NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO
SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO
REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
June 11, 2026
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
221 Palafox Place
Pensacola, FL 32502
(850) 595-3935
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about June 27th, 2026, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will submit a request to the Florida Department of Commerce for the release of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds under Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 24 Part 58 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake a project known as Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) Bus Shelter improvements (Grant No. HS018) for the purpose of restoration and improvement of some of ECAT’s bus stop facilities at locations throughout Escambia County by providing safer shelters in neighborhoods located within Low-Moderate Income areas. This project will provide safe, effective mobility to ECAT system users by improving system function, increasing resiliency of bus stop amenities, and improving rider safety. The funds are in the amount of $5,000,000.00 including $5,000,000.00 of federal funding and $0.00 of County leverage.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Escambia County 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. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at 221 Palafox Place Pensacola, FL 32502 and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 A.M to 5 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Escambia County with attention to Elizabeth Kissel, Government Liaison via email at [email protected]. All comments received by June 26th, 2026, will be considered by Escambia County prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners certifies to Florida Commerce that Wesley J. Moreno in his capacity as County Administrator, 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. Florida Commerce’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows Escambia County to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
Florida Commerce will accept objections to its release of fund and Escambia County’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 Escambia County; (b) Escambia County 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 Florida Commerce; 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 Florida Commerce at 107 East Madison Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399. Potential objectors should contact Florida Commerce to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Wesley J. Moreno, County Administrator
