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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
July 31 - Aug. 6, 2013
Page D-5
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS AND FINAL NOTICE AND PUBIC EXPLANATION OF A PROPOSED ACTION WITHIN A 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN CITY OF DETROIT Planning and Development Department 65 Cadillac Square, Suite 1200 Detroit, Michigan 48226 Telephone: 313.224.0472 TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS In accordance with 24 CFR 58.70, this notice shall satisfy procedural requirements for activities undertaken by the City of Detroit. This notice also informs all interested parties that the City of Detroit has evaluated the potential effects that the proposed project may have on the human environment as required by Executive Order 11988. The evaluation was conducted in accordance with 24 CFR 55.20. On or about August 9, 2013, and in accordance with 24 CFR 58.71, the City of Detroit will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Detroit Field Office for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds authorized under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383). Once provided the appropriate authorization, the City of Detroit shall commit these funds to the following project: Abayomi CDC Public Facility Rehabilitation Project Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), 2011 and 2012 $200,000.00
PROJECT SCOPE As permitted under 24 CFR 570.201(c), the City of Detroit will commit Federal funds to the Abayomi CDC Public Facility Rehabilitation Project. The Project will provide funding for the following improvements to the public facility located at 24331 West Eight Mile Road, 48219: upgrades and improvements to the HVAC system; upgrades and improvements to the electrical system and lighting; upgrades and improvements to an existing elevator; drywall/carpentry and painting; and new flooring. Abayomi Community Development Corporation (CDC) will serve as the primary sponsor of this project. The offices of Abayomi CDC are located at 24331 West Eight Mile Road, 48219.
DETERMINATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This project is Categorically Excluded from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), per 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3), and the preparation of an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement is not required at this time. However, this project is subject to the laws and authorities articulated in 24 CFR 58.5 and 58.6. The project is located in Zone A of the Rouge River Floodplain, areas of the 100-year flood, as indicated on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (Panel 60 of 575; Map # 26163CC0060E). This project involves approximately 1.15 acres of the affected floodplain. In accordance with 24 CFR 58.38, the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department prepared an Environmental Review Record that documents the Environmental Review of the above-named project. The Environmental Review Record is on file with the Planning and Development Department at 65 Cadillac Square, Suite 1200, Detroit, Michigan, 48226. The records are available for public examination and copying, upon request, on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION AND MITIGATION MEASURES The City of Detroit considered the following alternatives to the proposed action: No action – A lack of adequate investment in the facility would diminish the sponsor’s capacity to provide public services to the affected community. Alternate locations outside the floodplain – Relocating public services to a different facility would impose additional financial costs and administrative burdens upon the project sponsor. For the reasons articulated above, the proposed action is the only practicable alternative. The project will improve an existing structure, and therefore, the project will not further impede flood flows or add any fill to the floodplain. In order to mitigate any adverse impacts associated with locating in a floodplain, the project sponsor shall maintain flood insurance on the structure in accordance with the directives of the City of Detroit and Federal law and regulation, and the sponsor shall maintain an emergency response plan in the event that flooding does occur.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS AND CERTIFICATION Through the Request for Release of Funds and Certification (form HUD 7015.15), the City of Detroit certifies to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the City of Detroit has fulfilled and will continue to fulfill its responsibilities for environmental review, decision making and action. Furthermore, the City of Detroit and Mayor Dave Bing, or other official approved by HUD, consent to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities for environmental review, decision making, and action. Upon approval of the request for release of funds and certification, the City of Detroit may commit the Community Development Block Grant funds, and HUD will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and related laws and authorities.
PUBLIC COMMENTS The City of Detroit invites all interested agencies, groups and persons to submit written comments concerning the above-named project for consideration. The Planning and Development Department should receive such comments at the address listed at the top of this notice (Attention: Environmental Officer) on or before August 8, 2013. The City of Detroit will consider all such comments so received, and the City of Detroit will not request the release of Federal funds or take any choice-limiting action on the above-named project prior to August 9, 2013.
OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF FUNDS For a fifteen (15) day period following receipt of all required documentation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will accept an objection to its approval of the release of funds and certification only if the objection is based upon one of the following claims identified in 24 CFR 58.75: (a) That the certification was not in fact executed by the Chief Executive Officer or other officer of the applicant approved by HUD; (b) That the applicant’s environmental review record for the project indicates omission of a required decision, finding, or step applicable to the program in the environmental review process; (c) That 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) That another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. HUD will not consider objections to the release of funds and certification on a basis other than those stated. All interested agencies, groups or persons must prepare and submit objections in accordance with the required procedures outlined in 24 CFR 58.76. Potential objectors must address their objections to:
Ms. Ellen Chung, Senior CPD Representative Detroit Field Office U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 477 Michigan Avenue, 16th Floor Detroit, Michigan, 48226 Potential objectors should contact Ms. Ellen Chung at 313.234.7324 to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION The City of Detroit does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, handicap, national origin, race, sex or sexual orientation. Persons or groups with discrimination complaints may file those complaints with the City of Detroit Human Rights Department, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1026, Detroit, Michigan, 48226. The applicant for this project is:
CITY OF DETROIT Dave Bing, Mayor Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1126 Detroit, Michigan, 48226 Notice Date: July 31, 2013