PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Emergency Management Agency In accordance with 44 CFR §9.8 for Executive Orders 11988 & 11990 Proposed Building Elevations North Wildwood and Ocean City, Cape May County, NJ

Notification is hereby given to the public of the intent of the Department of Homeland Security- Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS-FEMA) to provide federal funding to the City of North Wildwood and the City of Ocean City, as subrecipients for the proposed elevation of residential structures through the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program. The purpose of the FMA Grant Program is to reduce or eliminate claims under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This notification is given in accordance with Executive Order (EO) 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order (EO) 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, and 44 CFR Part 9, regulations for implementing EO 11988-11990.

The proposed mitigation projects would elevate nine (9) single-family and seven (7) multi-family residential structures in North Wildwood and Ocean City, respectively. These structures occupy low-lying areas susceptible to repetitive flooding. All proposed impacted properties in North Wildwood would be raised to four feet above the base flood elevation (BFE) for a 100-year flood. The properties in Ocean City will be elevated two feet above the BFE with an additional one foot of freeboard, in accordance with local flood ordinances.

This action would take place within the 100-year floodplain. Alternatives considered include: 1) taking no action, 2) the proposed alternative, elevating the structures, or 3) acquisition and demolition. FEMA has determined that elevating the structures is the most practicable alternative to ensure the residences and their occupants are out of harm’s way. FEMA has also determined that investment of funds to reduce flood risk is in the public interest. Potential impacts to water quality or aquatic habitat are anticipated to be temporary during construction and minimized through best management practices and conservation measures incorporated from resource agency recommendations and required regulatory permits.

Comments about this project, potential alternatives, and floodplain impacts may be submitted in writing within 15 days of the date of this publication to: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency – Region II – Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation, Mitigation Division, One World Trade Center, Suite 53, New York, NY 10007 or via email to FEMAR2COMMENT@fema.dhs.gov. If substantive comments are received, FEMA will evaluate and address the comments as part of the environmental documentation for this project.