Item 15 - On-Call Environmental Review Services for Federally Funded Programs

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City of Santa Ana On-Call Environmental Review Services for Housing Division 4 research of the site will be conducted and existing technical studies and environmental documentation will be consulted. NEPA documentation could include CEs or EAs. Scopes for Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) are not included below because the type of projects we have worked under the current and previous on-call have included affordable housing development and capital improvement projects which have not resulted in significant impacts (based on federal criteria) that cannot be avoided. However, Rincon can provide a scope and cost for an EIS, as required for a specific project. In addition, Rincon will conduct Section 106 consultations and historic compliance review. For current projects under our on-call, we have not submitted projects through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) online portal, the HUD Environmental Review Online System (HEROS). However, our team has been trained to use the HEROS platform and will be able to execute this task as a Partner User for City staff when necessary. Exemption or Categorical Exclusion Not Subject to Section 58.5 Activities that, by their nature, do not cause changes in the physical environment are exempt under 24 CFR 58.34 or excluded under 24 CFR 58.35(b). For these projects, a Notice of Exemption or a Categorical Exclusion Not Subject To (CENST) Section 58.5 will be prepared. This includes completion of the 24 CFR 58.6 Compliance Documentation Checklist, which addresses flood protection, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, and runway clear zones. Categorical Exclusion Subject to Section 58.5 Activities that are not exempt or excluded per 24 CFR 58.35(b) are checked against the criteria in 24 CFR 58.35(a) to determine whether they are categorically excluded subject to (CEST) Section 58.5 or whether an EA or EIS may be required. NEPA CESTs are available under 24 CFR 58.35(b) for those actions that either do not create any changes in the physical environment, or make minor modifications associated with continued use of the property for the current land use designation. Generally, the content of a CEST is as follows.  HUD’s Statutory Worksheet, which covers issues addressed in 24 CFR 58.5 (issues addressed include historic preservation, floodplain management, wetland protection, coastal zone management, sole source aquifers, endangered species, wild and scenic rivers, the Clean Air Act, the Farmland Protection Policy Act, environmental justice, noise abatement, explosive and flammable operations, hazardous materials, and airport clear zones)  24 CFR 58.6 Compliance Documentation Checklist, which addresses flood protection, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, and runway clear zones Data sources used for CESTs will be field reviews, topographic maps, available land use maps, flood zone maps, coastal zone maps, airport hazards maps, and available information regarding the presence of sensitive habitats and/or species. Much of this information is available from online databases maintained by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal and State agencies. Noise assessments will be performed where necessary, utilizing HUD methodologies and the HUD Day/Night Noise Level Electronic Assessment Tool (an online noise calculation tool). Historical review of the properties will be based on the specific methodologies described below for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Air quality analyses will be based on the type of activity and whether quantification is necessary. Rincon will prepare the CEST in HEROS directly as a Partner User for City staff’s review, and will submit the final environmental review in HEROS after revising per staff comments. EXHIBIT 1