August 29, 2025
Cameron County
1100 E. Monroe St.
Brownsville, Texas 78520
(956) 544-0830
The intent of this announcement is to give notice that Cameron County has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 and/or 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management, to determine the potential affect that its proposed activity in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain will have on the human environment for one
(1) housing reconstruction activity under the Colonia Self-Help Center Program, Contract No. CSH23-0519, funded through Community Development Block Grant funds.
The proposed owner-occupied, single-family housing reconstruction activity consists of the demolition and replacement of one (1) dilapidated mobile home with one (1) new, Energy Star Certified Manufactured Housing Unit (MHU). The proposed project is not a critical action. It is located at 25554 Estela (Stella) Avenue in Arroyo Colorado Estates Colonia in Cameron County. The proposed project colonia lot is 0.1860 acres or 8,104 square feet in size. The lot drops off sharply in the back, with .0371 acres or 1,620 square feet of total potential project involvement within the 100-year floodplain, Zone A. See Attachment A, FEMA map panel 48061C0300F; Attachment B, Firmette; and Attachment C, Improvements Survey. No Climate Informed Science Approach (CISA) data is available; however, FEMA has defined the 0.2 percent annual chance floodplain on maps for this area. The proposed project is not located in a wetland, see Attachment D, National Wetlands Inventory map. There is no ingress or egress at the back of the lot in the floodplain. 119 square feet at the back of the old mobile home to be demolished is located in the 100-year floodplain, Zone A. Because none of the exceptions at 55.12 or 55.13 apply, an 8-Step Process is required. FEMA has identified the 0.2 floodplain for the area, and the remainder of the property is not in the 500-year floodplain; it is in Zone X. The new MHU will be located entirely in Zone X, outside of the identified 100 and 500-year floodplains.
There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains 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 education tool. The dissemination of information about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associated with the occupancy and modification of these sensitive areas. Third, when proposing certain activities with Federal funding that are located, in whole or part, in a floodplain, it is necessary to inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Written comments must be received by Cameron County at the following address on or before September 15, 2025: Office of the County Judge, Cameron County, 1100 E. Monroe St., Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 544-0830. Comments should be addressed Attention to: Eddie Treviño, Jr., Cameron County Judge, Certifying Officer. Comments may also be submitted or further information can be requested via email: cynthia.puente@co.cameron.tx.us Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the same address.