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Final Public Notice - Jacksonville Beach Pier (JPGMM01)

November 02, 2024
The City of Jacksonville has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding through the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), as an Applicant.
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. 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. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority and low-income populations. This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

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

Applicant: City of Jacksonville

Project Title: JPGMM01 - Jacksonville Beach Pier

Location of Proposed Work:
 
Facility Address Latitude Longitude Date of Construction
Jacksonville Beach Pier 503 1st St. N.
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250		 30.293271 -81.389720  
2004
 
 
Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:
 
Jacksonville Beach Pier is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) – Coastal High Hazard Area Zone VE. Confirmation of Jacksonville Beach Pier in the SFHA was determined by the Duval County Flood Insurance Rate Map 12031C0417J, dated 11/02/2018. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of Florida and local floodplain regulations. During the incident period, wave action and storm surge damaged the Jacksonville Beach Pier, resulting in the collapse of the seaward portion of the pier, cracks in the concrete of the landward sections, and structural damages in the middle sections.
 
There is a potential for the site to be impacted by future events due to its location within the VE Flood Zone. The proposed work will be conducted within wetlands, as identified through the United States Fish and Wildlife National Wetland Inventory (NWI).
Proposed Work and Purpose:
 
In order to protect against and lessen the impact of future similar events, the City of Jacksonville has requested 406 mitigation funding. The implemented Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) entailed the incremental increase in height of the reconstructed Jacksonville Beach Pier from its 19.45 ft. elevation at the shore to 27.45 ft. at its furthest waterward extent to protect the facility from a 50-year storm event. The scope of work includes the reconstruction of 860 linear feet of the Jacksonville Beach Pier, including 350 ft. of destroyed pier, 450 ft. of damaged pier, and an additional 60 ft. of pier that was removed to tie the reconstructed pier into the extant portions of the original pier structure. The damaged caps of the existing pile bents that remain upright were removed by cutting below the existing cap with an air saw, the 18-in square concrete piles were jetted out, and the pile bents that were on the ocean floor were removed by cutting the pile off 0-2 in. below the ocean floor. 64 new steel HP14 x73 H-piles were installed via vibratory hammer and 94 new 24-in concrete piles were installed via impact hammer. New piles were installed to a depth of approximately 20 to 30 ft. below ground surface/submerged bottomland. Reconstruction of the pier required the construction of a temporary work trestle adjacent to the pier's north elevation to support construction equipment. To facilitate temporary work trestle construction, 16 new 20-inch steel pipe piles, 86 new 24-inch steel pipe piles, and 12 new 26-inch steel pipe piles were installed by vibratory hammer and seated with an impact hammer. The completed repairs, along with the implemented mitigation measures, will enable the pier to be fully functional once more. These efforts are designed not only to restore the current state of the pier, but also to bolster its resilience against future weather events.
 
Project Alternatives: 
 
Alternative #1 (no action alternative): The no action alternative was considered; however, this alternative is not feasible, as the pier is regularly used as a recreational facility.
 
Alternative #2: Relocation of the pier would not be economically feasible nor practicable. Alternate locations were not considered, as the pier is functionally dependent upon its location within the floodplain.
 
Comment Period: 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 comments should be made in writing and addressed to the City of Jacksonville.  All comments are due within 15 days of this notice. The City of Jacksonville will forward comments to applicable regulatory agencies as needed.
 
Interested persons may submit comments, obtain more detailed information about the proposed action, or request a copy of the findings by contacting: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency – Region IV - EHP, 3005 Chamblee Tucker Rd – Office #255, Atlanta, GA 30341-4112 or by email at FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Please include in the subject line of the email “DR-4283- EHP FIT.” Comments should be sent in writing at the above address within 15 days of the date of this notice.     
             
POSTED ON: (November 2, 2024)