NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
August 15, 2013
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
91-5420 Kapolei Parkway
Kapolei, Hawai’i 96707
(808) 238-8617
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 September 3, 2013, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) funds under Title VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) of 1996, as amended, to undertake a project known as the NHHBG Home Assistance Program, for the purpose of repairing single family residences in the County of Hawai’i, City and County of Honolulu, County of Kaua’i and County of Maui.
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 each of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands district offices at 91-5420 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, Hawai’i 96707 or 160 Baker Avenue, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720 or 64-756 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, Hawai’i 96743 or 655 Kaumuali’i Street, Suite 1, Wailuku, Hawai’i 96793 or 600 Maunaloa Highway, Suite D-1, Kaunakakai, Hawai’i 96748 or 3060 Eiwa Street, Room 203, Lihu’e, Hawai’i 96766 and may be examined or copied weekdays 7:45 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the project, may submit written comments to DHHL. All comments received by August 30, 2013 will be considered by the DHHL prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which part of this Notice they are addressing.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
The DHHL certifies to HUD that Jobie M. K. Masagatani in her capacity as Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission 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 funds 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 has committed funds or incurred costs 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) and shall be addressed to Claudine C. Allen, Native Hawaiian Program Specialist, HUD Honolulu Field Office, 1132 Bishop Street, Suite 1400 Honolulu, Hawai’i 96813. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Jobie M. K. Masagatani, Chair
Hawaiian Homes Commission
This legal notice ran in the following newspapers in the State of Hawai’i on Thursday, August 15, 2013: The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, The Moloka’i Dispatch, The Maui News; and in the following newspapers on Friday, August 16, 2013: The Garden Island, West Hawai’i Today, The Hawai’i Tribune-Herald.
(SA548901 8/15/13)~