24 CFR Part 58 is the Federal regulation that outlines the environmental review procedures for entities assuming U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD) environmental responsibilities. In the City of Los Angeles, the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) serves as the responsible entity. Compliance under this regulation will fulfill the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), additional Federal regulations required by HUD, and a few state/local environmental requirements.
Historic Preservation Section 106 Review
All projects must adhere to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, also known as 36 CFR 800. During the environmental review, all projects are evaluated for their potential impact on properties designated as historic, eligible for historic status, or located within a historic district. This evaluation process is commonly referred to as the Section 106 Review.
Projects that may impact historic properties must be reviewed to guarantee that project plans will meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and the California Historic Building Code. If necessary, CIFD will outline a set of conditions for the project proponent to follow, in addition to conducting a walkthrough at 50% and 100% completion to verify compliance.
Estimated Review Time
The complexity of each review may vary, depending on a project’s scope of work and the proposed project site’s existing environmental conditions. The estimated review time for most common projects undertaken by CIFD ranges from 5 to 60 days.
Public Notice Dissemination
NEPA guidelines require that a combined Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/ Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds (NOI/RROF), stating that there is no significant environmental impact as a result of the proposed project, as well as the intention to request federal funding for the project, must be disseminated for public review for 15 calendar days if published in a local newspaper and 18 calendar days if only posted and mailed. These requirements are subject to change pending the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and current HUD guidance.