NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
May 14, 2023
City of Augusta
Housing and Development Department
510 Fenwick Street
Augusta, GA 30901
(706) 821-1797
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements undertaken by the Housing Authority of the City of Augusta.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about May 31, 2023, the City of Augusta will authorize the Housing Authority of the City of Augusta (AHA) to submit a request to the HUD Atlanta Office PIH Program Center for the release of Housing Choice Tenant Protection voucher funds under Section 8(o) of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended, and Public Housing Capital Funds under Section 9(d)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, to undertake a project known as Dogwood Terrace Redevelopment for the purpose of demolishing and constructing new affordable housing residential units for moderate-to-low income residents on 27.11 total acres of land fronting Fifteenth Avenue and Old Savannah Road at 2053 Old Savannah Road, Augusta, Richmond County, GA 30901. The project will involve the demolition of sixty-eight residential buildings and three non-residential buildings. The Boys and Girls Club building may be disposed to the Augusta Housing Authority non-profit for continued use in serving the nearby community. This project will be using approximately $2,859,849 in Capital Funds for demolition, $204,075 in Capital Funds for relocation expenses, and an estimated $10,126,782 in HUD-sourced tenant protection vouchers for resident relocation over a five-year period.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The City of Augusta 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 City of Augusta Office of Housing and Development located at 510 Fenwick Street, Augusta, GA 30901, where the record is available for review and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M. The ERR will also be available online at AHA’s website: Environmental Review Record
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to (Daniel J. Evans, Community Development Manager, Housing and Community Development for the City of Augusta, via email to DEvans2@augustaga.gov, by phone at (706) 821-2886, or via mail to 510 Fenwick Street, Augusta, GA 30901. All comments received by 5:00 P.M. on May 31, 2023 will be considered by the City of Augusta prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Public Notice they are addressing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The City of Augusta certifies to HUD that Hawthorne Welcher, Jr., in his capacity as Housing and Community Development Director 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 AHA to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Augusta’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 City of Augusta; (b) the City of Augusta 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 HUD Atlanta Regional Office at (404) 331-5136. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Hawthorne E. Welcher, Jr., Director, Housing & Community Development