Public Notice for Siren Project at Maskenthine Lake

Stanton County EMA has applied for a Hazard Mitigation Grant, for an outdoor warning siren, located near the boat dock of Maskenthine Lake. Because our original location has been placed in a 100-year flood plain, according to updated regulations, we had to move the project 50' to the southwest, in order to be in the 200-year flood plain. In doing so, we are required to produce a 15-day notice for public input. The notice is listed below and will be active from today, June 10th, 2024, through Tuesday, June 25th, 2024. A copy of this notice will also be at the location, near the warming shed by the old skating rink at Maskenthine Lake. We are also looking into utilizing existing electrical and updating an existing pole, along the west side of the skating rink that currently holds a light that is no longer being used. 

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE

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: Stanton County

Project Title: NE-4662-0005 Maskenthine Lake Outdoor Warning Sirens

Location of Proposed Work:

· Maskenthine Lake Recreational Area (41.983241, -97.239852)

· Willer’s Cove Lake Addition (41.982321, -97.071264)

 Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:

The proposed Willer’s Cove Lake Addition will not be located within a Special Flood Hazard Area per FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) 31167C0127C, effective 9/30/2004. FEMA FIRM 31167C0105C, effective 9/30/2004, indicates the proposed Maskenthine Lake Recreational Area siren will be adjacent to a Zone A or 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Area. The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources Floodplain Management Interactive Map, consulted 3/8/2024, indicates that the Maskenthine Lake siren is in a 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Area. 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 a Zone A. 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:

The proposed project is for the installation of two outdoor warning sirens, one at Maskenthine Lake Recreational Area (41.983241, -97.239852) and the other at the Willer’s Cove Lake Addition (41.982321, -97.071264). Only the Maskenthine Lake Recreational Area siren, pictured in Figure 1, is within the floodplain. These recreational areas see large numbers of visitors but do not currently have any outdoor warning devices for severe weather events. The Maskenthine Lake Siren will be activated with the City of Stanton Sirens and the Willer’s Cove Siren will be activated with the Village of Pilger Sirens when needed. To support each siren, a 50-foot class 2 pole will be installed at each site, and each siren will have a radio receiver and battery backup. 24-inch diameter by 8-foot-deep holes will be made to install each siren pole, and each will require at least 26-inch deep by 4-inch wide trenches running approximately 8 feet in distance to nearby power sources (a warming shed for Maskenthine Lake Siren and a utility pole for Willer’s Cove Siren).

Project Alternatives:

Alternative #1 (No action): The 'no action' alternative keeps the residents of and any visitors to the Maskenthine Lake Recreational Area at risk during dangerous weather conditions. Many people in the community do not have weather radios or severe weather alert cellphone apps to provide them early warning of dangerous weather conditions, and the ‘no action’ alternative does not allow for broader early warning. Additionally, cell coverage may be reduced in the more rural area and having a reliable warning system will reduce risk to human lives.

Alternative #2 (Mobile sirens) In the event of severe weather, Stanton County could utilize vehicle mounted sirens to issue notices and direct the residents to shelter in place. However, this alternative places personnel at high risk due to severe weather exposure and delays the delivery of warning while the response vehicles are dispatched.

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: [email protected]. Please send comments with the subject line [DR-4662-NE-0005 11988 COMMENT].

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