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November 26, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Availability for a Programmatic Environmental Assessment

for School Infrastructure Improvement Projects in the US Virgin Islands

Notification is hereby given to the public that the Department of Homeland Security-Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS-FEMA) has prepared a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for school infrastructure improvement projects for the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The draft PEA evaluates educational infrastructure improvement measures eligible for FEMA grant funding. The notice is being published pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FEMA Instruction 108-1-1, and other applicable environmental laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and 11988 (Floodplain Management) because the proposed action has the potential to affect historic, cultural, and archaeological resources; threatened and endangered species; floodplains; and wetlands.

The purpose of the proposed activities evaluated in the PEA is to improve resiliency, capability, and functionality of school facilities, modernize infrastructure, and provide overall improvements to support the educational success of the Virgin Islands’ community. The proposed activities are needed to address the shortfalls in existing conditions within the Virgin Islands educational infrastructure. Aging facilities and infrastructure, combined with storm damage, have resulted in substandard facilities with health and safety issues, and an educational environment that is not supportive of modern learning and student achievement. Current facilities do not comply with the most recent building codes and standards, and they are not well-equipped to handle severe storm events. FEMA will evaluate the proposed action to ensure that it meets all applicable federal, state, and local requirements for these activities.

In accordance with Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 C.F.R. §§ 1500.4(k) and 1501.11), the PEA identifies, by project type, the potential adverse and beneficial effects associated with school infrastructure improvement projects. The review of later site-specific grant applications may be streamlined by tiering from the PEA to reference summary detail regarding project types, alternatives, and effects, and to emphasize details specific to a proposed action. The PEA will allow FEMA to streamline its compliance responsibilities, focus site-specific reviews on a narrower scope, and eliminate repetitive discussions.

The PEA is available for public comment, and comments can be sent via email to FEMA-4340-[email protected] or via mail to: FEMA 4335-4340 RO, Attn: Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation, 4052 La Grande Princesse, Christiansted, VI 00820.

The PEA is available on the following websites:

A hard copy of the PEA will be available at the following locations:

  • St. Thomas: VIDE Office at 1834 Kongens Gade, St. Thomas, VI 00802
  • St. Croix: Florence Augusta Williams Public Library at 1122 King Street, Christiansted, USVI 00820
  • St. John: Julius E. Sprauve School at 15-18 Enighed, Cruz Bay, St. John, VI 00830

The comment period will end 30 days after the date of publication on both the FEMA and VI Office of Disaster Recovery websites listed above. Written comments on the PEA can be mailed or emailed to the contact below. If no substantive comments are received, the PEA will become final, and FEMA will sign a Finding of No Significant Impact. Substantive comments will be addressed as appropriate in any final documents. Contact: FEMA 4335-4340 JFO, Attn: Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation, 4052 La Grande Princesse, Christiansted, VI 00820; or via email at [email protected].

READ PEA