Metropolitan Hospital
Hazard Mitigation Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2015

Department of Homeland Security-Federal Emergency Management Agency

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for HHC Metropolitan Hospital Hazard Mitigation Project
New York City, New York County, New York
Project Number 3642

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 New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), as sub-grantee, for the HHC Metropolitan Hospital Center (MHC) Hazard Mitigation Project. The proposed project would be funded through the Public Assistance Program.

The proposed project would consist of a perimeter flood protection system around the MHC campus; strengthening of the basement walls of the Mental Health Building; installing watertight manhole covers, submersible flood pump stations, sump pumps, and floodproof doors; and relocating certain facilities within the campus.

The project site is within a FEMA-designated flood zone, as shown on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 44 CFR Part 9, DHS-FEMA evaluated practicable alternatives, including a No Action alternative, the proposed alternative, and another alternative that was dismissed (Mitigation-in-Place). The proposed project is defined as a Critical Action pursuant to 44 CFR Part 9. The perimeter flood protection system would be designed to the 0.2 percent annual probability flood (“500-year flood”) elevation for the campus plus three feet of freeboard.

In accordance with NEPA, an Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to assess the potential impacts of the proposed project on the human environment. The Draft EA summarizes the project’s purpose and need, project alternatives, the affected environment, and potential environmental consequences for considered alternatives. DHS-FEMA’s requirement of addressing floodplain management in accordance with 44 CFR Part 9 is incorporated with the EA.

The Draft EA is available for public comment and can be viewed and downloaded from HHC’s website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hhc/html/about/About-PublicNotice-MetropolitanEA.shtml.

A hard copy of the Draft EA will be available for review at the following locations:

New York Public Library
112 E 96th Street
New York, NY 10128

Metropolitan Hospital Center
Room 122c
1901 First Avenue
New York, NY 10029

Contact: Noel Alicea, Associate Director, Public Affairs, 212-423-8162
Marianela Bayas, Coordinating Manager, 212-423-8151

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
Room 519
125 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013           

Contact: Patricia Lockhart, Secretary to the Corporation & Records Access Officer
212-788-3368

The comment period will end on 30 days from the date of this legal notice publication in the New York Post or posting of the EA at all of the identified locations, whichever is later. Written comments on the EA can be mailed or emailed to the contact below. If no substantive comments are received, the EA will become final and a Finding of No Significant Impact will be signed. Substantive comments will be addressed as appropriate in the final documents. Contact:  FEMA SRO, Office of Environmental Planning & Historic Preservation (EHP), Attention: HHC Metropolitan Hospital Center Hazard Mitigation Project, 118-35 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY 11375 or via email at: FEMA-4085-Comment@fema.dhs.gov.