Federal Consistency Determination submitted to the Delaware Coastal Management Program (2020.0053); and Delaware Army National Guard Documentation of Compliance for the following: Delaware Army National Guard Bethany Beach Barracks Construction.

The Delaware Army National Guard (DEARNG) is proposing to construct a 13,240 square foot housing barracks with an overall height of approximately 30 feet and a 6,500 square foot footprint within the 100-year floodplain of Salt Pond and the Atlantic Ocean on a 99 acre property owned by the State of Delaware located at 163 Scannell Blvd., Bethany Beach, DE 19930. In accordance with Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) the United States Army Corps of Engineers prepared Documentation of Compliance with the intent to request authority to execute a military construction project in a known 100- year floodplain. The following alternatives to building this facility in a floodplain were considered: 1) do not build the facility, or 2) build the facility on an alternative site. Because of the mission requirements, land availability, economic cost, and that the entire Bethany Beach Training Site is located in the 100-year floodplain, no practical alternative exists to locating the proposed action outside the 100-year floodplain. The DEARNG determined that the construction of this facility on the proposed site is the preferred alternative and will have no adverse effect on the floodplain.

Comments concerning the proposed activities in this Federal Consistency Determination may be sent to: Delaware Coastal Programs, Ms. Kimberly Cole, Administrator, 100 W. Water Street, Suite 7B, Dover, DE, 19904, or electronically to DNREC_DCP_Public- Comment@state.de.us.  For additional information please call (302) 739-9283.

Comments concerning the Documentation of Compliance may be sent to: Dr. Emily Whiting at Emily.d.whiting3.nfg@mail.mil. A copy of the Documentation of Compliance with Executive Order 11988 is available for review at www.de.ng.mil/Community/. For additional information please call (302) 326-7491.

Comments will be accepted for 20 days from the date of this notice (05/10/2020).