COMBINED NOTICE
NOTICE TO PUBLIC OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND NOTICE TO PUBLIC OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

Town of Syracuse, Kosciusko County
310 N. Huntington St.,
Syracuse, Indiana 46567

TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS:

On or about April 30, 2026, the Town of Syracuse will request the release of federal funds from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) for Community Development Block Grant Funds from the State of Indiana under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383) for the following project:

Town of Syracuse Huntington Street Water Improvement Project

The project consists of upgrading the Town’s water utility infrastructure on Huntington, Mullen, Allen, Branch, and Wood Streets, from the Elkhart County line to SR 13. This project will increase capacity, improve efficiency, and eliminate health and safety risks by replacing undersized and deteriorating pipes and removing lead gooseneck connections. Construction activities will involve replacing existing 2-inch and 4-inch water mains with new 6-inch and 8-inch mains. This includes the installation of 1-inch service lines, 6-inch and 8-inch valves, fire hydrants, and water meter pits. Other construction tasks include erosion control, disconnection of water mains, and tree removal. Non-construction services include surveying, design, permitting, construction oversight, environmental review, grant administration, and legal, bond, and rate counsel.

Finding of No Significant Impact

It has been determined that such request for release of funds will not constitute an action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and accordingly the above named Town of Syracuse has decided not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190). The reasons for such decision not to prepare such statement are as follows:

All preliminary environmental reviews by state and county agencies indicated that the proposed project would not endanger the environment under any capacity.

An Environmental Review Record regarding the proposed project has been made by the above named Town of Syracuse which documents the environmental review of the project and more fully sets forth the reasons why such statement is not required. This Environmental Review Record is on file at the above address and is available for public examination and copying upon request at the Town of Syracuse Town Hall between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. Should Town offices be closed, the ERR Packet will be made available to the public for review either electronically at, https://www.syracusein.org/, or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St., Syracuse, IN 46567 or by email to [email protected]. No further environmental review of such project is proposed to be conducted prior to the request for release of funds.

Public Comments of Findings

All interested agencies, groups, and persons disagreeing with this decision are invited to submit written comments for consideration by the Town of Syracuse to the Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St., Syracuse, Indiana 46567 or by email to [email protected]. Such written comments should be received by October 14, 2025. All such comments received will be considered and the Town of Syracuse will not request the release of federal funds or take any administrative action on the proposed project prior to the date specified in the preceding sentences.

Release of Funds

The Town of Syracuse will undertake the project described above with Community Development Block Grant funds from the State of Indiana under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The Town of Syracuse is certifying to the State that the Town of Syracuse and Nathan Scherer, in his official capacity as the Town Council President, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to environmental reviews, decision making, and action; and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. The legal effect of the certification is that upon its approval the Town of Syracuse may use the Block Grant funds, and the State will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Objections to State Release of Funds

The State will accept an objection to its approval only if it is on one of the following basis: (a) that the certification was not in fact executed by the certifying officer or other officer of applicant approved by the State; or (b) that the applicant’s environmental review record for the project indicated omission of a required review process. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedure (24 CFR Part 58) and may be submitted to Grant Services & OCRA through the ER Report in GMS.

Objections to the release of funds on a basis other than those stated above will not be considered by the State. No objections received after October 31, 2025, will be considered by the State.

Nathan Scherer, Council President
Town of Syracuse