NOTICE TO PUBLIC OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT & NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS & PERSONS – FY2022

City of New Bedford
133 William Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Publication Date: August 11, 2022

This notice will satisfy the two separate, but related procedural requirements of the Finding of No Significant Impact on the Environment and Intent to Request Release of Fund.
On or about August 26, 2022, the City of New Bedford will request the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to release federal funds authorized under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended, the New Bedford Housing Authority FY22 Capital Fund Programs for the following programs and activities:

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS:
1. NEW BEDFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY
FY 2022 Capital Fund Program $7,045,316 Grant #: MA01P007501-22
FINDING OF NOW SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The City of New Bedford has determined that the proposed projects will not have a significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, Environmental Impact Statements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (P.L. 91-910) are not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) and documents the environmental review process and more fully explains the reason why the Statements are not required. The ERR is on file in the Office of Housing and Community Development, 608 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA and is available for public examination and copying between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM., Monday through Friday.
The reasons for the decision not to prepare and environmental impact statement are as follows:
1. Impacts of the projects have been identified as being beneficial; and
2. No adverse impacts on the human environment resulting from implementation of these proposed programs and activities have been identified.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON FINDINGS
All interested agencies, groups or persons disagreeing with these decisions are invited to submit written comment for consideration to the City of New Bedford—Office of Housing and Community Development, 608 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 within fifteen (15) days from the date this Notice was published. All comments must clearly specify which decision they object to—The Findings of No Significant Impacts or the Request for Release of Funds. All such comments so received will be
considered by the Applicant prior to its taking any administrative action or requesting release of funds on the data listed above.

RELEASE OF FUNDS
The City of New Bedford’s Housing Authority will undertake the projects described above with federal funds from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); authorized under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. The City of New Bedford is certifying to HUD that the City of New Bedford and the Honorable Jonathan F. Mitchell in his official capacity as Mayor, consent to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibility in relation to environmental reviews, decision making, and action; and that these responsibilities have been satisfies . The legal effect of the certification is that upon its approval, the New Bedford Housing Authority may use New Bedford Housing Authority Capital Funds and will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other environmental responsibilities listed in 24 CFR Part 58.
HUD will accept an objection to its approval of the release of funds and acceptance of the certification only if it is on one of the following:
(a) That the certification was not in fact executed by the Chief Executive Officer;
(b) That the ERR indicates omission of a required step or decision required by HUD Regulation 24 CFR Part 58;
(c) The City or other participants in the development process has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by HUD Regulation 24 CFR Part 58 before release of funds by HUD; and
(d) Another federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory form the standpoint of environmental quality.
Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedure (24 CFR Part 58) and may be addressed to US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Region 1- Boston Regional Office, 10 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02222-1092. HUD will not consider objections to this release of funds on a basis other than those state above. HUD will consider no objections received after 15 days from the date of Request for Release of Funds listed above.
________________________
Jonathan F. Mitchell, Mayor
City of New Bedford
133 William Street
New Bedford, MA 02740