NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about April 13, 2025 the Town of Franklin will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of HUD funds pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42) (the FY2024 Act), and the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-47) (the Further FY2024 Act), for which Congress made $3,290,054,336 in funding available for Community Project Funding (CPF). These CPF awards are administered by the Department of Housingand Urban Development (HUD). The Town of Franklin has received $850,000.00 for the proposed construction of the Veterans Memorial Drive Extension in Franklin, which will extend an existing public right-of-way through an undeveloped tract of land to support the future construction of the Franklin Ridge Senior Affordable Housing Project. In addition to the $850,000 of HUD Community Project Funding, the Town of Franklin is utilizing $1,870,275 of its FY2023 Massachusetts MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to construct the roadway extension project. The Housing Project will be constructed by a private entity.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The Town of Franklin 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 BETA Group, Inc., 89 Shrewsbury Street, Suite 300, Worcester MA 01604; and the Town of Franklin Planning Department, 355 East Central Street, Franklin MA 02038. The ERR may be examined or copied at BETA Group, Inc. on weekdays 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., or at the Town of Franklin Planning Department on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Wednesday 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., or Friday 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the project may submit written comments on the ERR to the Town of Franklin at the address listed above. All comments received by April 12, 2025 will be considered by the Town of Franklin prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The Town of Franklin certifies to HUD and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that Bryan Taberner, AICP as his capacity of Director of Planning and Community Development in Franklin, Massachusetts 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 and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Town of Franklin to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will accept objections to its release of fund and the Town of Franklin’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 Town of Franklin; (b) the Town of Franklin 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; 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: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Community Planning and Development

Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building

10 Causeway Street - Fifth Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02222-1092

Mass. Executive Office of Housing

and Economic Development

One Ashburton Place, Room 2101

Boston, MA 02108

Bryan Taberner, AICP

Director of Planning & Community Development