9. • Health & Human ServicesTravis County (Travis County)

Consider and take appropriate action on a request to approve Environmental Exemptions for the following projects/activities that will receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and/or HOME funding during Program Year 2025 (PY25) from HUD:

Presented in: Travis County Commissioners Court Voting Session on 2026-06-02

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

Each year, newly funded projects must go through the appropriate level of environmental review as required by HUD. Certain activities that do not have an impact on the human environment, such as conducting an environmental review, engineering and design costs, technical assistance and training, administrative and management activities, public services, and other specific activities, are exempt from environmental review, except for the applicable requirements of 24 CFR §58.6. This environmental exemption determination must be documented in writing. Attachments A and B provide the documentation, including compliance with 24 CFR §58.6, as applicable, for the projects or activities listed above. The PY25 Administration & Planning activities for the CDBG program listed above qualify for environmental exemptions due to the nature of the activities and their lack of impact on the human environment. The PY25 HOME Program will assist eligible low- and moderate-income Travis County households through a combination of infrastructure improvements, fair housing efforts, community engagement, coordination, planning, and advocacy. The program will provide funding for the construction of affordable housing for income eligible first-time homebuyers. The overall goal is to facilitate new home construction and equity investments such as downpayment assistance or affordability gap assistance. The administration and planning activities for the HOME program qualify for environmental exemptions due to the nature of the activities and their lack of impact on the human environment. Additionally, activities such as the following also qualify for environmental exemption for the same reasons: administrative and management activities; inspections and testing of properties for hazards or defects; engineering or design costs; technical assistance and training; payment of principal and interest on loans made or obligations guaranteed by HUD; etc. HUD requires the authority of the grantee to certify the findings of the environmental review, including any environmental exemptions. In the HUD grant agreement, which is signed by Travis County, it states: "The Grantee agrees to assume all of the responsibilities for environmental review, decision making, and actions, as specified and required in regulation issued by the Secretary pursuant to Section 104(g) of Title I and published in 24 CFR Part 58.” Per 24 CFR Part 58.2(A)(2): "Certifying Officer means the official who is authorized to execute the Request for Release of Funds and Certification and has the legal capacity to carry out the responsibilities of Sec. 58.13." Per Sec. 58.13: "Under the terms of the certification required by Sec. 58.71, a responsible entity's certifying officer is the “responsible Federal official'' as that term is used