Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds
July 18, 2025
Maine State Housing Authority
26 Edison Drive
Augusta, Maine 04330
Tel: 207-626-4600 (voice)
1-800-452-4668 (voice in-state only)
Maine Relay 711
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about July 31, 2025, the Maine State Housing Authority will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of funds under the Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program which is authorized under The Healthy Homes Production (HHP) Grant Program - Update and Reissue is authorized by 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 for this program is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42, approved March 9, 2024). The Healthy Homes Production Grant Number MEHHP0174-24 is for the purpose of inspection, assessment, and abatement radon hazards in 169 low-income single-family and multifamily dwelling units throughout the state of Maine with a priority placed on units occupied by one or more children under the age of six.
Maine State Housing Authority is requesting the release of Grant funds in the amount of $2,000,000 awarded by HUD. Maine State Housing Authority proposes with an additional $300,000 in matching funds from the Well Water Abatement program. Program funds will be disbursed to four subrecipients, all of which are Maine nonprofit community action agencies (CAAs) whose combined service areas with respect to the administration of the Program cover the entire State of Maine. These subrecipients are Aroostook County Action Program, Community Concepts, Incorporated, Penquis C.A.P., Inc, and York County Community Action Corp.
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, the target area(s) has/have been studied and compliance with the following laws and authorities has been achieved in this Tier 1 review: (Airport Hazards, Air Quality, Coastal Zone Management, Endangered Species, Explosive and Flammable Hazards, Farmland Protection, Noise Abatement and Control, Sole Source Aquifers, Wetlands Protection, Wild and Scenic Rivers, 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: (Coastal Barrier Resources, Flood Insurance, Floodplain Management, Historic Preservation, Contamination/Toxics 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, and more fully describes the tiered review process cited above, is on file at Maine State Housing Authority, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta Maine. 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 the Environmental Review Coordinator, Maine State Housing Authority, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta, Maine, or by email to [email protected].Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Maine State Housing Authority, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330, Attention: Environmental Review Coordinator. All comments received by July 30, 2025, will be considered by Maine State Housing Authority prior to authorizing submission of a Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification to HUD.
Maine State Housing Authority certifies to HUD that Daniel Brennan in his capacity as Director of Maine State Housing Authority 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 Maine State Housing Authority to utilize federal funds and implement the Program.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the Maine State Housing Authority
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 Maine State Housing Authority); (b) Maine State Housing Authority has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the Maine State Housing Authority 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, Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, Program Environmental Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [email protected] Potential objectors may contact HUD directly to verify the actual last day of the objection/comment period.
Daniel Brennan, Director
Maine State Housing Authority
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