10-21-2025 Notice of Finding - No Significant Impact - Designaged Floodplaint

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As the proposed project does not involve an activity for which even a slight chance of flooding might be too great because such flooding might result in a loss of life, injury to persons, or damage to property, it is therefore not a critical action. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wetlands Inventory (NWI), the proposed project is located within approximately 0.03 acres of designated wetland code R4SBC wetland. The natural and beneficial functions and values of the floodplain and wetland potentially affected by the proposed activity include floodwater storage and conveyance, groundwater recharge, erosion control, surface water quality maintenance, biological productivity, fish and wildlife habitats, harvest for wild & cultivated products, recreational, educational, scientific, historic, and cultural opportunities. The City of Paris has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial functions and intrinsic values of the existing floodplain and wetlands: locations outside and not affecting the FFRMS floodplain or wetlands, alternative methods to serve the identical project objective, and a determination not to approve any action proposing the occupancy or modification of a floodplain or wetland. The practicability of alternatives considered the natural, social, and economic values of each alternative. The alternatives considered were not chosen because they would fail to address the most deteriorated sewer lines in need of repair, would be economically prohibitive, and would allow health, safety, and environmental violations to persist. The City of Paris has reevaluated the alternatives and has determined that there is no practicable alternative to locating the proposed project in the FFRMS floodplain and wetlands. The proposed project must be located within the floodplain and wetland due to the necessity of aligning with existing infrastructure and to meet critical service requirements for the surrounding community. The best action is to proceed with the project as planned utilizing the following mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial functions and values of the FFRMS floodplain: • Sewer systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems and discharges from the systems • The project shall not lead to any significant increases in impermeable cover and shall have no negative impacts on the floodplain, as all lines will be subsurface, and the project area will be restored to pre - project conditions upon completion. • The project shall meet any applicable, additional local floodplain requirements set forth by the community's Floodplain Administrator prior to construction. • All state, local, and NFIP floodplain protection procedures will be followed. Including manhole elevation/floodproofing as necessary. • The consulting engineer shall take into consideration additional specifications to minimize damage to and/or restore the native plant species • The project shall be implemented using best management practices designed to protect improvements from flood damage. • The proposed improvements that intersect the floodway will be installed underneath the floodway using directional drilling • The implementation of erosion and sediment control measures will be used wherever possible, such as the installation of silt fences, sediment barriers, or erosion control blankets, using sediment basins to capture runoff before it enters wetlands, or stabilizing exposed soils immediately after construction with vegetation or mulch. • The implementation of pollution prevention measures will be taken when possible, such as having spill prevention and control plans with spill kits on-site, storing and handling hazardous materials away from the wetlands, inspecting construction equipment for leaks and malfunctions before project work commences, and using biodegradable hydraulic fluids in equipment when working near wetlands is possible. • Preventative construction techniques, such as ensuring that heavy machinery is inspected regularly for potential oil leaks, malfunctioning parts, or other mechanical issues, will be used to reduce the availability of construction -related pollutants that might contaminate runoff. • Staging and operating heavy machinery within the wetland or riparian area will be avoided.