Early Notice & Public Review

Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain and Wetland

To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals

This is to give notice that the City of Auburn, as the Responsible Entity under 24 CFR Part 58, has determined that the following Proposed Action under FY 2022 Community Project Funding (No. B-22-CP-ME-0428) is located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain and wetland, and the City of Auburn in the process of identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the action within the floodplain and wetland and the potential impacts on the floodplain and wetland from the Proposed Action, as required by Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690 and Executive Order 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands.

The Proposed Project location is 550 Minot Avenue in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine. The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using a freeboard value approach (FVA). FVA is a method for determining flood risk for federally funded projects by adding a safety margin or “freeboard” to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). The City of Auburn is proposing to construct a new Public Safety Facility (Proposed Project) to be located at 550 Minot Avenue (Parcel ID 209-035; Project Site). The proposed location for the new Public Safety Facility is the current site of the Central Fire Station that would be demolished to allow for the construction of the new facility. The project aims to consolidate and enhance the city’s emergency services infrastructure to better serve the community’s evolving public safety needs. The new facility will encompass an approximately 44,000 square foot two-story main building. The facility design will integrate multiple critical functions, providing a centralized, modernized hub for the city’s Fire Department, Police Department, and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) with additional support spaces. The Proposed Project would also include significant site improvements including parking for staff and emergency vehicles; stormwater management features; fueling station; rolling asset storage; dedicated spaces for practical training; and a burn training structure. Adjacent and to the east of the Project Site, a single-family ranch-style residential building built in 1955, has been acquired and would be demolished to facilitate the Proposed Project. The 911 Dispatch Center will be located at a separate site to further optimize operations. The Proposed Project is not expected to result in emergency service interruptions or delays. If approved, the Proposed Project would commence construction in mid-2026, take approximately 20 months to construct, and be completed in early 2028. The Proposed Project is expected to utilize $2,500,000 in congressionally directed funding and up to $43,000,000 in City funding (City Bond).

The Proposed Project activities will have minor impacts of approximately 1,150 square feet (0.03 acres) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), Zone AE along Taylor Brook, approximately 2,440 square feet (0.06 acres) of temporary impact to an existing unnamed streambed, and approximately 7,485 square feet (0.17 acres) of permanent impact to existing contiguous palustrine forested (PFO) wetland. The Proposed Project will create approximately 2,913 square feet (0.07 acres) of restored streambed and approximately 6,003 square feet (0.14 acres) of restored riparian buffer for approximately 962 square feet (0.02 acres) of net wetland loss. The proposed impacts consist of permanent fill and construction of paved parking areas necessary for the function of the facility.

There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in the floodplain and wetland and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain and wetland, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate project impacts on the floodplain and wetland. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about the floodplain and wetland can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in the floodplain and wetland, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Written comments must be received by the City of Auburn at the following address on or before January 9, 2025: the City of Auburn, 60 Court Street, Auburn Maine 04210 and (207) 333-6600, Attention: Dan Goyette, Director of Engineering and Capital Projects. A full description of the project may also be reviewed from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday at the address above and www.auburnmaine.gov. Comments may also be submitted via email at dgoyette@auburnmaine.gov.

Date: December 22, 2025

Cc:

Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP)
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (MDACF)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 1
Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)