Hamilton County Public Health
250 William Howard Taft RD
Cincinnati, OH 45219
513-946-7875
On or about May 1, 2021, Hamilton County General Health District d.b.a. Hamilton County Public Health will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of funds for the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program (LBPHC), which is authorized by Section 1011 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, 42 U.S.C. 4852) and funding is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, approved December 20, 2019 (Public Law 116-94), and the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2019, approved February 15, 2019, (Public Law 116-16). The Healthy Homes Supplemental funding is authorized under Section 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1701z-2), with funding approved by the same Appropriations Acts, for the following multi-year program/project: Hamilton County Lead Hazard Reduction Program with Healthy Homes Supplemental funds, for the purpose of controlling lead based paint hazards in Hamilton County, OH. Low income rental or owner-occupied housing units in Hamilton County (excluding the cities of Cincinnati, Norwood, and Springdale) that are built before 1978 will be eligible for this project. The project includes lead paint inspection and completion of interim controls or lead abatement at 97 housing units. It’s expected that 50 of those units will have additional healthy homes work completed. HCPH will partner with Hamilton County Planning + Development, People Working Cooperatively, The Port, and other non-profit and community organizations. Hamilton County Public Health is requesting the release of $2,000,000 in federal funding, with $300,000 in matching funds.
The proposed hazard control activities to be funded under this program is 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: Clear Zones and Accident Potential Zones, 24 CFR Part 51 Subpart D; Coastal Barrier Resources Act; Clean Air Act; Coastal Zone Management Act; Endangered Species Act; Above-Ground Tanks, 24 CFR Part 51 Subpart C; Farmland Protection Policy Act; Noise Control Act, as amended by the Quiet Communities Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; Executive Order 11990; Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; Executive Order 12898. 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 Disaster Protection Act and National Flood Insurance Reform Act; Contamination and Toxic Substances 24 CFR 50.3(i) & 58.5(i)(2); Executive Order 11988; National Historic Preservation Act. 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 Hamilton County Public Health, 250 William Howard Taft Rd. 2nd Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45219 and may be examined or copied weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Hamilton County Public Health, 250 William Howard Taft Rd. 2nd Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45219. All comments received by April 30, 2021 of this notice will be considered by Hamilton County Public Health prior to authorizing submission of a Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification to HUD.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
The Hamilton County Public Health certifies to HUD that Greg Kesterman in his official capacity as Health Commissioner, 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 Hamilton County Public Health to utilize federal funds and implement the Program.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and Hamilton County Public Health’s 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 Hamilton County Public Health; (b) Hamilton County Public Health has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) Hamilton County Public Health 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: Karen M. Griego, 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.
Greg Kesterman
Health Commissioner
Hamilton County Public Health
