LOCATION: The study site is located in the unincorporated U.S. Territory of American Samoa, part of the Samoan Islands archipelago in Polynesia, approximately 2,300 miles southwest of the Hawaiian Islands. The study area is located in the northeast section of the Tafuna-Leone Plain in the Western District of the island of Tutuila in Tualauta County. Tualauta County is the largest, most populated county in American Samoa, and includes the villages of Malaeimi, Tafuna, and Nu’uuili.
BACKGROUND AND AUTHORITY: The study is authorized under the authority of Section 444 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (as amended by Section 207 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999) authorizes flood damage reduction studies to be conducted in American Samoa. The authority states: “The Secretary may conduct studies in the interests of water resource development including navigation, flood damage reduction, and environmental restoration in that part of the Pacific region that includes American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
PROPOSED PROJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District (Corps), has prepared a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (IFR) and Environmental Assessment for the Tafuna Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study (Study). The Corps and the American Samoa Government, represented by the American Samoa Department of Public Works, propose to implement flood risk management (FRM) measures (both structural and non-structural) to reduce the risk of flooding to commercial, residential, and public infrastructure within the Tafuna area on the island of Tutuila. Five (5) alternatives , including the no-action alternative, were evaluated during the feasibility phase. The four (4) action alternatives include:
Alternative B: Taumata and Leaveave Channel Conveyance Improvements
Alternative B1: Taumata and Leaveave Channel Conveyance Improvements and Flood Barriers
Alternative C: Taumata Flood Barrier and Nonstructural Improvements
Alternative D: Nonstructural Improvements Only
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT COMPLIANCE: In accordance with NEPA (40 CFR 1506.6- Public Involvement), the Corps is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; and other interested parties on the draft Integrated Feasibility Report. Comments will be accepted from January 14, 2022 to February 13, 2022.
SUBMITTING COMMENTS:
Comments may be submitted electronically to: Benjamin.E.Reder@usace.army.mil
or
Alternatively, comments may be mailed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Honolulu District
Civil and Public Works Branch
Attn: Ben Reder
Building 230
Fort Shafter, HI 96858