NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (Draft EA/FONSI) for the Mayor Wright Homes (MWH) Redevelopment Project in Honolulu, Hawai’i LEAD AGENCY: Hawai’i Public Housing Authority (HPHA), State of Hawai’i FEDERAL AGENCY: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) RESPONSIBLE ENTITY: Governor of the State of Hawai’i ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA)/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Mayor Wright Homes Redevelopment Project, prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S. Code 4321 et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the procedural provisions of the NEPA, Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500-1508; and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Title 24 CFR Part 58 Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD Environmental Responsibilities. SUMMARY: Pursuant to Title 40 CFR §1506.6, notice is hereby given that a Draft Environmental Assessment(EA)/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Mayor Wright Homes (MWH) Redevelopment Project in Honolulu, Hawai’i is available for public review. The Hawai’i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) and its development partner, MWH Partners, LLC, propose to redevelop the existing Mayor Wright Homes (MWH) site, which consists of a ~14.8-acre parcel identified as TMK: (1)1-7-029:003. The site is bounded by four existing roadways: North King Street, Pua Lane, North Vineyard Boulevard, and Liliha Street. The proposed project includes the demolition of the existing structures and the construction of a mixed-use community consisting of 2,448 residential rental units and up to 80,000 square feet of commercial space. This includes a one-for-one replacement of the existing 364 public housing units based on the number of bedrooms in each unit, as well as up to an additional 2,084 affordable and market rental housing units that can be offered to potential residents in a range of income levels. Two-thirds of the units will be long-term affordable housing units targeting those earning up to 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). The commercial space will include a mix of retail, office space, and community services to support the new residential uses and complement the surrounding neighborhood. A series of open spaces are envisioned throughout the redesigned site including a new community center and park at the heart of the project. Because the new water systems proposed for the MWH Redevelopment project would have the capacity to serve an additional 2,500 housing units, the project meets the threshold at which an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required under 24 CFR 58.37(b). However, 24 CFR 58.37(c) states, “If, on the basis of an EA, a responsible entity determines that the thresholds in paragraph (b) of this section are the sole reason for the EIS, the responsible entity may prepare a [Finding of No Significant Impact] FONSI pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.4. In such cases, the FONSI must be made available for public review for at least 30 days before the responsible entity makes the final determination whether to prepare an EIS.” The sole reason the proposed project meets the threshold for an EIS is the capacity of the new and upgraded water and sewer systems under 24 CFR 58.37(b) and therefore, a Draft EA/FONSI has been prepared as required under the aforementioned HUD regulations. This Notice of Availability announces the availability of the Draft EA/FONSI at the following locations for the required 30-day public review. AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT NEPA EA/FONSI: Electronic copies of the Draft NEPA EA/FONSI are available for download and public review at the following websites: HUD Exchange Environmental Review Records: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/environmental-review/environmental-review-records/ State of Hawai’i Office of Environmental Quality Control (available starting February 23, 2020): http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/The_Environmental_Notice/2020-02-23-TEN.pdf Printed copies of the Draft EA/FONSI will also be available for review at the following locations during regular business hours: Office of the Governor, State Capitol Executive Chambers, 415 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI State Library, 478 South King Street, Honolulu, HI Kalihi-Palama Library, 1325 Kalihi Street, Honolulu, HI 96819 University of Hawai’i Manoa, Thomas H. Hamilton Library, Room 507, 2550 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822 DATES AND PUBLIC COMMENT: The 30-day public comment period will begin after publication of this Notice by the State of Hawai’i Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) in The Environmental Notice on February 23, 2020 and will end on March 24, 2020. If you would like to receive an electronic version on CD (*.PDF format) or a hard copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact the Consultant using the information provided below. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments using any of the following methods: 1) Email: MWH@pbrhawaii.com 2) Mail: Ms. Kimi Yuen, PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc., 1001 Bishop Street Suite 650, Honolulu, HI 96813 3) Hand delivery: Same as mailing address above between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimi Yuen or Malachi Krishok, PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc. at (808) 521-5631 (SA/HTH/WHT/TGI1265948 2/23/20)