Input Invited on NC Beachfill Projects

The North Carolina Towns of Pine Knoll Shores, Emerald Isle, and Indian Beach have applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding through the North Carolina Emergency Management Agency (NCEMA) as sub-recipients.

“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,” said the Town of Emerald Isle in its release.

“Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands.”

According to the official announcement, these towns are requesting funds to renourish their beaches and conduct plantings of native dune plants with hazard mitigation measures consisting of the addition of 3 rows of sand fencing stretching the length of the beach.

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.

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 deadline for submitting the comments is July 4, 2019.