To Hudnotice of Finding of No Significant Impact and Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds State of Vermont

The report is due to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year by September 30. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) staff are working with program partners on the 2025 report which includes activity from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, for the following federal programs:

  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
  • Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV)
  • HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME)
  • Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
  • Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG); and
  • Emergency Solutions Grant Program CARES Act (ESG-CV).

To learn more about the CAPER go to DHCD’s website: http://accd.vermont.gov/housing/plans-data-rules/hud. The DRAFT CAPER report will be available on September 12, 2025, on the website.

Send questions or comments to Cindy Blondin at Cindy.Blondin@vermont.gov. or call 802-828-5219 or toll free at 1-866-933-6249. Written comments are due by September 29, 2025, at 4:30 pm.

Mail to DHCD, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05620-0501, ATTN: Cindy Blondin.

August 27th, 2025,
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Grace Vinson, Environmental Officer
1 National Life Drive
Montpelier, Vermont 05620
(802) 622- 4336

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the State of Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (Agency).

Request for Release of Funds

On or about September 12th, 2025 the organization of Cooperative Development Institute will submit a request to the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (the Agency) to release the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL 93-383), the National Affordable Housing Act, as amended, to undertake a project known as Weston’s Water and Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrades for the purpose of replacing and upgrading aging drinking water and stormwater infrastructure to help preserve affordable housing. The project is located at 94 Third Street, Berlin, VT 05602. The total estimated cost of the project is approximately $3.5MM and will be undertaken utilizing at least $795,719 (Vermont Housing Conservation Board), $1,325,000 (American Rescue Plan Act Healthy Homes), $1,155,000 (3-Acre Stormwater Construction Initiative), and $261,945 in CDBG funding (PRICE).

The project, a residential mobile home cooperative, exists within the 100- and 500-year floodplain of the Dog River. HUD’s 8-Step Guidance has been undertaken and mitigation measures include a flood insurance policy on proposed infrastructure and placing underground storage tanks at an elevation outside of the floodplain that will eliminate the need for locating pressurization equipment within the floodplain.

Finding of No Significant Impact

The Agency 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 with the Environmental Officer, Department of Housing and Community Development, National Life Building, One National Life Drive, Davis Building 6th floor, Montpelier, Vermont 05620 or via email at Grace.Vinson@vermont.gov. and may be examined or copied Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

Public Comments

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Agency, Attn: Environmental Officer, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Department of Housing and Community Development, One National Life Drive, Davis Building, 6th Floor, Montpelier, Vermont, 05620 or via email at grace.vinson@vermont.gov. All comments received by September 11th, 2025, will be considered by the Department prior to authorizing a request for release of funds. Comments must specify which Notice they are addressing—the Finding of No Significant Impact or the Request for the Release of Funds.

Environmental Certification

The Agency is certifying to HUD that Certifying Officer Alex Farrell, Commissioner of VT Department of Housing and Community Development, 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. The Agency’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Agency to use the CDBG funds.

Objections to Release of Funds

The Agency will accept objections to its release of funds and the Agency’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, Alex Farrell, Commissioner of VT Department of Housing and Community Development; (b) VCCD 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 the Agency; 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 the Attn: Grace Vinson, Environmental Officer, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, One National Life Drive, Davis Building, 6th Floor, Montpelier, Vermont 05620. Potential objectors should contact the Agency to verify the actual last date of the objection period.