Saturday, November 7, 2009

FTA Categorical Exclusion - Environmental Analysis - Environmental Impact Review

The Federal Transit Authority (FTA) has developed specific categories for environmental review in compliance with NEPA. For certain types of projects, FTA may require project proposers to complete sufficient environmental analysis such that FTA can determine that the proposed project meets the criteria for a Categorical Exclusion (CE) under 27 CFR 771.117(d). By meeting these criteria, FTA will meet Categorical Exclusion criteria under NEPA (40 CFR 1508.4), and ultimately neither the proposer nor FTA will be required to conduct an Environmental Assessment as prescribed under 27 CFR 771.119. FTA could then take actions, including providing project funding.

Caltha LLP assists City, County and State project proposers to conduct environmental analyses required to meet FTA requirements for Categorical Exclusions. Caltha also conducts Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments, and other Environmental Review requirements.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
or
Caltha LLP Website


Thursday, November 5, 2009

HUD Environmental Review Under Neighborhood Stabilization Program

For a single family home that is being demolished and rebuilt, what type of environmental review will be required under Neighborhood Stabilization Program?

According to the Housing & Urban Development (HUD) , the level of environmental review required depends upon the program design and project description. The responsible entity needs to consider the use of the categorical exclusion:

§58.35 Categorical exclusions.
Categorical exclusion refers to a category of activities for which no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact under NEPA is required, except in extraordinary circumstances (see §58.2(a)(3)) in which a normally excluded activity may have a significant impact. Compliance with the other applicable Federal environmental laws and authorities listed in §58.5 is required for any categorical exclusion listed in paragraph (a) of this section.
(a) Categorical exclusions subject to §58.5. The following activities are categorically excluded under NEPA, but may be subject to review under authorities listed in §58.5:
(4)(i) An individual action on up to four dwelling units where there is a maximum of four units on any one site. The units can be four one-unit buildings or one four-unit building or any combination in between; or
(ii) An individual action on a project of five or more housing units developed on scattered sites when the sites are more than 2,000 feet apart and there are not more than four housing units on any one site.
(iii) Paragraphs (a)(4)(i) and (ii) of this section do not apply to rehabilitation of a building for residential use (with one to four units) (see paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section).


“Individual action” as used in §58.35(a) refers to an individual approval action about the particular dwelling unit(s) and may include new construction, demolition, and/or reconstruction (demolition and new construction). However, note that this categorical exclusion does not apply to rehabilitation of a building for residential use.

A responsible entity (RE) may apply the categorical exclusion at §58.35(a) on an individual application basis, allowing the RE to use this categorical exclusion when an individual applicant is submitting an application for construction, demolition and/or reconstruction of dwelling units. If the RE designs a program where individual applicants will be submitting applications for new construction of up to four dwelling units, then each individual application may be considered to be categorically excluded per §58.35(a)(4)(i). If the RE designs a program where individual applicants will be submitting applications for a project of five more housing units on scattered sites when the sites are more than 2,000 feet apart and there are not more than four housing units on any one site, then each individual application may be considered to be categorically excluded per §58.35(a)(4)(ii).

If the Neighborhood Stabilization Program is clearly designed and intended to develop a specific block/neighborhood or other limited geographic area, then an environmental assessment for the program/area will be required.

Caltha LLP assists project proposers in meeting Due Diligence, Environmental Site Assessment and Environmental Review requirements. To request a quote on-line, go to Caltha Environmental Assessment Quote Web Page.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
or
Caltha LLP Website





Revision To E 1527-05 - Phase 1 ESA Environmental Review Standard Practice

In October, the ASTM E 50.02 subcommittee met to discuss the future of the E 1527-05 standard. According to ASTM bylaws, standards must be revised or reballoted every eight years to avoid sunsetting and becoming obsolete. E 1527-05 is approaching its fifth year and a task group has formed to discuss what changes, if any, need to be made to bring the standard in line with current best practices.

One factor that will make revising E 1527-05 more complicated than other E50 standards is that EPA has recognized E 1527-05 as being at least as stringent as the All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) rule. Because the standard is referenced in a federal rule, EPA must approve of any revisions to E 1527. Depending on the nature of the changes, they may need to go through the federal rule making process, including a mandatory public comments period.

Caltha LLP assists prospective Buyers, Sellers and their Lenders in meeting Due Diligence, Environmental Site Assessment and Environmental Review requirements. To request a quote on-line, go to Caltha Environmental Assessment Quote Web Page.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
or
Caltha LLP Website