Notice of Finding of No Signficant Impact

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS May 5, 2025 City of Atlanta, GA Department of Grants and Community Development 55 Trinity Avenue, SW Suite #3500 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-658-7820 These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia. REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about May 21, 2025, the City of Atlanta will authorize The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia ("AH") to submit a request to the HUD Atlanta Regional Office for the release of Moving to Work ("MTW") and Choice Neighborhoods funds under the Housing Act of 1937, as amended, to support the development of an Environmental Stewardship Center ("ESC"). The ESC will consist of a combined drop-off facility for hard to recycle materials (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials ("CHaRM")) and the Environmental Innovation Center ("EIC"). The proposed project will be developed on 1041 Field Road and approximately 5+ acres of the northwest portion of the former Bowen Homes public housing site. The CHaRM facility will provide jobs and hands-on workforce development as well as provide the opportunity to educate individuals on how to best reuse, recycle, and dispose of hazardous materials. The EIC facility will provide training in green jobs, internships that lead to green job opportunities, and volunteer opportunities in new and emerging technologies in recycling, green building and green infrastructure. As proposed, AH will acquire approximately 1.6 acres of land located at 1041 Field Road for $355,000. 1041 Field Road along with portions of the AH property contain extensive amounts of buried debris. Depending on the remediation strategy selected and approved by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the costs can range from $1,000,000 (cap in place) - $9,000,000+ (dig and haul). AH will likely select a combination approach, and the final cost will be somewhere in between. Further delineation and design work is required to determine the final cost. Additionally, once available, the final project plans must be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office for review. AH will manage and perform the remediation work. AH will enter into a long-term ground lease with Live Thrive to develop and operate the Environmental Stewardship Center on the 1041 Field Road land and approximately 5+ acres of Bowen land totaling approximately 6.6+ acres. In addition to the acquisition and remediation costs, AH is proposing to provide a total of approximately $2,000,000 of MTW funds and $400,000 of Choice Neighborhood funds to support the development. The total project cost is estimated to be $11 million. CONDITIONAL FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The City of Atlanta has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment if the conditions for Contamination and Toxic Substances and Historic Preservation are followed. 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). The ERR will be made available to the public for review electronically. Please submit your request by email to gmenvironmentalreview@atlantaga.gov and to environmental@atlantahousing.org. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Atlanta, Department of Grants and Community Development, Office of Entitlement and Competitive Compliance by email at gmenvironmentalreview@atlantaga.gov. All comments received by May 20, 2025 will be considered by the City of Atlanta prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Atlanta certifies to HUD that Deborah B. Lonon in her capacity as Commissioner 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 AH to use Program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Atlanta'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 Atlanta; (b) the City of Atlanta 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 William L. Biggs at William.Biggs@hud.gov or 77 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Deborah B. Lonon Commissioner, Department of Grants and Community Development City of Atlanta, GA 5-5-25