HUD CoC Environmental Review Updates &
Training for Categorically Excluded, Subject To §58.5 (CEST) Projects – 12/2: 1pm-3pm
Dear Providers:
As you know, all HUD CoC funded projects are required to maintain in project files completed Environmental Review documentation. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Environmental Review is:
- The process of reviewing a project and its potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets federal, state, and local environmental standards.
- Required for all HUD-assisted projects to ensure that they don’t negatively impact surrounding environment, and the property site itself will not have an adverse environmental or health effect on participants/surrounding community.
- Required every five years, provided environmental conditions haven’t changed
Nationwide Environmental Review for CoC TBRA and TBL projects
There is good news for most Continuum of Care (CoC) tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) and tenant-based leasing (TBL) projects! Until recently, it was not widely communicated that HUD had already completed a Nationwide Environmental Review for CoC TBRA and TBL projects. HUD has confirmed that this review, covering FY23-FY27, applies to the majority of our CoC TBRA and TBL projects – those where participants choose their own units, and where projects do not involve any associated rehab or repair beyond routine maintenance. See the linked document for additional information including details on routine maintenance. This clarification should reduce the administrative burden for many projects through FY2027.The following types of projects are covered under the Nationwide Environmental Review completed by HUD, and they do not need to complete their own review:
- The following projects where participants choose own units & projects don’t involve rehab/repair beyond routine maintenance
- Tenant-based Rental Assistance
- Tenant-based Leasing
- Planning
- HMIS
- Supportive Services Only (Coordinated Entry, Street Outreach, & Youth Navigator)
Categorically Excluded,
Projects that are categorized as CEST, are CoC Program leasing, sponsor-based and project-based rental assistance. These projects are NOT covered under the Nationwide Environmental Review and are required to complete CEST Environmental Review paperwork.
DMHAS CEST Projects
DMHAS hires a consultant to complete Environmental Reviews for DMHAS CoC Project-Based and Sponsor-Based Rental Assistance Projects. Therefore, any projects with DMHAS as the grantee, do not need to complete their own CEST Environmental Review.
Non-DMHAS CEST Projects
To assist you to complete your Environmental Review, we will be conducting a Zoom training for projects that are required to complete your own Categorically Excluded,
The Environmental Review for CoC Activities training is designed to demonstrate how the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and HUD Part 58 Environmental Review policies, programs, and regulations apply to Continuum of Care (CoC) activities. Additionally, this training will walk participants through the steps of conducting a Limited Scope Environmental Review for Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) and Leasing projects.
Training Agenda
Environmental Review for CoC Activities Training presented by the Cloudburst Group
December 2, 2025 from 1:00PM to 3:00PM ET
- Overview of National Environmental Review Act (NEPA)
- Overview of HUD Part 58 Environmental Review Process
- Components of the CoC Limited Scope environmental review process for PBRA, and Leasing activities
Only staff working in CoC Program leasing, sponsor-based and project-based rental assistance projects where participants do not choose their own units need attend this webinar.
Zoom Information:
Meeting ID: 836 7239 9384
Passcode: 524539
Additional Environmental Review items can be found on the Resources Page of the CT BOS website. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
CT BOS Team