NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the County of Hawai’i.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about December 30, 2022 the County of Hawai’i will submit a request to the HUD/State administering agency for the release of Community Project Funding (CPF)/Congressionally Directed Spending administered by HUD under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103), to undertake a project known as Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Permanent Supportive Housing for the purpose of providing space for a multi-organization/multi-agency approach to help reduce the number of homeless individuals and couples without children in the Kealakehe and greater North Kona region. The proposed project would also provide social services and programs to help transition emergency shelter individuals to permanent housing and/or affordable housing programs to meet State and County homeless housing goals.

The proposed project consists of an Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center to be developed on approximately 7.06 acres, and will include a safe parking area, a pavilion with kitchen, a multi-purpose career center space, a health resource center, a mini market, a dog park, intake and assessment facilities, and up to four clusters of small short-term housing structures (16 total emergency units). On approximately 10.59 acres of adjacent land to the south of the Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center, the County of Hawai’i will construct a Permanent Supportive Housing development, which will provide non-time limited housing and/or housing assistance, case management, and supportive services to the vulnerable chronically homeless individuals in the community. Permanent supportive housing is a proven solution to chronic homelessness and is guided by principles of Housing First and harm reduction, which focus on providing housing to homeless as quickly as possible and then providing supportive services as required. The Permanent Supportive Housing will consist of up to 48 permanent supportive housing or permanent housing with supports rental units that will be targeted for individuals who are experiencing homeless and mentally disabled individuals and couples. There will be units designated for on-site resident managers. The project will also include on-site case management offices in which individualized supportive services will be provided to the residents with the intent of helping them restore their lives. On-site amenities will include a community room with kitchen, health and social service spaces, a career center, and library. The rental unit mix will consist of studio and 1-bedroom apartments.

The proposed project is located at TMKs: (3) 7-4-020:004, 035, and 037 on the west side of the Island of Hawai’i, in the Ahupuaa of Kealakehe. The project area encompasses approximately 19.1 acres, and is generally bounded by Kealakehe Parkway, and undeveloped land to the west, south, and east (see the Regional Location Map enclosed within the NEPA EA). The project will be accessed via a 1.14 acre cul-de-sac. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding amount is expected to be $10,000,000.00.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The County of Hawai’i 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), and will be posted on the HUD Exchange website. The ERR may be viewed and/or downloaded online at URL Link:
https://cpd.hud.gov/cpd-public/environmental-reviews or upon request via email and/or hard copy as necessary from Sharon L. Hirota, who may be contacted at (808) 961-8379 or ohcdadmin@hawaiicounty.gov.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the County of Hawai’i, Office of Housing and Community Development, Attn: Susan Kunz, 1990 Kino’ole Street, Suite 102, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720; ohcdadmin@hawaiicounty.gov. Reference the project by name: Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Permanent Supportive Housing. All comments received by December 29, will be considered by the County of Hawai’i prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The County of Hawai’i certifies to HUD that Mayor Mitchell Roth, in his capacity as Mayor of the County of Hawai’i, 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 County of Hawai’i to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the County of Hawai’i’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 County of Hawai’i; (b) the County of Hawai’i 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 the HUD Honolulu Field Office at 1003 Bishop Street, Suite 2100, Honolulu, HI 96813. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Mayor Mitchell D. Roth
County of Hawai’i
(WHT1396881 12/14/22)