HomeMy WebLinkAboutMT Dept of Commerce CDBG fundsMONTANA
Department of Commerce
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
P.O. Box200523 * Helena, Montana59620-0523
Phone: 406~41-2770 * Fax: 400-841-2771
Apdl 23, 2004
Kenneth E. Olson, Jr., Mayor
City of Laurel
P.O. Box 10
Laurel, MT 59044
RE: Environmental Release of Funds for the 2004 CDBG Public Facilities Contract #Mr-
CDBG-04PF-04 for the Laurel Wastewater Collection System Improvements Project
Dear Mayor Olson:
The Request for Release of Funds and Certification (RROF) for the City of Laurel Wastewater
Collection System Improvements Project has been received by the Montana CDBG office. No
objections to the Re ease of Funds and Certifications were received in this office during the 15-day
Department of Commerce comment period commencing February 11,2004, and ending February
26, 2004. With this letter, I am issuing the Environmental Release of Funds for Contract #MT-
CDBG-04PF-04 for the Laurel Wastewater Collection System Improvements Project. The
environmental condition - special section 15.a of the CDBG contract for this project -- is hereby
removed.
The Finding of No SignifiCant Impact/Notice 'of: Intent to Request Release of Funds
(FONSI/NOI/RROF) was published locally On January 21, 2004 in the Billings Gazette. For
environmental assessments, CDBG regulation~ require a 15-daY local comment period following the
date of publication before the request for release is submitted to the.state. In the City of Laurel's
case, the minimum 15-day local comment pedod was January 21,2004 through February 6, 2004.
No objections were received.
Based on the information provided, we have concluded that the grant of CDBG funds for the
proposed project would not be a major State action significantly affecting the q~ality of the human
environment, for the purposes of the Montana Environmental PolicyAct (Sections 75-1-101 et seq.,
MCA). Therefore, the environmental condition (special condition 15.a) of the contract is hereby
remoVed, effective with this letteB as provided in the CDBG/Department of Commerce grant
contract, Section 15. Special Conditions.
Special condition '! 5.b. 7- regarding the need for firm commitment of other resources necessary to
the project - is also released. I have reviewed and approved the project management plan, and
implementation schedule, finding that they are consistent with CDBG Program guidelines. Thus
special conditi.on 15.c. of the grant contract is also released.
I have not yet received documentation that the City of Laurel has completed the civil rights activities
(specified in Chapter 2 and Chapter 5 of the CDBG.Manual: Nondiscrimination EEO Policy, Fair
Housing Resolution, Hatch Act Resolution, Section 504 and ADA Complaint Resolution Procedure
and ADA Analysis and Transition Plan; and related activities) that are required as start-up conditions
for CDBG projects. Thus, special condition 'lS.d. ofthe contract is not yst released. These civil
rights activities must be completed at the latest prior to final closeout of the project; however, we
encourage the city to complete these actNities as soon as possible.
With the release of these conditions the City of Laurel is authorized to be reimbursed from the
Community Development Block Grant for administrative and activity costs incurred for the project,
contingent on the State of Montana receiving Federal Fiscal Year {FFY) 2004 funds frora the
U,S, Department of Housing and Ud3an Development (HUD),
Usually CDBG funds become available for reimbursing expenditures when the environmental
release of funds letter of authorization is issued by MDOC in response to the environmental
review conducted by the grant recipient. Congress passed the 2004 HUD budget, and the funds
should have become available as of April 1; 2004. However, the State of Montana and Montana
CDBG have not yet received the official final notification that HUD has released the funds for
FFY2004, the funds that will be used to fund the Laurel and other FY2004 CDBG contracts.
Apparently this delay, expected to be very temporary, is due to a congressional delay because of
the late passage of the Omnibus appropriations bill. The congressional notifications have not yet
been released from HUD headquarters. This release of funds is contingent on the State of
Montana's receiving official notification of the federal/HUD release of Montana's FFY2004 funding
allocation.
Please retain this letter in the CDBG Environmental Review Record file.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at (406) 841-2780 or e-mail me at
fkromkowski~state, mt.us.
Sincerely,
Frank Kromkowski, CDBG Program Specialist
Housing and Public Facilities Program
c: Crystal Bennett, ME&A
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