Grant Public Notice-FEMA HMGP-4734-(125) - Clay Electric Cooperative Grid Resiliency, Union County Distribution Hardening, Infrastructure Retrofit

JOINT FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL PUBLIC NOTICE

6/9/2025

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Florida Division of Emergency Management have received the following application for Federal grant funding. Final notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) consideration to provide funding in the form of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Funds will be provided in accordance with Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288, as amended.

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 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 or low-income populations. 

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:
Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Project Title:
FEMA HMGP-4734-(125) - Clay Electric Cooperative Grid Resiliency, Union County Distribution Hardening, Infrastructure Retrofit

Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project includes the easements around 11 of Clay Electric’s distribution feeder lines located throughout Union County. 

Proposed Work and Purpose: Clay Electric Cooperative will be hardening distribution lines in Union County by upgrading existing wooden poles to higher class poles, increasing the infrastructure’s ability to withstand high wind speeds and other severe weather conditions. 

Project Alternatives: The alternatives to the project that have been and will be considered are 1) the no action alternative and 2) upgrading the existing wooden poles concrete poles (instead of wood) that can also withstand 110+mph wind speeds. These alternatives to the proposed project are not viable because under Alternative 1) the needs of the community will not be met, as potential for infrastructure failure will increase as severe weather events also increase in frequency and intensity; and under Alternative 2) the concrete poles cost three times more than the wooden poles and require more expensive equipment, as well as additional ground disturbance in order to put in operation.

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 Florida Division of Emergency Management, Bureau of Mitigation, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100.  These are due within 30 days of this notice (July 9, 2025). The State 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: 

Derick Thomas, Chief Public Relations Officer
Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc.
(352) 473-8000
dthomas@clayelectric.com
            
State Environmental Specialist Team                
Florida Division of Emergency Management
MitigationEnvironmental@em.myflorida.com