Public Notice - Honeymoon Island State Park
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Effective April 9, 2024: Erosion and sand migration have separated the northernmost mile of the Honeymoon Island State Park sandspit from the main island, forming a temporary cut. Erosion and sand migration are natural processes that continually act upon barrier islands. A high level of caution should be exercised in this area as deep water, rapidly changing water depth, unseen underwater hazards and strong currents may be encountered. For your safety, do not venture into or through the water.
FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has received the subgrant application for Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Honeymoon Island boardwalk repair and mitigation due to damages in Hurricane Hermine (DR-4280-FL PW 00469). Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 and 44 CFR Part 9.12, final notice is hereby given of FEMA’s intent to provide funding for this project under the Public Assistance (PA) Program.
An initial disaster-wide Public Notice was published November 29, 2016 for Hurricane Hermine. Comments and other information received were fully evaluated by FEMA along with evaluation of social, economic, environmental, and safety considerations. This notice serves as a project-specific final notice for FEMA’s funding action located within the floodplain.
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. This action complies with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.
Responsible Entity: FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program
Applicant: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
Project Title(s): PA-04-FL-4280-PW-00469; ENGJA29 Honeymoon Island State Park Boardwalk Repair
Location of Proposed Work: Honeymoon Island, Pinellas County, FL, GPS 28.056652, -82.823872
Floodplain: Project is located in the VE Zone, otherwise known as the Coastal High Hazard Area, per Pinellas County FIRM Panel #1203C0062G dated 9/3/2003.
Proposed Work and Purpose: FDEP replaced a boardwalk outside of its original footprint and design and with the added protection of a silt fence as a result of Hurricane Hermine. The beach over which the boardwalk had extended prior to the storm was badly eroded, so the applicant designed the new boardwalk to make a turn rather than extend out to the same spot that it did. This work was carried out under a Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) permit.
Project Alternatives: FEMA has considered the no action alternative. This alternative is not feasible as the boardwalk facilitates open-space recreational use of the beach and its loss would likely have adverse social and economic impacts. Alternate locations were not considered as the engineered beach is functionally dependent upon its location within the floodplain. The facility also provides open space uses for recreation.
Comments: This will serve as the final public notice regarding the above-described action funded by the FEMA PA program. Interested persons may submit comments, questions, or request a map of this specific project by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 4, 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30341 or by emailing FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Comments should be sent in writing with the subject line FL-4280-PW-00469, FDEP at the above address within 15 days of the date of this notice