NOTICE OF INTENT TO
REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
Date of Publication:
January 12, 2022
Raleigh County Commission
116 ½ North Heber Street
Beckley, WV 25802
(304)-255-9146
On or after January 20, 2021 the Raleigh County Commission will submit a request to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development for the release of West Virginia/HUD Community Development Block Grant funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake the following project:
Project: Raleigh County Memorial Airport Industrial Park Broadband Expansion Project
Purpose: Raleigh County Memorial Airport Industrial Park Broadband Expansion Project will provide broadband cable and internet service to the Raleigh County Memorial Airport Industrial Park area.
Location: The project limits will begin north, along Industrial Park Road to the WV Southern Regional Jail, and along the entirety of Commerce Drive from the intersection with Industrial Park Road south to the bottom of the east-west runway at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport. This project will extend approximately 6.1 miles of high-speed aerial and buried fiber.
Estimated Cost: Total estimated project cost is $643,999 which is HUD Community Development Block Grant.
The activities proposed: The site will be using existing power poles for the installation of aerial fiber to make the proposed broadband enhancements to the project area. There will be minimal ground disturbance in the project area consistent with the installation of buried fiber. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at Region I Planning & Development Council, 1439 E. Main St., Suite 5, Princeton, WV 24740 and (304) 431-7225 and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:30 A.M to 4:30 P.M by appointment and in accordance with COVID-19 prevention protocols.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Raleigh County Commission c/o Region I Planning & Development Council, 1439 E. Main St., Suite 5, Princeton, WV 24740 and (304) 431-7225, Attention: David Tolliver, President. All comments received by January 19, 2022 will be considered by the Raleigh County Commission prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
The Raleigh County Commission certifies to West Virginia and HUD that David Tolliver in his capacity as President 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/West Virginia’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Raleigh County Commission to use HUD program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE
OF FUNDS
The State of West Virginia/HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the Raleigh County Commission’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 Raleigh County Commission; (b) the Raleigh County Commission 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/West Virginia; 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 Todd Goddard, Project Manager, at the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East; Building 3, Suite 700, Charleston, WV 25305. Potential objectors should contact West Virginia Department of Economic Development to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
David Tolliver, President