Published in the Daily Telegram on December 6, 2021

COMBINED NOTICE

NOTICE TO PUBLIC OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND

NOTICE TO PUBLIC OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

                                                                                                                Date Published:   December 6, 2021

City of Morenci

(Name of Applicant)

118 Orchard Street, Morenci, MI 49256                                                         (517) 458-6828

(Street, City, Zip Code)                                                                                       (Telephone Number)

TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS:

On or about December 22, 2021 the above named City of Morenci will request the Michigan Strategic Fund to release Federal funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383) for the following project:

City of Morenci Water-Related Infrastructure Grant

(Project Title or Name)

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project for the City of Morenci will consist of a complete rebuild of water mains, sanitary mains, and street surface on Locust Street from North Street to Washington Street; a complete rebuild of water mains, sanitary mains, and street surface on Salisbury Street; a complete rebuild of the City of Morenci's main Lift Station; and the replacement of Iron Removal Filter media at the City of Morenci's Water Treatment Plant. The project will also include the addition of a concrete apron pad adjacent to the wet well approximately 14 feet by 23 feet in size which will create ground disturbance. In addition, fire hydrants will be installed along the streetscape where water/sewer underground replacements are occurring along Locust and Salisbury Streets.

(Purpose or Nature of the Project)

Morenci, Lenawee County, Michigan

(Location – City, County, State – of Project)

$2,508,652.00

(Estimated Cost of Project)

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

It has been determined that such request for release of funds will not constitute an action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and accordingly the above-named City of Morenci has decided not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190).

The reasons for such decision not to prepare an EIS are as follows:

1.)  No significant impact on the human environment.

2.) SHPO determination of no adverse effect on a historic property.                                  

3.) No adverse impact to surrounding properties.                                                                                           

An Environmental Review Record respecting the proposed project has been made by the above-named City of Morenci which documents the environmental review of the project and more fully sets forth the reasons why an EIS is not required.  This Environmental Review Record is on file at the above address and is available for public examination and copying upon request at the Morenci City Offices between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

No further environmental review of such project is proposed to be conducted prior to the request for release of federal funds.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON FINDING

All interested agencies, groups, and persons disagreeing with this decision are invited to submit written comments for consideration by the City of Morenci to the Morenci City Offices between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday on or before December 21, 2021.  All such comments so received will be considered and the City of Morenci will not request the release of federal funds or take any administrative action on the proposed project prior to the date specified in the preceding sentence.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

City of Morenci will undertake the project described above with Community Development Block Grant funds from the Michigan Strategic Fund under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.  City of Morenci is certifying to the Michigan Strategic Fund that City of Morenci and Sean D. Seger in her/his official capacity as Mayor consent to accept the jurisdiction of the federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to environmental reviews, decision-making, and action; and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.  The legal effect of the certification is that upon its approval City of Morenci may use the Block Grant funds and the Michigan Strategic Fund will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

OBJECTIONS TO MICHIGAN STRATEGIC FUND RELEASE OF FUNDS

The Michigan Strategic Fund will accept an objection to its approval only if it is on one of the following bases:

  • The certification was not in fact executed by the responsible entity's Certifying Officer
  • The responsible entity has failed to make one of the two findings pursuant to 58.40 or to make the written determination required by 58.35, 58.47 or 58.53 for the project, as applicable.
  • The responsible entity has omitted one or more of the steps set forth at subpart E of this part for the preparation, publication and completion of an EA.
  • The responsible entity has omitted one or more of the steps set forth at subparts F and G of this part for the conduct, preparation, publication and completion of an EIS.
  • The recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by this part before release of funds and approval of the environmental certification by HUD (or the state).
  • 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 to the Michigan Strategic Fund, c/o Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 300 North Washington Square, 4th Floor, Lansing, Michigan 48913.

Objections to the release of funds on bases other than those stated above will not be considered by the Michigan Strategic Fund.  No objection received after January 10, 2022 will be considered by the Michigan Strategic Fund.

                                                                                                Sean D. Seger_______________________________________

                                                                                                Print Name

                                                                                                Mayor                                                                                                   

                                                                                                Title

                                                                                                118 Orchard Street, Morenci, MI  

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