State issues notice of intent to request release of funds for tiered projects and programs

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NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR TIERED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS


Date of Publication: February 18, 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: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On or after February 26, 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 115-123 of the Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act of 2018, as amended, to undertake the following project:

Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: 2017 CDBG-DR Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (OOR)

Purpose: HCD will provide grants to very-low, low- and moderate-income (LMI) homeowners whose primary residence was damaged or destroyed in 2017 by disasters that occurred in the California counties identified in the following Table 1.

Table 1. 2017 Federally Declared Disaster Areas

Federally Declared Disaster DR-4344

Federally Declared Disaster DR-4353
1. Butte County
1. Los Angeles County
2. Lake County
2. San Diego County
3. Mendocino County
3. Santa Barbara County
4. Napa County
4. Ventura County
5. Nevada County
6. Orange County
7. Sonoma County
8. Yuba County

Location: Individual project locations and specific addresses are not known at this time, but will be located in the California counties identified in Table 1 above. A second level of site-specific review will be completed as each address becomes known (Tier 2).

Project/Program Description: The OOR Program will provide grants to owner-occupied homeowners to rehabilitate or reconstruct homes damaged or destroyed in the October 2017 and December 2017 disasters. The program will also provide funding for impacted homeowners to replace their damaged or destroyed mobile home or manufactured housing unit (MHU).

A reconstructed home is the rebuilding of a structure on the same site in substantially the same footprint and manner. If an MHU homeowner is not able to replace their MHU on its original site location, the MHU homeowner will be allowed to relocate within the counties identified in Table 1 above to a previously developed location already prepared for a MHU with existing utility connections.

The program will provide rehabilitation or reconstruction assistance to eligible applicants based on the extent of damage to their primary residences. Program activities may include environmental remediation, permitting, design, construction, site preparation, and lead-based paint and/or asbestos abatement.

Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known.

Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(3)(i)

Tier 2 Site Specific Review: The site specific 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; Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, particularly Section 7 (b) and (c); and Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended particularly Section 1424(e) (40 CFR Part 149).

Mitigation Measures/Conditions/Permits (if any): Compliance with various laws, authorities, and written strategies will be documented and listed in the Tier 2 Site-Specific review project file and if required mitigation measures/conditions must be incorporated into project contracts and/or permits, development agreements, and other relevant documents will be obtained from the issuing governmental agency. Estimated Project Cost: $47,627,648

The activity/activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(3)(i). Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR). The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The ERR can be accessed online at the following website: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/disaster-recovery-programs/cdbg-dr/cdbg-dr-2017/index.shtml .

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All comments received by February 26, 2021 will be considered by HCD prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION: HCD certifies to HUD that Janice L. Waddell, Certifying Officer, 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 HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS: HUD will accept objections to its release of fund 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 the 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 via email in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to CDP San Francisco Field Office at email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Potential objectors should contact HUD via email to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Janice L. Waddell, Branch Chief, Federal Programs