Notice  Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant (LHR)

Publication Date: 03/26/2025
Document Type: Laws Bills and Policies
Sponsor: Community Development Administration

Summary
March 27, 2025

City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA)
1520 Market Street, Suite 2000
St. Louis, Missouri 63103

Trey McCarter, Community Development Planner III, CDA (314) 657-3834

On or about April 4, 2025, the City of St. Louis will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant (LHR), authorized by Section 1011 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992) (42 U.S.C. 4852), and section 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1701z-1 and 1701z-2). Funding for this program is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, approved March 15, 2022 (Public Law 117-103), the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, approved December 29, 2022 (Public Law 117-328), and the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024, approved March 9, 2024, (Public Law 118-42). The LHR Grant Program will be used for the purpose of remediating 240 housing units to lead-safe status throughout St. Louis City (the program target area). The City of St. Louis in conjunction with the City Building Division (BD) and Health Department (HD) will utilize LHR funds for hazard reduction activities, outreach, screening, temporary relocation services, and lead inspection and risk assessments. The City of St. Louis is requesting the release of $3,606,493 in LHR funds for the period of performance of February 1, 2025 through February 1, 2029.

The proposed hazard reduction activities to be funded under this program are categorically excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act requirements, but subject to compliance with some of the environmental laws and authorities listed at § 58.5 of 24 CFR Part 58. In accordance with §58.15, a tiered review process has been structured, whereby some environmental laws and authorities have been reviewed and studied for the intended target area listed above. Other applicable environmental laws and authorities will be complied with, when individual projects are ripe for review. Specifically, the target area has been studied and in compliance with the following laws and authorities has been achieved in this Tier 1 review:  Airport Hazards, Coastal Barrier Resources Act, Clean Air, Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Explosive and Flammable Hazards, Farmlands Protection, Noise Abatement and Control, Sole Source Aquifers, Wetlands Protection, and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Site-specific environmental reviews will include compliance with the following environmental laws and authorities for proposed projects funded under the program listed above: Flood Insurance Program requirements, Contamination and Toxic Substances, Floodplain Management, and Historic Preservation.  Should individual aggregate projects exceed the threshold for categorical exclusion detailed at §58.35(a), an Environmental Assessment will be completed and a separate Finding of No Significant Impact and Request for Release of Funds published. Copies of the compliance documentation worksheets are available at the address below.

An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project, and more fully describes the tiered review process cited above, is on file at the City of St. Louis CDA, at the above-referenced address, and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Trey McCarter. All comments received by April 3, 2025 will be considered by the City of St. Louis prior to authorizing submission of a Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification to HUD.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The City of St. Louis certifies to HUD that Nahuel Fefer in his official capacity as Executive Director of CDA, 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 City of St. Louis to utilize federal funds and implement the Program.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the City of St. Louis certification for a period of fifteen days following either the anticipated submission date (cited above) or HUD’s actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if the objections are on one of the following bases:  (a) that the Certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of St. Louis); (b) the City of St. Louis has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the City of St. Louis has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; (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 may be addressed to HUD and sent to the email address as follows:  Michael Bishop, Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,  michael.a.bishop@hud.gov.  Potential objectors may contact HUD directly to verify the actual last day of the objection/comment period.

Nahuel Fefer,
Certifying Officer