from levee failure. It will be approximately 3,350 LF and 75 ft adjacent/parallel to the levee/existing interceptor location. The existing section of the interceptor would be filled with flowable fill and no longer be in use. The applicant plans on bypass pumping for approximately 18 days. Depth of excavation is approximately 14 ft deep, 3,350 ft long, and 50 ft wide for the interceptor. To access the areas of work with the necessary construction equipment and vehicles, the concrete and asphalt paths may be utilized as well as the parking lot area nearest to the levees. The parking lot may also serve as an area to stage and store materials and equipment during construction. Areas that are disturbed by the constructed improvements will be restored to their existing conditions. It is anticipated that adjacent agricultural land may incur some crop damage and/or delays in farming from the construction activities and will request compensation in advance.

Project Alternatives:

Alternative #2. Above ground aerial crossing

A second feasible alternative is relocating and constructing an aerial crossing instead of a siphon; however, since the section is restricted by existing inverts and a slope at a minimum standard, the aerial crossing would still be constructed below the 50-year flood event.

Alternative # 3. Lining the existing interceptor

Danger from debris collisions and flooding at the Copper Creek crossing still remains.

Alternative # 4. No alternative

Interceptor is almost 50 years old and continues to corrode. Danger from debris collisions and flooding at Copper Creek crossing still remains. Risk to levee and due to levee remains.

Comment Period:

Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing and addressed to the following email: kate.stojsavljevic@fema.dhs.gov. Please send comments with the subject line [DR-4420-NE-00024-Copper Creek 11988 COMMENT].

All comments are due by no later than 15 days of the posted date of this notice.

POSTED ON: July 1, 2021

7/1, 7/2, 7/5, 7/6, 7/7, 7/8, 7/9, 7/12, 7/13, 7/14, 7/15, 7/16, 7/19, 7/20, 7/21                 ZNEZ

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