CONCURRENT NOTICE NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF...

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Publication Date: July 12, 2024

Name of Responsible Entity: Liberty County Board of County Commissioners in Bristol, Florida

Council Address: PO Box 39, Bristol, FL, 32321

Phone: (850) 643-2215

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Liberty County Board of County Commissioners, Bristol, Florida

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about July 31, 2024, the Liberty County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will submit a request to the Florida Department of Commerce for the release of Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recover funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake a project known as Liberty County EMS Facility to construct a new Critical Emergency Medical Services Facility.

The proposed activity is the construction of a 5,000-square-foot hardened structure capable of housing the Emergency Operations Center, a meeting room, the radio operations room and dispatch, kitchen, emergency supplies storage, and sleeping quarters for those who staff the center during a prolonged storm event. The structure would also provide hardened garage space for the County’s fleet of EMS and response vehicles, hazmat washdown, and additional storage. A proposed site plan indicating the location of the facility within the property at 10987 NW Spring Street in Bristol FL will be confirmed during the design phase of the project.

The anticipated funding sources of the proposed project include the following: 1. $1,820,250.00 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Disaster Recovery (DR) Category (Grant Number M0171). 2. $1,100,000.00 from Legislative Appropriation 3. $25,000.00 from Local Funds (ARP or County General Funds).

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The Liberty County BOCC 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 at Liberty County Courthouse, 10818 NW SR 20, Bristol, FL 32321, and may be examined or copied on weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the Environmental Review Record to P.O. Box 399, 10818 NW SR 20, Bristol, FL32321. Comments may also be submitted by email to: teresalcgrants@gmail.com. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Teresa Stossel, Grants and Special Projects Coordinator, (850) 643-3247. All comments must be received by July 31, 2024. Comments will be considered prior to the Liberty County BOCC requesting a release of funds. Comments should specify which notice they are addressing.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The Liberty County BOCC certifies to the Florida Department of Commerce and HUD that Hannah Causseaux in her capacity as Chairman 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 Florida Commerce’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Liberty County BOCC to use the CDBG funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

Florida Department of Commerce will accept objections to its release of funds and the Liberty County BOCC 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 of the Liberty County BOCC; (b) the Liberty County BOCC 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 has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by FloridaCommerce; 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 at 24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76 and shall be addressed to the Florida Department of Commerce, Office of Long Term Resiliency, 107 East Madison Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-6508. Potential objectors should contact Liberty County BOCC to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Hannah Causseaux for the Liberty County Board of County Commissioners in Bristol, FL