Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a Floodplain To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals, including all Federal, State, and Local. This is to give notice that the Village of Beaver Crossing under 24 CFR Part 58 has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690 and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection. The activity is funded under Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NEDED) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, grant #25PWF002. The proposed project(s) is located at 1019 Elk Street in Beaver Crossing, Seward County and is located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain. The Village of Beaver Crossing proposes to construct a new community building at 1019 Elk Street within Beaver Crossing Park. The proposed facility is an approximately 7,900-square-foot single-story community building designed to serve as a civic gathering space for community celebrations, family reunions, graduations, funerals, public meetings, and other public functions. The project site is a Village-owned parcel within an existing developed park that includes playground equipment, ball fields, and parking. The project site is located within Zone A (1% annual chance / 100-year floodplain) and Shaded Zone X (0.2% annual chance / 500-year floodplain) as shown on FEMA FIRM Panel 31159C0225D (effective May 1, 2020). There is no mapped floodway at the project site. The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment has established a Base Flood Elevation of approximately 1,458 feet NAVD 88 at the site per the BFE Determination for Section 02-09-01E, Village of Beaver Crossing, Seward County (Valid July 1, 2021 until Superseded). The project site is not located in a Coastal High Hazard Area (V Zone) or Limit of Moderate Wave Action area. The floodplain in the project vicinity is associated with an unnamed tributary creek of the West Fork Big Blue River flowing generally through the eastern portion of the Village. Natural and beneficial floodplain functions in the area include floodwater storage and conveyance, groundwater recharge, water quality maintenance through natural filtration, and habitat for local flora and fauna along the riparian corridor. The floodplain also provides intrinsic recreational value as part of the Village park setting. The project will be designed to maintain existing drainage patterns to the maximum extent practicable and will not modify any watercourse, channel, or natural drainage feature. The building footprint will be sited as far to the west on the lot as feasible to minimize encroachment into the Zone A floodplain, and the lowest floor will be elevated above the BFE with required freeboard in compliance with NAC Title 455 and applicable Federal Flood Risk Management Standard requirements. The total area of floodplain potentially impacted by the project, including the building footprint and any associated site improvements, is estimated at less than one acre. The Village of Beaver Crossing has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial functions and intrinsic values of the existing floodplain: Reasons the action must take place within the floodplain: The proposed community building must be located within the floodplain for the following reasons: (1) The Village does not own any other parcels of sufficient size to accommodate the approximately 7,900-square-foot building footprint outside the floodplain. (2) Three privately owned sites with adequate acreage were identified and the owners were contacted; none were willing to sell. (3) No Village-owned or publicly available parcels outside the floodplain were identified as suitable alternatives. (4) The 1019 Elk Street site is centrally located, accessible within the community, adjacent to existing park facilities, and served by existing water, sewer, and electric utilities. (5) GIS parcel analysis from the Seward County Assessor (2024) shows that 66.9% of all structures in Beaver Crossing are located within the 500-year floodplain, making it effectively infeasible to site any substantial public facility entirely outside of flood-mapped areas within the Village. Alternatives considered: The Village of Beaver Crossing Building Committee evaluated the following alternatives: (1) Alternative Sites: The Building Committee evaluated several locations within and near the Village. No Village-owned or publicly available parcels of sufficient size exist outside the floodplain. Three privately owned sites with adequate acreage were identified; all three property owners were unwilling to sell. (2) Reduced Building Footprint: The Building Committee evaluated whether a smaller building footprint could achieve the project's purpose while reducing floodplain encroachment. The Building Committee is evaluating a modest reduction in the building footprint, and the structure will be positioned as far to the west on the lot as feasible to minimize overlap with the Zone A floodplain. (3) Renovation of an Existing Structure: No suitable existing structure exists within the Village that could be renovated to serve the project's purpose. (4) No Action Alternative: Under the No Action alternative, the Village would not construct a new community building. The No Action alternative fails to meet the demonstrated community need, and would not fulfill the objectives of the CDBG grant award. Mitigation measures: The following measures will be implemented to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial functions of the floodplain: (1) The lowest floor of the community building will be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation of approximately 1,458 feet NAVD 88 (per NeDNR BFE Determination, Section 02-09-01E, Valid July 1, 2021 until Superseded), with a minimum of one foot of freeboard per NAC Title 455, Chapter 1, §004.08, yielding a minimum lowest floor elevation of approximately 1,459 feet NAVD 88. Where Federal Flood Risk Management Standard requirements apply, the structure will be elevated to the higher applicable standard. (2) The building footprint will be sited as far to the west on the lot as feasible to minimize encroachment into the Zone A floodplain. (3) The building and utilities will be designed and constructed with flood-resistant materials and methods per NAC Title 455, Chapter 1, §004.02. The structure will be adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement. (4) Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and mechanical systems will be located to prevent water entry during flood conditions. (5) Water, sewer, and electrical systems will be located and constructed to minimize flood damage per NAC Title 455, Chapter 1, §004.03 and §004.04. (6) Erosion and sediment controls will be installed prior to ground disturbance. Storage of buoyant, flammable, or hazardous materials during construction will be managed per NAC Title 455, Chapter 1, §004.15. (7) Site grading will be designed to maintain existing drainage patterns to the maximum extent practicable and will not redirect or concentrate stormwater flows in ways that would increase flood risk to adjacent properties. No modifications to watercourses, channels, or natural drainage features are proposed. (8) Landscaping and pervious surfaces will be preserved or restored where feasible outside the building footprint to maintain infiltration capacity and natural floodplain function. (9) The project engineer will evaluate whether the proposed development, including any fill placed to elevate the building pad, will increase the BFE more than one foot at any location per NAC Title 455, Chapter 1, §004.01. There are no final or conditional Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs) or Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs) from FEMA applicable to the project site. The Village of Beaver Crossing participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, having entered the regular program on August 19, 1987. A floodplain development permit will be obtained from the local Floodplain Administrator (Peggy Pankoke, Village Clerk/Treasurer) prior to commencement of construction. The project will comply with all provisions of Nebraska's Minimum Standards for Floodplain Management (NAC Title 455, Chapter 1) as outlined in the Floodplain Management Comments from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (Erin Wendt, CFM, March 20, 2026). The project will also comply with all applicable local floodplain management ordinances adopted by the Village of Beaver Crossing as a condition of NFIP participation. The Village of Beaver Crossing has reevaluated alternatives to building in the floodplain and has determined that it has no practicable alternative to floodplain development. Environmental files documenting compliance with Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690, and 24 CFR 55, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments. There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplain 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. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplain 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 floodplain, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk. Written comments must be received by the Village of Beaver Crossing at the following address on or before May 27, 2026: Peggy Pankoke, P.O. Box 116, 800 Dimery St., Beaver Crossing, NE 68313 and 402-532-3925, Attention: Gerald Zieg, Board Chairperson. A full description of the project may also be reviewed from 8AM-12PM at same address as above. Comments may also be submitted via email at villageofbc@windstream.net Date: May 20, 2026 SCI — May 20, 2026 ZNEZ
