FEMA is authorized to provide Public Assistance funding for Emergency Work, including Emergency Protective Measures and debris removal. Emergency Work is that which must be done immediately to:

• Save lives;
• Protect public health and safety;
• Protect improved property; or
• Eliminate or lessen an immediate threat of additional damage.

In addition to these, debris removal may be authorized to ensure economic recovery of the affected community.

"Immediate threat" is the threat of additional damage or destruction from an incident that can reasonably be expected to occur within 5 years of the declared event.

Debris removal from waterways that is necessary to eliminate the immediate threat to life, public health and safety, or improved property is eligible. Removal of debris in a waterway that does not meet this criterion is not eligible, even if the debris is deposited by the event.

Environmental Protection Agency and United States Coast Guard have the specific authority to remove hazardous materials. Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for removing such material from inland water zones and the United States Coast Guard is responsible for coastal water zones.

Debris deposited by the incident may obstruct a natural waterway (that is, a waterway that is not improved or maintained) or a constructed channel, including flood control works. In these cases, removal of the debris from the channel is eligible if the debris poses an immediate threat, such as when the debris:

• Obstructs, or could obstruct, intake structures;
• Could cause damage to structures, such as bridges and culverts; or
• Is causing, or could cause, flooding to improved public or private property during the occurrence of a 5 year flood.

Removal of the obstruction is eligible even in streams where debris removal would also be eligible under the Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program, unless the Natural Resources Conservation Service provides assistance for the debris removal.

Emergency Protective Measures conducted before, during, and after an incident are eligible if the measures:

• Eliminate or lessen immediate threats to life, public health, or safety; OR
• Eliminate or lessen immediate threats of significant additional damage to improved public or private property in a cost-effective manner.

Temporary emergency repair or stabilization of an eligible facility is eligible as Emergency Work if it eliminates or lessens an immediate threat. Work performed under an exigent circumstance that restores the pre-disaster design and function of the facility in accordance with codes and standards is Permanent Work, not Emergency Work.

Temporary emergency repair of a facility is not eligible if another Federal agency has the specific authority to provide assistance for the facility, such as:

• Federal-Aid highways - Federal Highway Administration
• Flood control works - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Natural Resource Conservation Service

FEMA is responsible for National Environmental Policy Act compliance and identifying the required level of review. FEMA may conduct the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

If the Applicant chooses to conduct the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, it must obtain FEMA approval prior to initiating the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement and submit the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement to FEMA for review, approval, and final determination prior to construction.

When the Applicant conducts the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, FEMA reimburses the associated cost based on the cost share of the project.

There are times when the incident damages or impairs all access routes to an essential community service, or to a community with survivors. If the extent of damage makes these areas inaccessible, work related to providing access may be eligible. This includes debris removal from or emergency repairs to a bridge or other access facility. Eligible work is limited to that necessary for the access to remain passable.

The Stafford Act authorizes FEMA to provide Public Assistance funding for specific work performed as a result of the incident. It does not authorize FEMA to provide Public Assistance funding for all losses or costs resulting from the incident. A loss of revenue is one of those costs that is not eligible.

FEMA cannot provide Public Assistance funding for revenue lost as a result of the incident. An example of this loss of revenue that may occur during an incident is when a State waives the normal fee for ferry service to encourage alternate transportation after an incident.