CITY OF BETHLEHEM 2025 CDBG PROGRAM NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR TIERED PROJECTS Date of Publication: January 7, 2026 City of Bethlehem 10 East Church Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 610-865-7085 On or about January 15, 2026, the City of Bethlehem will submit a request to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake the following projects: Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Housing – Housing Rehabilitation: City-wide (Tier 1 Review) Purpose: To increase the availability of suitable housing for income-eligible households in the City of Bethlehem. Location: Available on a city-wide basis. Specific addresses to be determined. Project/Program Description: The proposed Program would provide residential repairs to low- and moderate-income homeowners of owner-occupied homes. Program activities would include, but are not limited to, roof repair or replacement; painting previously painted surfaces; window and/or door replacements; air conditioning repair, Americans with Disabilities Act improvements; and other activities similar in scope. The Program would begin in January 2026 and run through December 2030, where the City of Bethlehem would provide Program Year 2025 through 2029 CDBG funding of approximately $1,793,290 (total across all program years) for repair of approximately 30-40 single-family residential units occupied by income-eligible households per program year. The actual annual amount will be identified in each Annual Action Plan in the referenced program year range. Tier 2 site-specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known. Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(3)(i) Tier 2 Site-Specific Review: The site-specific reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: (1) Airport Hazards, (2) Flood Insurance, (3) Contaminated and Toxic Substances, (4) Historic Preservation, and (5) Noise Abatement and Control. Mitigation Measures/Conditions/Permits (if any): When addresses are determined and Tier 2 site-specific reviews have been conducted, any environmental factors requiring mitigation, conditions or permits will be addressed in a manner consistent with governing regulations and the City's written strategy, as applicable. Any sites or scopes of work that are confirmed to be beyond the constraints established by the Tier 1 review will receive a separate environmental review. For airport hazards, the City will document a project site's location in relation to area airports. For flood insurance, the City will document the project site's corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Rate Map and will require flood insurance for projects located in special flood hazard areas. For contamination and toxic substances, the City will determine if each project site is free of hazardous materials, contamination, toxic chemicals and gases (including radon), and radioactive substances, where a hazard could affect the health and safety of occupants or conflict with the intended utilization of the property. For historic preservation, the City will review an existing programmatic agreement with the State Historic Preservation Officer for covered activities and will determine a project's impact on historic resources for projects involving activities not covered by the existing programmatic agreement. For noise abatement and control, the City will document a project site's proximity to noise generators (i.e., roads, railroads, and airports), and will calculate and document ambient noise levels on each project site, as necessary. Estimated Project Cost for PY 2025: $358,658 The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3)(i). An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the City of Bethlehem Department of Community and Economic Development, Bethlehem City Hall, 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA, and may be examined or copied weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. An electronic copy of the ERR may be accessed online at the following website: //www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Community-Economic-Development/Community-Development/CDBG-Home. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Bethlehem Department of Community and Economic Development, Bethlehem City Hall, 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA, 18018. All comments received by January 15, 2026, will be considered by the City of Bethlehem prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Additional project information is contained in the ERR. The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by US mail. Please submit your request by US mail to the address noted above or via email to enehmeh@bethlehem-pa.gov with a copy to rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Bethlehem certifies to HUD that J. William Reynolds, in his capacity as Mayor, or his authorized designee, 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 approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Bethlehem to use Program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the City of Bethlehem'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 or other officer of the City of Bethlehem; (b) The City of Bethlehem has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulation 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 the Philadelphia Office of Community Planning and Development at CPDRROFPHI@hud.gov or 801 Market Street, 12th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period. J. William Reynolds, Mayor City of Bethlehem Jan 7-8