NOTICE OF INTENT

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

February 26th, 2025

Erie County Health Department
420 Superior St. Sandusky, OH 44870
Ph: 419-626-5623

On or after March 7th, 2025, the Erie County Health Department will submit a request to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of the Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grants under Section 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. §§ 1701Z-1 and 1701Z-2); and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 118-42 to undertake the following project: The Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grant, respectively grant numbers OHLHB0811-24 and OHHHP0085-25 cover Erie, Lorain, Sandusky, and Huron Counties. The lead hazard control grant will allow the health department to remove lead hazards for up to $30,000 per project with up to 172 total projects. The healthy homes grant will be used to remove residential hazards at a cost of up to $15,000 per unit from 67 homes. Hazards are physical, chemical, or biological hazards that may be immediately dangerous to the life and health of the families who live within older and deteriorated homes. They may include exposure to lead and radon. The Erie County Health department is requesting the release of both grants, totaling $6,032,500.

The proposed activities to be funded under these programs are categorically excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act requirements, but subject to compliance with some of the environmental laws and authorities listed at § 58.5 of 24 CFR Part 58. In accordance with 58.15, a tiered review process has been structured, whereby some environmental laws and authorities have been reviewed and studied for the intended target area(s) listed above. Other applicable environmental laws and authorities will be complied with, when individual projects are ripe for review. Specifically, the target areas have been studied and compliance with the following laws and authorities has been achieved in this Tier 1 review: Airport Hazards, Coastal Barrier Resource Act, Air Quality, Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Farmlands Protection, Floodplain Management, Noise Abatement and Control, Sole Source Aquifers, Wetland Protection, Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and Environmental Justice. Site-specific environmental reviews will include compliance with the following environmental laws and authorities for proposed projects funded under the programs listed above: Flood Insurance, Historic Preservation, and Contamination/Toxic Substances. Should individual aggregate projects exceed the threshold for categorical exclusion detailed at §58.35(a), an Environmental Assessment will be completed and a separate Finding of No Significant Impact and Request for Release of Funds published. Copies of the compliance documentation worksheets are available at the address below.

An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the Erie County Health Department located at 420 Superior St. Sandusky, OH 44870. The organization is open Monday-Friday from 8 AM-4:30 PM. The review is housed within the Lead Hazard Control and Health Homes Program Division, or at: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/environmental-review/environmental-review-records/.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Mr. Robert England, Senior Chief Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Officer. All comments received by March 6th, 2025, will be considered by Mr. England prior to authorizing the submission of a request for release of funds.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

Robert England certifies to HUD that in his capacity as the Senior Chief Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Officer for the Erie County Health Department 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 the Erie County Health Department to use HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the Chief Lead Hazard  Control and Healthy Home Program Officer’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 Erie Couty Health Department Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program; (b) The Erie County Health Department 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), and may be addressed to HUD and sent to the email address as follows:  David Nuccio, Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, Program Environmental Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development LeadRegulations@HUD.GOV. 

Potential objectors may contact HUD directly to verify the actual last day of the objection/comment period.

Robert England, Senior Chief Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program Officer