Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds ------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR TIERED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS   February 12, 2026 City of South Bend 215 S Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. South Bend, IN 46601 574-235-5826   On or after March 02, 2026 the City of South Bend will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program (LBPHR) as is authorized by Section 1011 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, 42 U.S.C. 4852), and sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1701z-1 and 1701z-2). Funding for this program is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, approved December 29, 2022), the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42, approved March 9, 2024), and the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4, approved March 15, 2025). The Healthy Homes Supplemental funding is authorized under Section 501 and Section 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1701z-1 and 1701z-2) and funded by the consolidated Appropriations Act. 2024 (Public Law 118042, approved March 9, 2024) to undertake the following project:   Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program and Healthy Homes Supplemental, for the purpose of identifying and controlling lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing within South Bend city limits. The full scope of the project includes: 1) Maximize the number of children under the age of six years protected from lead poisoning and the number of housing units where lead hazards are controlled; 2) target lead hazard control efforts in housing units where children less than six years of age are at greatest risk of lead poisoning; 3) utilize cost-effective lead hazard control methods and approaches that ensure long-term safety of building occupants; 4) build local capacity of trained and certified individuals and firms to safely and effectively address lead hazards during lead hazard control; 5) develop comprehensive, community-based approaches to integrating the grant program within other local initiatives through public and private partnerships that address housing related health and safety hazards and/or serve low income families with children under the age of 6 (six). 6) affirmatively further fair housing; 7) establish data sharing and targeting between health and housing departments; 8) establish and implement a detailed process of monitoring and ensuring that units made lead-safe are affirmatively marketed and priority given to families with children under age six years for up to three years; 9)direct job training,, employment, contracting, and other economic opportunities generated by this grant to low-and very low-income person in the area in which the project is located; 10) gather pre-and post-treatment data that supports and validates lead hazard control investments; and 11) comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its implementing regulations at 24 CFR 8, and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, the Healthy Homes Supplemental funding is comprehensively identifying and addressing other housing hazards that affect occupant health in homes being treated under the LHR Grant. The City of South Bend is requesting $7,007,015.78. HUD awarded the City of South Bend $7,007, 015.78 and the City will match $625,701.57.   The proposed hazard control activities to be funded under this/these program(s) is/are categorically excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act requirements, but subject to compliance with some of the environmental laws and authorities listed at § 58.5 of 24 CFR Part 58. In accordance with §58.15, a tiered review process has been structured, whereby some environmental laws and authorities have been reviewed and studied for the intended target area(s) listed above. Other applicable environmental laws and authorities will be complied with when individual projects are ripe for review. Specifically, the target area(s) has/have been studied and compliance with the following laws and authorities has been achieved in this Tier 1 review: Airport Hazards, Coastal Barrier Resources Act, Air Quality, Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Explosive and Flammable Hazards, Farmlands Protection, Sole Source Aquifers, Wetlands Protection, and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Site-specific environmental reviews will include compliance with the following environmental laws and authorities for proposed projects funded under the program(s) listed above: Flood Insurance, Contamination and Toxic Substances, Floodplain Management, Historic Preservation, Environmental Justice, and Noise Abatement and Control. Should individual aggregate projects exceed the threshold for categorical exclusion detailed at §58.35(a), an Environmental Assessment will be completed and a separate Finding of No Significant Impact and Request for Release of Funds published. Copies of the compliance documentation worksheets are available at the address below. Estimated Project Cost: HUD Funding: $7,007,015.78 Total Estimated Project Cost: $7,632,717.35   The Environmental Review Records (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project, and more fully describes the tiered review process cited above, is on file at the City of South Bend Department of Community Investment Neighborhoods Division, 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite 500, South Bend, Indiana, and may be examined or copied on weekdays 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.   PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of South Bend Department of Community Investment Neighborhoods Division, 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite 500, South Bend, Indiana. All comments received by February 27, 2026, will be considered by the City of South Bend prior to authorizing submission of a Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification to HUD.   ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of South Bend certifies to HUD that James Mueller, in his capacity as Mayor, 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 South Bend to use Program funds.   OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE FUNDS HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the City of South Bend certification for a period of fifteen days following either the anticipated submission date (cited above) or HUD’s actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if the objections are on one of the following bases: (a) that the Certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of South Bend; (b) the City of South Bend has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the City of South Bend has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; (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), and may be addressed to HUD and sent to the email address as follows: Karen M. Griego, Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, Program Environmental Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development LeadRegulations@HUD.GOV Potential objectors may contact HUD directly to verify the actual last day of the objection/comment period.   James Mueller, Mayor City of South Bend   HSPAXLP  15x  Feb. 12-13, 15-20, 22-27, March 1