FR_6900_N_92_FONSI.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

WASHINGTON, DC 20410-5000

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR

POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH

www.hud.gov espanol.hud.gov

MEMORANDUM FOR: Todd Richardson, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research

FROM: Peter Kahn, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy

Development

SUBJECT: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Advancing Building

Technology NOFO (FR-6900-N-92)

It is the finding of this Office that the subject Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not constitute a major Federal action having an individually or cumulatively significant effect on the human environment and, therefore, does not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement.

The NOFO announces the availability of $10 million in FY 2024 and 2025 funding to support the Executive Order: Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and

Defending the Cost-of-Living Crisis wherein the President noted the need to reduce regulatory costs and lower costs of housing while expanding the housing supply. Specifically, the NOFO solicits applications that fall within five research categories: 1) Models for Quickly Rebuilding

Housing Destroyed by Major Disasters, 2) Reforms to the HUD Code and Impact on Housing

Construction, 3) Offsite Construction Methods and Emerging Building Technologies, 4)

Innovative Financing Models for Unsubsidized Modular or Manufactured Housing, and 5)

Accelerating Use of Artificial Intelligence to lower regulatory burdens.

Approximately 15 awards will be in the form of cooperative agreements with applicants in one or more of the following eligible categories:

• State governments

• County governments

• City or township governments

• Special district governments

• Independent school districts

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) http://www.hud.gov/

• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

• For profit organizations other than small businesses, and

• Small businesses.

The research program is authorized by Sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban

Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. §1701z-1 and §1701z-2) and funding is provided by the

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42, approved March 9, 2024) and the

Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4, approved

March 15, 2025).

This NOFO does not direct or provide loans or mortgage insurance for real property acquisition, disposition, rehabilitation, alteration, demolition, or new construction, or establish, revise or provide for standards for construction or construction materials, manufactured housing, or occupancy. Lease or rental of space for any activities supported through this NOFO is an eligible use of administrative funds, but only under the following conditions:

1) The lease must be for existing facilities not requiring rehabilitation or construction except for minimal alterations to make the facilities accessible for a person with disabilities;

2) No repairs or renovations of the property may be undertaken with funds from this

NOFO; and

3) Properties in the Coastal Barrier Resources System designated under the Coastal

Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501) cannot be leased or rented with federal funds.

All activities funded under this NOFO are categorically excluded from review under the

National Environmental Policy Act in accordance with 24 CFR 50.19(b)(1) and (b)(3), because they lack the potential for any significant effect on the environment.

Accordingly, the Office of Policy Development and Research finds the issuance of this

NOFO will not create any significant environmental impacts and will not result in significant impacts on the human environment. Therefore, a Finding of No Significant Impact is hereby made.

Concurrences:

______________________________ Date: ____________

Peter H. Huber Departmental Environmental Clearance Officer

Office of Environment and Energy, CPD

_____________________________ Date: ____________

Christopher H. Hartenau

Environmental Clearance Officer

Office of General Counsel

Approval:

_____________________________ Date: ____________

Todd M. Richardson

General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research

Internal HUD Distribution:

Identification Lines:

Correspondence

Code

Originator

Concurrence

Name J. Kofi Berko, Jr. Peter Huber Christopher

Hartneau

Peter Kahn Todd

Richardson

Date

Official Record Copy U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development form HUD-713.1 (02/03)

Previous edition is obsolete.