Public Notice of Availability to Comment on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Chaffee County North End Public Safety Complex, Buena Vista, Colorado
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing notice that an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate a proposed Public Safety Complex in Buena Vista, Colorado, is available for public review and comment. We issue this notice to provide the opportunity for other Federal and State agencies, Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations, and the public to comment on the EA. A Notice of Intent was published March 13th, 2023, and no comments were received. These actions are part of our effort to comply with the general provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); NEPA regulations; other Federal laws, regulations, and Executive Orders; and our policies for compliance with those laws and regulations including 44 C.F.R. Part 9 and FEMA Directive 108-1 & Instruction 108-1-1.
The purpose of FEMA’s EOC Grant Program is to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, strategically located, and fully interoperable EOCs with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs. The project is needed to establish fully capable emergency operations facilities at the local level to ensure continuity of government operations in major disasters or emergencies caused by any hazard. A new facility in Buena Vista would efficiently support county-wide emergency response, improve operations and agency collaboration by co-locating services, enhance public safety and welfare for both residents and visitors in a historically under-resourced portion of the county, and more effectively support the increased population and continued rapid growth of tourism throughout the county.
All FEMA funded actions will be completed in compliance with applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, Executive Orders, etc. including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice).
The comment period for the draft EA will remain open for 14 days following publication of this notice. After gathering public comments, the draft EA will become final in accordance with FEMA Directive 108-1 & Instruction 108-1-1, FEMA’s implementing procedures for NEPA.
The Draft EA is available for viewing online at the following locations:
You can provide comments or obtain more detailed information about the proposed project by contacting FEMA Region 8 by email at fema-r8ehp@fema.dhs.gov and including ‘Buena Vista EOC EA in the subject line or by U.S. Mail at “Denver Federal Center, Building 710, Box 25267, Denver, Colorado 80225-0267 Attn: Kyle Cheeseman.
Download or view the Chaffee County North End Public Safety Complex Draft EA document.