FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to reimburse the PR Department of Agriculture, an eligible applicant, for eligible costs to repair The Dorado Agrological & Veterinary Laboratories, a facility that was damaged by Hurricane Maria (4339-DR-PR). FEMA also intends to provide funds to the PR Department of Agriculture, to implement mitigation measures to reduce future risk to life and property as a result of natural disasters. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (Stafford Act).
Under Executive Orders (EO) 11988 and 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands.
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.
Applicant: PR Department of Agriculture
Project Title: Project #81139, Agrological & Veterinary Laboratories-Dorado (MACO011-
Agricultural&Veterinary Laboratories-Dorado)
Location of Proposed Work: Carr. PR 693 km. 4.0 Bo. Higuillar, Dorado, PR, 00646. Coordinates: (18.44378, -66.26727). Project is located in a regulated floodplain as per FEMA’s Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) available at https://gis.fema.gov/PuertoRicoABFEs/. Also, according with the United State Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Wetlands Inventory Mapper, the project is located adjacent to a freshwater emergent wetland.
Proposed Work: The PR Department of Agriculture is requesting funds to restore back to its pre-disaster design, function and capacity, using in-kind materials and within the existing footprint, the Agrological & Veterinary Laboratories, located at the municipality of Dorado. These facilities consist of three buildings, the Agricultural Lab, composed of two buildings and a Veterinary Lab. The proposed scope of work includes to replaced two roof-top A/C units with condensers (work completed) from building 1 of the Agricultural Lab. It also includes the prep and paint of exterior and interior walls, the removal and replacement of surveillance camera, rain gutter and aluminum downspouts, wall mounted and outdoor bronze wall light, metal flashing from roof, florescent recessed fixture, roof deck insulation and roof panel galvalume, Westinghouse electric transfer switch, acoustic ceiling tiles, mold remediation of building, ductwork cleaning and repairment of building’s interior wall plaster. At building 2 of Agricultural Lab the scope of work includes: Prep and paint exterior and interior walls, the removal and replacing of acoustic ceiling tiles, Lithonia light lamps from the instrumental, chemical soil, principal rooms, and building hall. The replacement of exhaust fans and flush wood door from the Kendal room; the replacement of vinyl tile flooring from the fat extraction room and the repairing of concrete plaster across the building hall. At the Veterinary Lab the works includes the removal and replacement of 25-ton Split System, Air-Cooled Condensing Unit, air handlers, roll-up aluminum shutters power ventilator blower, one aluminum Letter "A" from building entrance, acoustic ceiling tiles from several rooms, fluorescent lighting fixtures from the microbiology room, composite tile flooring from main hallway. It also includes the replacement of centrifugal fan utility blower, centrifugal roof exhauster and asphalt roll roofing from roof, accordion style-brown aluminum storm shutters, one electric transfer switch for the 130 KW RAAD Generator and the removal and cleaning of molds from HVAC of ceilings, roof drains, walls and floors. At the perimeter of the veterinary building the work includes the replacement of chain link fence-barbed wire arm, ornamental steel fence panels, prep and paint, ornamental steel fence panels and concrete footing; remove and replace a pavilion roof- galvanized corrugated metal roof panels, pavilion roof- wood framing- treated purlins and pavilion roof- wood framing-treated band joist.
The Hazard Mitigation Proposal includes: Install weather-stripping to prevent water infiltration, to the Door in Kendal Room in Building 2. Provide (2) anchoring systems for 3-ton AC Units on the roof top to resist expected wind pressure during a similar event. -Anchor A/C units using steel wire rope, and necessary hardware. Install (4) rectangular roof scuppers/overflows to Building 2 rooftop [construction date c. 1969]. This activity entails selective demolition of a portion of the parapet to install scupper, patch concrete around new drain, and add water proofing around the same.
Project Alternatives: FEMA has determined that the only practicable alternative is to locate this facility at its original location within the floodplain and adjacent to the wetland. Other alternatives were considered, including no action, but deemed not feasible as alternative actions will result in negative impacts on residents and the community. Such negative impacts include, but are not limited to, longer commuting times and extended deterioration to the damaged facility.
Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies; and other interested parties to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing or email and addressed to Alex Amparo, Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator (FDRC). All comments are due within 15 days of this notice. Interested persons may submit comments or obtain more detailed information about the proposed action by writing to:
Federal Emergency Management Agency
c/o Alex Amparo
4339-DR-PR Joint Recovery Office
50 Carr. 165 Sector de Buchanan Parque Industrial Amelia
Guaynabo, PR 00968
or by email at FEMAR2COMMENT@fema.dhs.gov with the subject line “PW-02842 (PA-GM 81139) ".
POSTED ON: March 6, 2020
End of Notice