NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT 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 Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about June 19, 2007, 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 funds under Title VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996, as amended, to undertake projects known as the Villages of Laiopua: Village 5, Village 4 and Village 1 Subdivisions on Hawaiian Home Lands at Kealakehe, Kailua-Kona, North Kona, Hawaii. Village 5 and Village 4 are 24.2-acre and 62.1-acre subdivisions which will consist of 116 and 249 single-family residential lots. Village 1 is a 49.7-acre subdivision which will consist of 260 single-family residential lots.
The proposed request for release of funds is for $21.3 million. This includes $12.8 million for Villages 4 and 5 and $8.5 million for Village 1, for consultant services, mass-grading and related work, infrastructure construction, house construction loans or down-payment assistance grants, self-help technical assistance, and plant mitigation work that was identified in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) prepared for these projects.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
DHHL has determined that these projects will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is not required. Additional project information is contained in the ERR on file at the DHHL Land Development Division at 1099 Alakea Street, Suite 1230, in Honolulu, and at the DHHL West Hawaii District Office at 55 Mile Marker, 64-756 Mamalahoa Highway in Kamuela, and may be examined or copied weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. DHHLs point of contact is William Makanui (808) 587-6449.
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 June 15, 2007, will be considered by DHHL prior to submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing. Comments shall be addressed to the Chairman, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, P.O. Box 1879, Honolulu, HI 96805.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
DHHL certifies to HUD that Micah A. Kane, in his capacity as Chairman 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\u2019s acceptance of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and allows DHHL to use program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and DHHL\u2019s certification for a period of 15 days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if it is on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of DHHL; (b) 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 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 HUD\u2019s Hawaii State Office at 500 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 3A, Honolulu, HI 96813. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Micah A. Kane, Chairman
Hawaiian Homes Commission (SB05529640 5/25/07)
