Public Notice

CORRECTIVE NOTICE OF
FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT
IMPACT AND
NOTICE OF INTENT TO
REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS*
Date of Publication: March 25, 2026
Woodlands Development Group, Inc.
316 Railroad Ave.
Elkins, WV 26241
304-404-2300
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by Woodlands Development Group, Inc.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or after April 10, 2026, Woodlands Development Group will submit a request to the WV Division of Economic Development for the release of Appalachian Regional Commission funds under Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, as amended, to undertake the following project:
Project Title: Rt. 33 Broadband Deployment Project ARC Project #PW-20449
Purpose: This project will construct and deploy roughly 58 miles of middle and last-mile broadband fiber network in Tucker and Randolph Counties. Backbone fiber will run from Elkins along Route 33, through Bowden, Harman, Canaan Valley, and end in Davis.
Location: This project is located in the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Elkins, Bowden, Harman, Whitmer, Laneville, Blackwater Falls, and Davis 7.5 minute quadrangles of Randolph and Tucker Counties, West Virginia.
Estimated Cost: ARC Grant funding will be $2,500,000.00 and the total project cost is estimated to be $4,431,161.00
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT
Woodlands Development Group 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 in the Woodland Development Office at 316 Railroad Ave., Elkins, WV 26241 and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 A.M to 4 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Region VII Planning & Development Office via email to
[email protected]
or USPS to Carrie Wallace at P.O. Box 849, Buckhannon, WV 26201. All comments received by April 9, 2026, will be considered by the Woodlands Development Group prior to the submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
Woodlands Development Group certifies to the WV Division of Economic Development that Dave Clark in his capacity as Executive 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. WV Division of Economic Development’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Woodlands Development Group to use ARC program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
The WV Division of Economic Development will accept objections to its release of fund and Woodlands Development Groups’ 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 Woodlands Development Group; (b) Woodlands Development Group 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 the WV Division of Economic 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 WV Division of Economic Development, WV Office of Broadband at 1900 Kanawha Blvd., East; Capitol Complex, Building 6 Suite 600; Charleston, WV 25305. Potential objectors should contact the state office to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
*This corrective notice is necessary to change the Responsible Entity from the Town of Davis to Woodlands Development Group.
Dave Clark, Executive Director
03/25/2026