NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Date of Publication:  June 3, 2026
City of Philadelphia, Department of Planning and Development
1515 Arch Street, 13^th Floor, Philadelphia, PA  19102

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Philadelphia.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or after June 24^th, the City of Philadelphia will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program funds under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-43) and the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–180), as amended, to undertake the following project:

Project/Program Title: S 42^nd Street Combined Waste and Stormwater Pumping Station
Purpose: The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) proposes to construct an above-ground, flood‑resilient pump station on the existing PWD‑owned parcel. During Hurricane Ida, the station became inundated with stormwater, which submerged the station’s pumps, motors, and all electrical equipment, causing the station to cease operating. This project will increase the pumping capacity to 100 million gallons per day (MGD).
Location: 765 South 43^rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Description:  The PWD proposes construction of a 5,050 sf, above-ground, flood-resilient pump station to replace the current underground pump station at the same location.
Level of Environmental Review Citation:     The project was reviewed per 24 CFR 58.36, NEPA Environmental Assessment.
Estimated Project Cost:  $47,509,000 in total, including this request for $32,558,435 from Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery grant funds.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Philadelphia 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. The full legal notice can be accessed online at the following link:

POSTING INFORMATION

The activities proposed are subject to a full NEPA Environmental Assessment under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements 24 CFR 58.36. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is available electronically at https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/environmental-review/environmental-review-records/  The full legal notice can be accessed online at the following link: https://www.phila.gov/media/20260602111941/ER25_66_42ndStPumpStation_FONSI_June3-for-reposting-.docx

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. All comments received by June 23, 2026 will be considered by the City of Philadelphia prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The City of Philadelphia certifies to HUD that Jessie Lawrence, Certifying Officer, in his capacity as Director of the Department of Planning and Development 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 Philadelphia to use HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the City of Philadelphia’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 City of Philadelphia; (b) the City of Philadelphia 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 CPDRROFPHI@hud.gov.  Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

The Health Department is working to contact patients of the now-closed Smiles at Rittenhouse Square dental clinic (255 South 17th Street, Suite #2507) to encourage them to seek out testing for certain bloodborne pathogens. Please be aware that patients of Rittenhouse Smiles (255 South 17th Street, Suite #2306) are not affected by this situation, do not need to seek out testing, and no evidence of unsafe or unsanitary practices has been found at that clinic.