Environmental assessment has taken a prominent role in federal decision making since the early seventies. It is a logical evolution of the planning process. A review should be conducted at the earliest stage of decision making, the planning stage, and should be integrated into whatever planning process already exists at the local level. Treatment of environmental review requirements as a separate and distinct entity will diminish its utility and weaken the quality of the product itself.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires all programs using federal dollars to conduct an environmental review of the project before any contract is signed. This act is a generalized act as it does not attempt to curb the overall degradation of our environment, but rather ensure consideration of environmental factors in project decision making. Federal requirements for the environmental assessment requirements can be found in 24 CFR Part 58.
Before an environmental assessment can begin, a detailed project description must be completed. This description must include what will be done (a sample project description follows) the location of the project, the type of materials that will be used, and who will do the work (if known). Floodplain locations and historic preservation must also be considered.
CDBG Environmental Assessments
Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), all projects considered for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding must be environmentally reviewed by the community and be classified as Exempt,Categorically Excluded, in need of an Environmental Assessment (EA), or in need of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires an environmental review on all projects to be carried out in whole or part with CDBG funds. If you have any questions about environmental reviews or feel you need advice about the procedure, please call Cherri Janeczek at248-858-1191.
