On or about March 31, 2026, the City of Allentown will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake the following projects in connection with a proposed HUD environmental review record (ERR).
Date of Notice: March 11, 2026
Name of Responsible Entity (RE): City of Allentown, PA
Address: 435 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Telephone Number (RE): (610) 437-7610
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Allentown to undertake a project known as the Community Home Modification Program: City-wide (Tier 1 Review) (Project).
Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Community Home Modification: City-wide (Tier 1 Review)
Purpose: To increase the safety and functionality of housing for income-eligible households in the City of Allentown.
Location: Available on a city-wide basis. Specific addresses to be determined.
Project/Program Description: The proposed Home Modification Program will provide safe and functional home modifications and repairs to meet the needs of low-income residents of Allentown with disabilities and older homeowners age 62 and older who are at or below 80% of the average median income (AMI). The program will be operated by the City of Allentown’s Department of Community and Economic Development’s Community Housing Department. The Home Modification Program will provide CDBG funding in the Program Year 2025 in the amount of $50,000, The annual amount of the project will be identified in the Annual Action Plan in the referenced program year range. Tier 2 site-specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad reviews for each address under the program when addresses become known.
Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(3)(i) Tier 2 Site-Specific Review: The site-specific reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: (1) Airport Hazards, (2) Flood Insurance, (3) Contaminated and Toxic Substances, (4) Historic Preservation, and (5) Noise Abatement and Control.
Mitigation Measures/Conditions/Permits (if any): When addresses are determined and Tier 2 site-specific reviews have been conducted, any environmental factors requiring mitigation, conditions or permits will be addressed in a manner consistent with governing regulations and the City's written strategy, as applicable. ADY sites or scopes of work that are confirmed to be beyond the constraints established by the Tier 1 review will receive a separate environmental review. For airport hazards, the City will document a project site's location in relation to area airports. For flood insurance, the City will document the project site’s corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Rate Map and will require flood insurance for projects located in special flood hazard areas. For contamination and toxic substances, the City will determine if each project site is free of hazardous materials, contamination, toxic chemicals and gases (including radon), and radioactive substances, where a hazard could affect the health and safety of occupants or conflict with the intended utilization of the property. For historic preservation, the City will review an existing programmatic agreement with the State Historic Preservation Officer for covered activities and will determine a project’s impact on historic resources for projects involving activities not covered by the existing programmatic agreement. For noise abatement and control, the City will document a project site's proximity to noise generators (i.e., roads, railroads, and airports) and will calculate and document ambient noise levels on each project site, as necessary.
Amount of HUD Funds for PY 2025: $50,000 Estimated Total Project Cost for PY 2025: $50,000
The activities proposed are categorically excluded under regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3)(i). An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the City of Allentown Department of Community and Economic Development, Allentown City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101 and may be examined or copied weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Allentown, Department of Community and Economic Development, Allentown City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA, 18101. Comments may also be addressed to Teresa Dakuginow, Grants Manager at Teresa.Dakuginow@allentownpa.gov or by calling 610-437-7610 x2748. All comments received by March 31, 2026 will be considered by the City of Allentown prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The City of Allentown certifies to HUD that Matthew A. Tuerk, in his capacity as Mayor, 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 City of Allentown to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the City of Allentown’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; (b) The City of Allentown has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulation 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 the Philadelphia Office of Community Planning and Development at CPDRROFPHl@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Matthew A. Tuerk, Mayor
City of Allentown