Part 58 - Environmental Assessment Factors

(Compliance with 24 CFR 58.40; Ref. 40 CFR 1508.8 &1508.27)

Evaluate the significance of the effects of the proposal on the character, features, and resources of the project area.  Enter relevant base data and verifiable source documentation to support the finding on the EA.  Then note the appropriate impact code from the following list to make a finding of impact.

Impact Codes:  Use an impact code from the following list to make the determination of impact for each factor. 
(1)  Minor beneficial impact
(2)  No impact anticipated 
(3)  Minor Adverse Impact – May require mitigation 
(4)  Significant or potentially significant impact requiring avoidance or modification which may require an Environmental Impact Statement.
(Note names, dates of contact, telephone numbers, and page references.  Attach additional materials as needed.)

Important: HUD has an easy to follow Environmental Assessment Factors and Categories eGuide on the following factors as well.

Land Development

Conformance with Comprehensive Plans & Zoning

• Is the project in conformance with established local government?
• Comprehensive planning and zoning practices? (Yes | No)

Compatibility & Urban Impact

• Is the project compatible with the surrounding area in terms of (Yes | No):
  • Land use
  • Texture, materials
  • Height, bulk, mass
  • Building type (lo/hi rises)
  • Building density
  • Building arrangement
  • Population density
  • Light/shadow and ventilation
  • Setback
  • Landscaping

Slope

• Slopes:  (Not Applicable | Steep | Moderate | Slight)
• Is there evidence of slope erosion? (Yes | No)
  (Such as; Extensive gullies/small ravines?    Bowed-retaining walls?  Washing away of top-soil    and grasses?  Tree movement?  Fire scars?)
• Is there evidence of unstable slope conditions? (Yes | No)
  (Such as; Trees perpendicular to slope? Vertical cracks at top of slope? Tilted utility poles?  Hummocky-undulations    on mid to lower slopes?)
• Is there evidence of ground subsidence on the site? (Yes | No)
• Is there evidence of other unusual conditions on site? (Yes | No)

Soil Suitability

• Soils: (Loose, fine rained silts | Gravel/Sands | Clay (Hard/Dry) | Non-expansive | Moderately expansive | Highly expansive | Mix-of-each)
  (select the approproate type if finding can be made by the reviewer)
• Are there visual indications of filled ground? (Yes | No)
  (Materials loosely piled on ground?  Loose vegetation? Earth has graded appearance or topography appears unnatural in grade as related to vicinity?)
• Are there active rills and gullies on site? (Yes | No)
• Is there off-site drainage to site? (Yes | No)
• Is a soils report needed? (Yes | No)
• Is a geological study needed? (Yes | No)

Hazards & Nuisances, including Site Safety

• Will the project be affected by (Yes | No):
  • Faults, fractures
  • Fire hazard materials
  • Cliffs, bluffs, crevices
  • Wind/sand storm concerns
  • Slope-failures from rains
  • Poisonous plants, insects, animals
  • Unprotected water bodies
  • Hazardous terrain features
  • Hazardous street conditions
  • Railroad-crossing hazards
  • Dangerous intersections
  • Inadequate screened drainage catchment structures
  • Through traffic problems
  • Inadequate separation of pedestrian/vehicle traffic
  • Hazards in vacant lots
  • Chemical tank-car terminals
  • Children's play areas located next to freeways or other high volume traffic ways
  • Trucking terminals
  • Other hazardous chemical storage
  • Inadequate street lighting
  • High-pressure gas
  • Unscreened quarries or other excavations
  • Overhead transmission lines
  • Sanitary landfills or mining operations
  • Hazardous cargo transportation routes
  • Industrial operations
  • Oil or gas wells
  • Gas, smoke, fumes
  • Unsightly land uses
  • Odors
  • Front-lawn parking
  • Vibration
  • Abandoned vehicles
  • Glare from parking areas
  • Rodent or vermin problems
  • Billboard encroachment
  • Industrial nuisances
  • Vacant/boarded-up buildings
  • Other

Energy Consumption

• Are adequate gas and electrical utility services available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available gas and electrical utility service providers in the area? (Yes | No)
• Is the project designed to utilize energy conservation measures? (Yes | No)

