VIDE Main HQ – Curriculum Center, STT – Land Acquisition

February 28, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE
In accordance with 44 CFR Part 9 for Executive Orders 11988 & 11990
VIDE Proposed Property Acquisition
St. Thomas, USVI
FEMA-DR-4340-VI

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is giving the public notice that the Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) intends to use FEMA funds to purchase land for the option to construct a Curriculum Center on St. Thomas. On September 19, 2017, Hurricane Maria caused extensive damage to the US Virgin Islands (USVI), resulting in the President declaring a major disaster on September 20, 2017. This declaration allows federal disaster assistance to be available to affected communities and certain nonprofit organizations in accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 (Stafford Act; 42 U.S.C. 5172), as amended. FEMA is issuing this notice in accordance with 44 CFR Part 9, implementing Executive Orders (EO) 11988 (Floodplain Management) and 11990 (Protection of Wetlands).

VIDE proposes to purchase seven adjacent parcels of land for the option of relocating the Curriculum Center to the site while VIDE is in the process of designing their projects. The land is located within the designated floodplain, the proposed facility likely qualifies as a “critical action” under 44 CFR Part 9.4, thus FEMA is required to evaluate alternatives to the proposal. At this time, VIDE is only proposing the purchase of land so the alternatives FEMA is evaluating are; no action meaning not approving the purchase of the land or the proposed action to purchase the land. If the purchase proceeds and VIDE later proposes construction of the Curriculum Center at the site, FEMA anticipates writing an environmental assessment to further evaluate alternatives under applicable laws and executive orders.

The land VIDE proposes to purchase is located on Gasverks Gade adjacent to the Government Employee Retiree System building and north-east of the Arturo R. Watlington Sr. Post Office on Veteran’s Drive. Together, the seven parcels of land amount to approximately four acres.

FEMA has developed an 8-step to evaluate the purchase of property parcels in the special flood hazard area. The 8-step will be posted on FEMA’s DR-4335/4340-VI Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands/; VIDE’s websites at: www.vide.vi and www.newschoolsvide.com; and ODR’s website at: www.usviodr.com. Comments about this project, potential alternatives, and floodplain impacts may be submitted in writing within 15 days of the date of this publication to: FEMA 4335-4340 JFO, Attn: Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation, 4500 Sunny Isle Shopping Center, Unit 37 and 38, Christiansted, VI 00820; or via email at [email protected]. If substantive comments are received, FEMA will evaluate and address the comments as part of the environmental documentation for this project.