10-21-2025 - Notice of Finding - No Significant Impact - Designaged FloodplaintNOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS AND FINAL NOTICE AND PUBLIC
EXPLANATION OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A FEDERAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STANDARD
DESIGNATED FLOODPLAIN AND UNITED STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE NATIONAL WETLAND
INVENTORY DESIGNATED WETLAND
Date of Notice: 10.22.2025
City of Paris, 135 1st St SE, Paris, TX 75460, (903) 784-9202
These notices shall satisfy three separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by
City of Paris.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about 11/11/2025 the City of Paris will submit a request to the Texas Department of Agriculture -Office of
Rural Affairs (TDA -ORA) for the release of Texas Community Development Block Grant funds under Title I of
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383), as amended, to undertake a project known
as the City of Paris CDV23-0206 TxCDBG Sewer System Improvements project, for the purpose of
Administrative and Engineering Fees and Services and to replace approximately one thousand eight hundred
sixty linear feet (1,860 LF) of ten -inch (10 in.) sewer line, including site clearing, boring, manhole replacement,
related pavement repairs, and all associated appurtenances.
The proposed project occurs from a point approximately 130 feet east of the Graham Street and 31 st Street NW
intersection, to a point approximately 715 feet north, to a point approximately 1,170 feet northeast located
approximately 140 feet south of the 28th Street NW and Shiloh Street intersection. The proposed project will take
place within the City of Paris, Lamar County, Texas. For a map of the proposed project, please contact the
County at the address or email below.
The City of Paris has been awarded $500,000.00 in grant funds and shall contribute $75,000.00 in match funds.
Total project cost is $575,000.00.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The City of Paris has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment.
Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is
not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at
the Paris City Hall, 135 SE 1st Street, Paris, Texas 75461 and may be examined or copied weekdays from 8:00
AM to 5:00 PM. A digital copy of the ERR may be obtained by contacting Rose Beverly, the City Manager via
email rbeverly@paristexas.org or by phone at (903) 784-9202.
FINAL NOTICE AND PUBLIC EXPLANATION OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A FEDERAL FLOOD RISK
MANAGEMENT STANDARD DESIGNATED FLOODPLAIN AND UNITED STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY DESIGNATED WETLAND
This is to give notice that the city has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 and
Executive Order 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making
Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection. The activity is funded under the
Community Development Block Grant Program and administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
ERR #(CDV23-0206).
The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using 0.2 percent flood approach. According to the Federal
Flood Standard Support Tool (FFSST) CISA data is not available for the project area. However, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has defined the 0.2 -percent -annual -chance floodplain for the project
area. According to FEMA, Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Panel No. 48277CO315C effective date 8/16/2011,
approximately 0.04 acres of proposed project is located within the 1 %-annual-chance floodplain and 0.003 acres
is located within the regulatory floodway. Therefore, approximately 0.043 acres of the proposed project is located
within the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain.
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.
• Restrict the use of heavy machinery during certain times of the year when wetlands are most vulnerable
(e.g., during the rainy season or breeding seasons for wildlife). Conduct heavy construction activities
during dry periods to minimize soil disturbance and water contamination.
• Establish specific access routes and designated areas for heavy machinery to minimize the disturbance
of sensitive wetland areas. These routes should avoid high -conservation or particularly fragile zones, and
should be demarcated with physical barriers like fences or signs to prevent unauthorized entry.
• The Responsible Entity (RE) and consulting engineer are working with USACE to determine what
permits, if any, are necessary. All necessary permits will be acquired prior to construction.
• All state and local wetland protection procedures will be followed.
• If a USACE permit is required, the project will remain in compliance with all the General / Regional
Conditions of the applicable permit.
Environmental files that document compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Order 11988 and Executive
Order 11990 are available for public inspection, review, and copying upon request during regular business hours
at the City Hall. There are three primary purposes for this notice: (1) People who may be affected by activities in
floodplains and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an
opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas; (2) An adequate public notice
program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public
comment about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated
with the occupancy and modification of these special areas; and (3) As a matter of fairness, when the Federal
government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must inform those who may be
put at greater or continued risk.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR the City of Paris at 135 SE 1st
Street or PO Box 9037, Paris, TX 75461, (903) 784-9202. Attention: Mihir Pankaj, Mayor. A full description of
the project may also be reviewed during regular business hours at the same address. Comments may also be
submitted via email to Rose Beverly, the City Manager via email rbeverly@paristexas.org CC:
jacqueline.six@grantworks.net. All comments received by 11/10/2025 will be considered by City of Paris prior
to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are
addressing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The City of Paris certifies to TDA -ORA that Mihir Pankaj in their capacity as Mayor consents to accept the
jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental
review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. TDA -ORA approval of the certification
satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the City of Paris to use
HUD program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
TDA -ORA will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Paris's certification for a period of fifteen
days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they
are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of
Paris approved by TDA -ORA (b) the City of Paris has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding
required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development
process have committed funds, incurred costs, or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before
approval of a release of funds by TDA -ORA; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504
has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.
Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec.
58.76) and shall be addressed to Annessa Lewis, Environmental Review Specialist of The Texas Department of
Agriculture - Office of Rural Affairs, via email at CDBG EnvRevie�xasA riculture. oy. Potential objectors
should contact TDA -ORA to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Mihir Pankaj, Mayor.
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