Public Notice - Energy Resil
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gives notice of its intent to provide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding to Summerville Commissioners of Public Works (SCPW), through the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SC EMD), for the installation of temporary or permanent standby generators at multiple wastewater pump stations and one water booster pump station in Summerville, South Carolina.
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 and EO 11990 FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and to provide public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority or low-income populations.
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.
Applicant:
Summerville Commissioners of Public Works
Project Title:
HMGP-DR-4829-SC, Energy Resiliency Project for Critical Pump Stations
Location of Proposed Work:
The area affected by this project includes the following locations:
- Booster Pump Station: 1531 W 5th N Street, Summerville, South Carolina 29483 at approximately 33.037083 latitude and –80.204862 longitude.
- Pump Station 5: 303 West Luke Avenue, Summerville, South Carolina 29483 at approximately 33.022497 latitude and –80.178426 longitude.
- Pump Station 6: 201 W 9th N Street, Summerville, South Carolina 29483 at approximately 33.034278 latitude and –80.167130 longitude.
- Pump Station 7: 515 Fred Street, Summerville, South Carolina 29483 at approximately 33.031088 latitude and –80.171043 longitude.
- Pump Station 8: 111 N Hampton Street, Summerville, South Carolina 29483 at approximately 33.032740 latitude and –80.178255 longitude.
- Pump Station 9: 939 N Palmetto Street, Summerville, South Carolina 29483 at approximately 33.037703 latitude and –80.171816 longitude.
- Pump Station 10: 216 Gardenia Street, Summerville, South Carolina 29483 at approximately 33.038821 latitude and –80.178535 longitude.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
The proposed mitigation activities aim to address vulnerabilities related to power outages by installing temporary or permanent standby generators at seven critical sewer pump stations and one water booster pump station. These improvements will ensure continuous operation during grid failures, reduce the risk of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), and maintain essential services that protect public health and the environment.
Currently, Summerville CPW relies on a limited number of portable generators to serve 48 pump stations, resulting in operational delays, significant strain on maintenance staff, and increased risk of SSOs during severe weather events. By strategically installing dedicated generators in high-risk and high-priority areas, this project will provide reliable backup power, allowing stations to operate seamlessly during emergencies. Each permanent generator will be equipped with a 48-hour diesel belly tank and automatic transfer switch (ATS), enabling immediate transition to backup power without manual intervention.
This initiative will strengthen Summerville’s wastewater and water systems against storm-related power failures, support faster community recovery, and prevent costly environmental and infrastructural damages.
Project Alternatives:
Several alternatives were considered for this project, including the “No Action” alternative, which would not mitigate the vulnerabilities and would allow continued service interruptions, SSOs, and contamination during power outages. Another alternative considered was continued reliance on portable generators, but this option was deemed insufficient due to logistical challenges, aging equipment, and the growing number of critical facilities needing coverage.
The selected approach—installing dedicated permanent or temporary generators at prioritized pump stations—was determined to be the most effective and feasible solution to safeguard essential services and reduce risks to public health and safety.
Comment Period:
Comments are solicited from the public; local, state, or federal agencies; and other interested parties to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. Comments should be made in writing and addressed to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, SC 29172, within 30 days of this notice. The State will forward comments to the applicable regulatory agencies as needed.
Interested persons may submit comments, obtain more detailed information about the proposed action, or request a copy of the findings by contacting:
Alicia Wilson, P.E., BCEE, Deputy General Manager - Operations
Summerville Commissioners of Public Works
(843) 875-8757
Chris Kahler, P.E., General Manager
Summerville Commissioners of Public Works
(843) 875-8754