Noise – Contribution to community noise levels

• Will the project adversely impact community noise levels? (Yes | No)

Air Quality – Effects of ambient air quality on project & contribution to community pollution levels

• Are there air pollution generators nearby which would adversely affect the site? (Yes | No)
  • Heavy industry
  • Large parking facilities (1000 or more cars)
  • Incinerators
  • Power generating plants
  • Heavy traveled highway (6 or more lanes)
  • Oil refineries
• Will the project adversely impact community air quality levels? (Yes | No)

Environmental Design – Visual quality – coherence, diversity, compatible use & scale    

• Is the project design compatible and a betterment to the Surrounding neighborhood? (Yes | No)

Socioeconomic

Demographic Character Changes

• Will the project be unduly influenced by (Yes | No):
  • Building obsolescence
  • Transition of land uses
  • Vacant buildings
  • Transition in density
  • Building deterioration
  • Non-conforming conversions
  • Postponed maintenance
  • Incompatible land uses
  • Obsolete public facilities
  • Inadequate off-street parking
  • Buildings crowding land
• Will the project adversely impact demographic character in the area? (Yes | No)

Displacement

• Will the project result in displacement? (Yes | No)

Employment & Income Patterns

• Will the project adversely impact employment and income patterns? (Yes | No)

Community Facilities and Services

Educational Facilities

• Are adequate educational facilities available to the project’s users? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available education service providers in the area?  (Yes | No)

Commercial Facilities

Health Care

• Are adequate general health care services available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available general health care service providers in the area?  (Yes | No)

Social Services

• Are adequate social care services available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available social care service providers in the area? (Yes | No)

Solid Waste

• Is adequate solid waste service available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available solid waste service providers in the area?  (Yes | No)

Waste Water

• Is adequate sanitary sewer service available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available sanitary sewer service providers in the area?  (Yes | No)

Storm Water

• Is adequate storm water capacity and infrastructure available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact storm water capacity and Infrastructure available in the area? (Yes | No)

Water Supply

• Is adequate potable and irrigation water service available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available water service providers in the area? (Yes | No)
• Will the project impact adjudicated water rights? (Yes | No)

Water Resources

• Will the project adversely impact water resources in the area? (Yes | No)

Surface Water

• Will the project adversely impact surface water in the area? (Yes | No)

Public Safety - Police

• Is adequate police protection service available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available police protection providers in the area? (Yes | No)

Public Safety - Fire

• Is adequate fire protection service available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available fire protection providers in the area? (Yes | No)

Public Safety - Emergency Medical

• Are adequate emergency medical services available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available emergency medical service providers in the area? (Yes | No)

Open Space & Recreation - Open Space

• Is adequate open space available to the project’s users? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely affect open space in the area? (Yes | No)

Open Space & Recreation - Cultural Facilities

• Are adequate cultural facilities available to the project’s users? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely affect cultural facilities in the area? (Yes | No)

Transportation

• Are the approaches to the project convenient, safe and attractive? (Yes | No)
• Is the project accessible to employment? (Yes | No)
• Are parks and play spaces available on site or nearby? (Yes | No)
• Are commercial/retail shopping centers nearby? (Yes | No)
• Is public transportation service available? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely affect transportation infrastructure in the area? (Yes | No)

Natural Features

Unique Natural Features & Agricultural Lands

• Is the project near natural features such as bluffs or cliffs? (Yes | No)
• Is the project near public or private scenic areas? (Yes | No)
• Are other natural resources visible on site or in? (Yes | No)
• Is the site covered with trees and non-agricultural vegetation? (Yes | No)
• Is the site presently being farmed? (Yes | No)
• Is the project compatible with unique natural features in the area? (Yes | No)
• Is the project compatible with agricultural practices in the area? (Yes | No)

Vegetation & Wildlife

• Is the project near wildlife or wildlife habitat? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact wildlife or wildlife habitat in the area? (Yes | No)

Other Factors

• Are adequate communications services available to the project? (Yes | No)
• Will the project adversely impact available communications service providers in the area? (Yes | No)