May 16, 2022

SUBJECT: Training Webinars on the Environmental Review Process

Dear Tribal Leader:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has created a series of training webinars on the environmental review process designed specifically for Tribes. These training webinars were created based on feedback provided during Tribal consultation on developing a coordinated environmental review. This training series is one of the deliverables in the Plan to Implement Coordinated Environmental Reviews, which was issued by an interagency workgroup in April 2022. Additional information on the environmental review process can be found on CodeTalk.

Below you can find specific information on the training webinars.

Use of HUD Environmental Forms

This webinar will provide a basic overview of the following three HUD 24 CFR Part 58 forms:

• Exempt or Categorically Excluded, Not Subject to 58.5
• Categorically Excluded, Subject to 58.5
• Section 58 Environmental Assessments

This webinar will focus on applying these forms to activities in a typical Indian Housing Plan or other projects commonly seen in Tribal communities and clarify who signs them.

Aggregation

Aggregating geographically and/or functionally related activities improves the efficiency of environmental reviews and is required by HUD regulations. This webinar will discuss how to include the full scope of a project in a project description for an environmental review and provide different examples of project aggregation for projects in Tribal communities.

Emergency Repairs

HUD’s regulations at 24 CFR 58.34(a)(10) include an exemption for emergency repairs. This webinar will discuss how and when 24 CFR 58.34(a)(10) may be used to expedite the environmental review process and provide different examples.

Reevaluation

Project scopes or environmental conditions can change after an environmental review has already been completed. This webinar will discuss how and when to update an existing environmental review under reevaluation at 24 CFR 58.47 and provide different examples.

Schedule and Registration Information

• Use of HUD Environmental Forms: June 22, 2022 at 2:00 – 4:00 PM EDT
• Aggregation: July 26, 2022 at 2:00 – 4:00 PM EDT
• Emergency Repairs: October 19, 2022 at 2:00 – 4:00 PM EDT
• Reevaluation: November 17, 2022 at 2:00 – 4:00 PM EDT

If you have any questions or need help registering for one of the training webinars, please email hudtrainings@icf.com and include “Environmental Review Webinar Series Registrar” in the subject line.

I strongly encourage you to take advantage of these beneficial training webinars. Thank you for your continued partnership and collaboration in serving Indian Country.

Sincerely,

Heidi J. Frechette
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Programs

Dear Tribal Leader Letter