2020-113B - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

B. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND HISTORIC PRESRVATION (EHP) COMPLIANCE As a federal agency, FEMA is required to consider the effects of its actions on the environment and/or historic properties to ensure that all activities and programs funded by the agency, including grants - funded projects, comply with federal EHP regulations, laws and Executive Orders as applicable. Sub - Recipient's proposing projects that have the potential to impact the environment including but not limited to construction of communication towers modification or renovation of existing buildings, structures and facilities, or new construction including replacement of facilities must participate in the FEMA EHP review Process. The EHP review process involves the submission of a detailed project description that explains the goals and objectives of the proposed project along with supporting documentation so that FEMA may determine whether the proposed project has the potential to impact environmental resources and/or historic properties. In some cases, FEMA also is required to consult with other regulatory agencies and the public in order to complete the review process. The EHP review process must be completed and approved before funds are released to carry out the proposed project. FEMA will not fund projects that are initiated without the required EHP review. Additionally, all Sub -Recipients are required to comply with DHS/FEMA EHP Policy Guidance FEMA Policy #108-023-1. The EHP screening form is located https://www.fema.gov/media- Preparedness Grants Manual I April 2019 Page 19 library/assets/documents/90195, and further EHP guidance can be found at https://www.fema.gov/media- Iibrary/assets/documents/118323. C. CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION Construction and renovation projects for a state, local, territorial, or Tribal government's principal Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as defined by the State Administrative Agency are allowable under the EMPG Program. Written approval must be provided by FEMA prior to the use of any EMPG Program funds for construction or renovation. Requests for EMPG Program funds for construction of an EOC must be accompanied by an EOC Investment Justification (located in the Related Documents tab of the EMPG grants.gov posting) to their Regional EMPG Manager for review. Additionally, recipients are required to submit a SF -424C Form and Budget detail citing the project costs. When applying for funds to construct communication towers Sub -Recipients must submit evidence that the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Section 106 review process has been completed and submit all documentation resulting from that review to Grants Program Directorate (GPD) prior to submitting materials for EHP review. Sub -Recipients are also encouraged to have completed as many steps as possible for a successful EHP review in support of their proposal for funding (e.g., coordination with their State Historic Preservation Office to identify potential historic preservation issues and to discuss the potential for project effects, compliance with all state and EHP laws and requirements). Projects for which the Sub -Recipient believes an Environmental Assessment (EA) may be needed, as defined in as defined in DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01 Revision 01 FEMA Directive 108-1 and FEMA Instruction 108-1-1, must also be identified to the FEMA EMPG Regional Program Manager within six months of the award, and completed EHP review materials must be submitted no later than 12 months before the end of the period of performance. EHP review packets should be sent to gpdehpinfofema.aov. EMPG Program Sub -Recipients using funds for construction projects must comply with the Davis -Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. §§ 3141 et seq.). Grant Sub -Recipients must ensure that their contractors or subcontractors for construction projects pay workers no less than the prevailing wages for laborers and mechanics employed on projects of a character similar to the contract work in the civil subdivision of the state in which the work is to be performed. Additional information regarding compliance with the Davis - Bacon Act, including Department of Labor (DOL) wage determinations, is available from the following website: hftps://www.dol.gov/whd/govcontracts/dbra.htm In general, Sub -Recipients should consult with their Grant Manager prior to making any investment that does not clearly meet the allowable expense criteria established in this Guidance. 39