Weber-Morgan Health Department

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Date of Notice: July 5, 2024

Name of Responsible Entity (RE): Weber-Morgan Health Department (on behalf of Weber Co.)
Address: 477 23^rd Street Ogden, Utah. 84401
Telephone Number of RE Representative: Brad Child, HHP Program Manager 801-399-7152

On or about July 13, 2024, the Weber-Morgan Health Department will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of the Healthy Homes Production Grant Program (HHP). The Healthy Homes Production Program is authorized under Section 501 and Section 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. §§ 1701z-1 and 1701z-2), and funding is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, approved December 29, 2022). This program is administered under HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) for the following multi-year program/project: Weber-Morgan Health Department Healthy Homes Program (WMHD-HHP) UTHHP0144-24, for the purpose of facilitating the removal of lead-based paint, radon gas, mold, asthma triggers and other hazards in residences occupied by low-income individuals in a targeted area. The target area includes parts of Ogden City, South Ogden, Riverdale, Washington Terrace and Unincorporated Weber County, Utah. The Weber-Morgan Health Department is requesting the release of $2,000,000 in federal assistance and $252,027 match funding to implement the program.

The proposed hazard control activities to be funded under this/these program(s) is/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, compliance with the following laws and authorities has been achieved in this Tier 1 review: Coastal Barriers Resources, Coastal Zone Management, Air Quality, Contamination and Toxic Substances, Endangered Species, Explosive and Flammable Hazards, Farmlands Protection, Sole Source Aquifers, Wetlands Protection, Wild and Scenic Rivers and Environmental Justice. Site-specific environmental reviews will include compliance with the following environmental laws and authorities for proposed projects funded under the program(s) listed above: Flood Insurance, Flood Plain Management, Historic Preservation, and Noise Abatement and Control. 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, and more fully describes the tiered review process cited above, is on file at Weber-Morgan Health Department, 2^nd Floor Environmental Health Division office at 477 23^rd Street Ogden, UT. 84401 as well as https://www.webermorganhealth.org/services/environmental-health/healthy-homes/ and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding holidays.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Weber-Morgan Health Department Environmental Health office. All comments received by 5 p.m. on July 12, 2024 will be considered by the WMHD-HHP prior to authorizing submission of a Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification to HUD.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The WMHD-HHP certifies to HUD that Michela Harris in her official capacity as WMHD Deputy Director, 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 WMHD-HHP to utilize federal funds and implement the Program.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the WMHD-HHP certification for a period of fifteen days following either the anticipated submission date (cited above) or HUD’s actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if the objections are on one of the following bases:  (a) that the Certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the WMHD-HHP; (b) the WMHD-HHP has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the WMHD-HHP has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; (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 Robbins or 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.

Weber-Morgan Health Department-Healthy Homes Program (WMHD-HHP)/Michela Harris MBA, LEHS

MEDIA CONTACT: Lori Buttars, Public Information Officer, 801-399-7114 or lbuttars@webercountyutah.gov