NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS December 15, 2020 William J. Aila, Jr., Chairman Hawaiian Homes Commission Department of Hawaiian Home Lands P.O. Box 1879 Honolulu, Hawai’i 96805 (808) 620-9500 These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about January 5, 2021 the DHHL will submit a request to the HUD/State administering agency for the release of Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant funds under Title VIII-Housing Assistance for Native Hawaiians of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) of 1996, as amended, to undertake a project known as Kawaihae Residential Lots- Unit 1 at various parcels within plat (3) 6-1-007, 008, and 009 in the South Kohala District within the County of Hawai’i for the purpose of rehabilitation and-or demolition-rebuild of existing homes and construction of single-family dwellings on 57 vacant, infill lots scattered within an established residential subdivision. This would include planning, services, administration, predevelopment cost, construction on awarded vacant lots through various home loan or self-help housing programs, rehabilitation and-or demolition/reconstruction of older homes, and improve and award vacant available lots. Where possible, the project will increase density of vacant, unawarded lots through subdivision of parcels exceeding 20,000 square feet with minimum resulting lot size of 10,000 square feet. Infrastructure improvements including but not limited to connection to existing water, electrical, telecommunication systems and installation of individual onsite septic systems will be conducted as necessary for vacant lots and included in rehabilitation and reconstruction projects where required. The HUD funding amount is expected to be $9,500,000.00. The project will not include funds from other sources. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The DHHL has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the HUD Exchange website, and may be viewed and/or downloaded online at URL Link: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/environmental-review/environmental-review-records/ PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of the Chairman, Attn: Cynthia Rezentes, P.O. Box 1879, Honolulu, HI 96805. Reference the project by name, Kawaihae-Residential-Lots-Unit-1. All comments received by January 4, 2021, will be considered by the DHHL prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The DHHL certifies to HUD that William J. Aila, Jr., in his capacity as Chairman 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 DHHL to use Program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the DHHL’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the DHHL; (b) the DHHL has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (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, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Honolulu Field Office, Office of Native American Programs at the email address: claudine.c.allen@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period. William J. Aila, Jr., Chairman, DHHL