Federal Emergency Management Agency PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for the AMAFCA Calabacillas Grade Control and Bank Protection Project, HMGP-4652-0012-NM (1)
Interested persons are hereby notified that the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA) has applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) through the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NMDHSEM). HMGP provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. The purpose of HMGP is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters. HMGP is authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. This notice also serves as FEMA’s final notice under Executive Order 11988 for Floodplain Management as the proposed action affects floodplain resources.
FEMA proposes to provide funding to AMAFCA to construct two new grade control structures (GCS), bank protection, erosion control, and access and maintenance roads within and along the Arroyo de las Calabacillas (Calabacillas Arroyo) between Unser Boulevard and Golf Course Road in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Multiple flood protection grade control structures already exist within the Calabacillas in this reach, but certain areas do not meet the required flood control standards. The proposed project would mitigate flooding and erosion to protect surrounding life and property.
A draft Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to assess the potential impacts of the Proposed Action and alternatives on the human and natural environment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500 – 1508), FEMA’s Instruction 108-1-1 for implementing NEPA, the National Historic Preservation Act, Executive Order 11988, Executive Order 11990, and 44 CFR Part 9. The draft EA evaluates alternatives that provide for compliance with applicable environmental laws. The alternatives evaluated include 1) No Action; 2) Proposed Action as described above. A third alternative, which included lining the Calabacillas Arroyo with concrete, was dismissed from full consideration in the EA due to its scale, cost, and ecosystem impacts.
The draft EA is available for review and comment from May 4 to June 4, 2025, at the AMAFCA Building, 2600 Prospect Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 8710, from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. An electronic or hard copy version of the draft EA can be requested from Omololu Dawodu, FEMA Region 6, Email: [email protected] or viewed on AMAFCA’s website at https://amafca.org/projects/calabacillas-3a1-3b1-project/.
The comment period will end 30 days from the initial notice publication date. Written comments on the draft EA can be mailed or emailed to Omololu Dawodu, Environmental Protection Specialist, FEMA Region 6, 800 N Loop 288, Denton, TX 76209; Email: [email protected]. If no substantive comments are received, the draft EA will become final and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be issued for the project. Substantive comments will be addressed as appropriate in the final documents.
All other questions regarding disaster assistance should be directed to FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.