Legal Notices

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS Date of Publication: Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 Webster County Economic Development Authority PO Box 4 Webster Springs, WV 26288 (304) 847-2145 These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Webster County Economic Development Authority. REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or after at least one day after the end of the comment period the West Virginia Department of Economic Development will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds under of Public Law 115-123 (Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018 (Division B, Subdivision 1 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018) (February 9, 2018)) (HUD/State Identification Number: B-18-DP-54-0001) of the Appropriation Act and title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (HCDA) (42 USC 5301 et seq.), to undertake the following project: Project Title: Webster County Broadband Initiative Phase II Purpose: The Webster County Broadband Initiative Phase II project will connect into Citynet’s Back bone fiber running through Camden-On-Gauley, Cowen, Upperglade, Bolair, and Webster Springs. This will provide the backhaul for approximately 48 miles of various laterals that will reach through the underserved areas and allow them to receive high speed broadband services. Location: The Webster County Broadband Initiative Phase II project is located in Southern Webster County, West Virginia. The proposed project will generally follow from Allingdale, West Virginia to Webster Springs, West Virginia with various laterals along the route. Estimated Cost: Total Project Cost: $5,776,080 ARC Funds: $4,620,864 Matching Funds: $1,155,216 FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The West Virginia Department of Economic Development 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 West Virginia Community Advancement and Development (WVCAD), a division of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development (WVDED), where the record is available for review and may be examined or copied weekdays 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR with the West Virginia Department of Economic Development at 1900 Kanawha Blvd East Building 3, Suite 200 Charleston, WV 25305, attention Todd Goddard, Office of Broadband. All comments received by November 27th, 2025, if notice is published: publication date plus fifteen days; if notice is mailed and posted: mailing and posting date plus eighteen days will be considered by the West Virginia Department of Economic Development prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing. RELEASE OF FUNDS The West Virginia Department of Economic Development certifies to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban that Jennifer Ferrell in her capacity as West Virginia Community Advancement and Development (WVCAD) Director 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. The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the name of grant recipient to use HUD program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development will accept objections to its release of fund and the West Virginia Department of Economic Development’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 West Virginia Department of Economic Development; (b) the West Virginia Department of Economic Development 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 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; 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 U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development via email at [email protected]. Potential objectors should contact Gerilee Bennett with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Jennifer Ferrell, WVCAD Director LW-371319 11-12;2025