Environmental Reviews - Overview

Information by State  Print version   In This Section Environmental Reviews - Overview   Environmental Standards   Environmental Reviews   Regulations   Process: Intro & Stage 1   Process: Stages 2, 3 & 4   Other Requirements

An environmental review is the process of reviewing a project and its potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets federal, state, and local environmental standards. The environmental review process is triggered when HUD, a HUD program participant, or a HUD grantee purchases, or intends to purchase, property with HUD funds. All properties intended to be developed with HUD assistance (including HOME funds) must have an environmental review to ensure that the proposed project does not negatively impact the surrounding environment and that the property site itself is safe for development. Not every project is subject to a full environmental review (i.e., every project's environmental impact must be examined, but the extent of this examination varies), but every project must be in compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), and other related Federal and state environmental laws.

Environmental review regulations outline the:

• Types of assessments required of HOME-funded activities;
• Responsibilities of PJs and other HOME grantees conducting environmental reviews; and
• Next steps if a site or project is found to have potential environmental problems.

What will you learn from this topic?

After completing this topic, you will be able to:

• Identify the key federal environmental and quality standards with which HOME-funded programs must comply;
• Describe the basic requirements of the regulations and the basic steps of an environmental review;
• Locate regulations online; and
• Identify which regulations are relevant to specific HOME activities and how to apply the regulations to your overall HOME program.

Specifically, this environmental requirements topic is organized into the following subjects:

• Environmental Standards
• Environmental Reviews - The Regulations (24 CFR parts 51, 55 and 58)
• The Environmental Review Process - Introduction & Stage 1
• The Environmental Review Process - Stages 2, 3 & 4
• Other Requirements: Floodplain Management, Coastal Hazard Areas and Runway Clear Zones