NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
Date of Publication: April 7, 2021
State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) 2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-6461 or email at:
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by HCD.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS:
On or about April 23, 2021 HCD will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds under Public Law 115-254 of the Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2018 and Public Law 116-20 of the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019, as amended, to undertake a project known as 2018 CDBG-DR Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (OOR) Program for the purpose of providing grants, predominantly, to very-low, low- and moderate-income homeowners in Butte, Los Angeles, Ventura, Lake, or Shasta Counties whose primary residence was damaged or destroyed by a 2018 federally-declared disaster. The program will provide rehabilitation or reconstruction assistance to eligible applicants based on the extent of damage to their primary residences. Total funds allocated for the project is $205,107,638.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT:
HCD has performed Tier 1 broad-level Environmental Reviews for the program in Los Angeles, Ventura, Lake, and Shasta Counties and a Tier 1 Environmental Assessment for the program in Butte County. Individual project locations are not known at this time
and a second level of site-specific reviews/assessments will be completed as each address becomes known (Tier 2).
HCD has determined that the program will have no significant impact on the environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR). The ERR is available to the public for review online at: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/disaster recovery-programs/cdbg-dr/cdbg-dr-2018/index.shtml, or a hard copy can be obtained by submitting a request via U.S. Mail to California Department of Housing and Community Development, 2020 West El Camino Ave., Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95833 or by email to
The Tier 2 site specific reviews/assessments will be completed as each address becomes known and will be added to the ERR. Tier 2 reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: Airport Hazards (24 CFR Part 51 Subpart D); Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 and National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 USC 4001-4128 and 42 USC 5154a); Coastal Zone Management Act (Sections 307(c) and (d)); Contamination and Toxic Substances (24 CFR Part 50.3 (i) and 58.5 (i)(2)); Endangered Species Act of 1973, particularly Section 7 (50 CFR Part 402); Floodplain Management (Executive Order 11988, particularly
Section 2(a); 24 CFR Part 55); National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Sections 106 and 110; 36 CFR Part 800); Noise Control Act of 1972, as amended by the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (24 CFR Part 51 Subpart B); Wetlands Protection Executive Order 11990, particularly Sections 2 and 5; and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, particularly Section 7 (b) and (c).
Compliance with various laws, authorities, and written strategies will be documented and listed in the Tier 2 ERR and, if required, mitigation measures/conditions will be incorporated into project contracts and/or permits, development agreements, and other relevant documents will be obtained from the issuing governmental agency.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Joseph Helo, ReCoverCA Program Manager, California Department of Housing and Community Development, 2020 West El Camino Ave., Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95833 or by email to
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION:
HCD certifies to HUD that Janice L. Waddell in her capacity as Branch Chief, Federal Programs consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows HCD to use program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS:
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and HCD’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of HCD; (b) HCD has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD’s Disaster Recovery and Special Issues Division San Francisco Field Office at email:
Janice L. Waddell, Branch Chief, Federal Programs