Date of Notice: 7/29/22
Name of Responsible Entity [RE]: Blue Lake Rancheria
Address (e.g., Street No. or P.O. Box): 428 Chartin Road
City, State, Zip Code: Blue Lake, CA 95525
Telephone Number of RE: 707-668-5101

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about August 19, 2022, the Blue Lake Rancheria will submit a request to the HUD
SWONAP for the release of funds under the ICDBG-ARP (CFDA 14.862; ID#22RP0603680), as amended, to undertake a project known as the Hou'l Health Clinic for the purpose of providing  clinical and educational health services to tribal members and non-tribal members. The estimated cost of the project is $2 million, with funding from HUD and non-HUD (tribal and other) sources. The project is located on Blue Lake Rancheria tribal trust land.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The Blue Lake Rancheria 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 the Blue Lake RancheriaEnvironmental Department (428 Chartin Road, Blue Lake, CA 95525), where the ERR may be examined or copied weekdays by appointment during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Blue Lake Rancheria Environmental Department. All comments received by August 16, 2022, will be considered by the Blue Lake Rancheria prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The Blue Lake Rancheria certifies to HUD SWONAP that Jason Ramos, in his capacity as Tribal Administrator, 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. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Blue Lake Rancheria to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the Blue Lake Rancheria’s 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 Blue Lake Rancheria; (b) the Blue Lake Rancheria 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 or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; 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 (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD SWONAP at One North Central Avenue, Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2361. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Name and Title of RE Certifying Officer
Jason Ramos, D.C., Tribal Administrator, Blue Lake Rancheria

Note: The fifteen or eighteen-day public comment periods are the minimum time periods required by regulation prior to submission of a Request for Release of Funds and Certification (form HUD-7015.15) to HUD/State. The Responsible Entity may choose to allow a longer comment period. 24 CFR Part 58 requires, at Section 58.46, “Time delays for exceptional circumstances,” a 30-day comment period for controversial or unique projects or those similar to projects normally requiring preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. The fifteen-day objection period is a statutory requirement. The objection period follows the submission date specified in the Notice or the actual date of receipt by HUD/State, whichever is later.

Following completion of the comment period recipients may FAX the form HUD7015.15 to HUD/State together with a copy of the public notice and a cover letter stating whether comments were received and, if so, how the recipient responded to the comment. The Request for Release of Funds and Certification should not be submitted before the recipient has responded. If the request is sent by FAX, the original signed form should be mailed to HUD/State. The date of receipt by FAX will be counted as the submission date. However, HUD will not issue the 7015.16  “Authority to Use Grant Funds” until after the original signed form is received.

Notice of Availability - Posted on 02/03/2021

This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (40 CFR § 1500-1508) to assist the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to comply with 42 U.S.C. § 4371 et. seq.

The EA documents the environmental review for the proposed development of a multi-purpose Justice Center and Transportation/O.E.S. Complex to be constructed on trust lands within the boundaries of the Blue Lake Rancheria. The purpose of the EA is to investigate and outline the potential environmental effects associated with the development of the facility. The Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), as Lead Agency, will use this EA to determine if the approval of the development of the multi-purpose Tribal Court Facility would result in significant effects to the environment.

The purpose of the EA is to satisfy the environmental review process of NEPA as set forth by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice to document the need for the Blue Lake Rancheria to develop and administer the types of services that would be made available at the Blue Lake Rancheria Justice Center. The document provides a detailed description of the Proposed Action and an analysis of the potential environmental consequences associated with development of the proposed project. Also included is a discussion and analysis of project alternatives, impact avoidance, and mitigation measures. These mitigation measures are incorporated into the Environmental Consequences section of the EA and summarized in Table 4.

Proposed is the construction of a BLR Multi-Purpose Justice Center and Transportation/O.E.S. complex on a portion of a 33.47-acre parcel with an affected area of 2.8 acres of tribally-owned trust lands within the boundaries of the Blue Lake Rancheria, Humboldt County, California. The U.S. Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has been designated by federal law as the “Trustee” of all Indian lands. The BIA does not weigh in nor administer trust land within control of the Tribe and for Tribal purposes except in the approval of leases. Leases are not proposed under this action.

By being aligned with the other tribal and non-tribal social service, health, and administrative entities, the Justice Center is a projected two-story, 10,750 square foot facility that will house the Rancheria’s Police Department, Tribal Court, Emergency Services, and Tribal staff. The Justice Center’s first floor will include a reception area, Tribal library, Elders Meal Program kitchen, dining hall, Emergency Operations Center, Tribal Court, and Police Department. The second floor of the facility will house Tribal administration offices.

The proposed Transportation/O.E.S. complex consists of a 4,338 square foot building that will house a Tribal Transportation Office and Garage as well as the Fire Department. Both buildings are on the same lot.

The proposed project involves construction of two new buildings and equipment purchase by the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe on Tribal Trust Lands using grant funds received, in part, from the US Department of Justice, the annual continuing appropriations under the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP), and additional funds will be provided by the Tribe.

The complete draft EA, provided by LACO Associates can be found below:

Application to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Program

To help prepare for, prevent, and respond to COVID 19, The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe (BLR; Blue Lake, California) is proposing to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG), Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Program, to acquire and install a 5,600-square foot Modular Health Center (MHC) for COVID 19 response. BLR is requesting $776,160 to acquire and install the MHC. Figure 1 shows the proposed location at BLR of the MHC (blue star).

The HMHC will provide facilities for: 1) COVID 19 testing and assessment, 2) pandemic and other emergency response coordination, 3) information collection and dissemination (serving as a pandemic fusion center), and 4) inventory and storage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies. BLR has responded swiftly to the threat of COVID 19 but does not have adequate facilities for safe and effective delivery of pandemic response and other public health measures. The HMHC will provide a critical piece of BLR’s pandemic response toolkit.

Given the restrictions imposed on public meetings by the pandemic health guidelines, BLR is soliciting comment and input on the MHC through electronic channels. Tribal stakeholders can provide input on the proposed MHC by emailing info@bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov or by calling 707-668-5101. Questions about the proposal should be direct to David Narum, Project Manager at the Blue Lake Rancheria, at info@dnarum@bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov.