ARTICLES | NEWSROOM | NEBRASKA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Public Notice to Lease Office Building for a FEMA Branch Office

RELEASE DATE: Dec 11, 2024

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is planning to lease a portion of the office building and the adjacent parking lot at 340 Victory Lane, Lincoln, Nebraska 68528. FEMA intends to occupy a portion of the second story of the existing building for use as a temporary FEMA Branch Office while providing support to Nebraska communities recovering from damage that occurred in the spring and summer of 2024. The space will be used to conduct general office activities including meetings, reporting, accounting, and other administrative operations in support of the delivery of FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.

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, Floodplain Management, and EO 11990, Wetlands Protection, FEMA is required to consider alternatives, and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplain or wetland values. The public is invited to participate in the review.

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.

Public Entity: FEMA Public Assistance Program

Project Title: FEMA Branch Office Lease, FEMA-4778, 4786, 4808, 4822, and 4838-DR-NE

Location of Proposed Work: 340 Victory Lane, Lincoln, Nebraska 68528 (GPS: 40.81829, -96.72595) The structure is a commercial building occupying 10,636 square feet in area. See attached location map.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

FEMA proposes to use federal funds for a 6-month lease of the pre-existing property for:

• Ongoing management of Public Assistance grants,

• Coordination of meetings with state and municipal entities, and

• Other administrative activities.

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:

The proposed FEMA Branch Office is in flood Zone AE, a Special Flood Hazard Area, per FEMA flood insurance rate map (FIRM) for the City of Lincoln, NE, panel 31109C0305F, effective date February 18, 2011. The proposed operations will occur within the floodplain but will not permanently alter floodplain values.

Project Alternatives:

Selected Alternative - FEMA has pursued the lease of other properties in Lincoln and Omaha; however, no practicable alternative with adequate space for staff, office equipment, and operations was identified within the vicinity of FEMA’s state partners at the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Other Alternative (No Action) - The no-action alternative would require FEMA Public Assistance staff to work from FEMA’s regional office in Kansas City to provide support for Nebraska’s disaster impacted communities. Long-distance travel would be burdensome and increase costs and infrastructure recovery time.

Comment Period:

This will serve as the final public notice regarding the above-described action funded by FEMA’s Public Assistance program. Comments can be submitted via email to FEMA at FEMA-R7-EHP-PublicComment@fema.dhs.gov. Please use the subject line: “FEMA 2024 Nebraska Disasters, Proposed FEMA Branch Office, Floodplain Comments.”

Interested persons may also submit comments and questions in writing. Written comments should be addressed to: Regional Environmental Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 7, 11224 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. Written comments should include the subject line: FEMA 2024 Nebraska Disasters, Proposed FEMA Branch Office, Floodplain Comments, and should be submitted to the above address within 15 days of the posted date this notice.

All comments are due by no later than 15 days of the posted date of this notice.