Environmental & Historic Preservation Grant Guidance

Environmental & Historic Preservation Guidance for FEMA Grant Applications

A condition of Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants is the requirement to comply with all applicable environmental and historic preservation laws and regulations. Consequently, all HMA grants must undergo an environmental planning and historic preservation (EHP) review. This process ensures that federal grant monies are used in a manner consistent with federal laws pertaining to the environment and historic preservation, as well as consideration of the effects to, and protection and enhancement of, natural and cultural resources.

This broad EHP review considers a wide variety of natural and cultural resources including floodplains, wetlands, archeological sites, historic structures, protected coastal areas, endangered and threatened species, critical wildlife habitats, soils, clean air and water and children, minority and low-income populations.

Regulations and Directives

The integrity of our natural and historic landscape is important to us all, and steps taken to strengthen or rebuild communities can have long-term environmental and cultural impacts. To ensure proper stewardship of historic properties and the environment, there are more than 30 federal regulations, directives, and legal mandates — in addition to a number of state laws and codes — in place to protect these resources.

All FEMA activities and programs must comply with federal environmental and historic preservation laws and executive orders.

Understand the Regulations

National Environmental Policy Act

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a federal law that established a national policy for the protection and maintenance of the environment.

Learn About NEPA Requirements

National Historical Preservation Act

The National Historical Preservation Act (NHPA) directs federal agencies to take into account the effect of any federally funded or assisted project on historic properties.

Learn About NHPA Requirements

Planning Ahead for Compliance

Compliance with EHP-related laws can have time and cost implications to projects. During the project scoping process, environmental and cultural resource considerations are identified and evaluated. Additionally, based on potential impacts to identified environmental and cultural resources, there may be a legal requirement to alter the project. Applicants should consider the whole range of program requirements, including EHP requirements, in the beginning stages of project development. This will help increase the efficiency of the review by ensuring that EHP requirements are addressed at the earliest stage possible and consequently reduce the need for additional requests for information, potentially preventing future delays.

EHP GRANT PREPARATION RESOURCES

Environmental Historic Preservation Checklist

May 2, 2018

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Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Policy Guidance

This policy is intended to ensure that all FEMA GPD non-disaster grant programs and activities comply with applicable Federal EHP laws, Presidential Executive Orders (EOs), and regulations.

March 13, 2017

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Hazard Mitigation Assistance EHP at-a-Glance Guide

This guide provides information on how to incorporate environmental and historic preservation considerations into your Hazard Mitigation Assistance application and project.

April 1, 2012

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Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Screening Form (FEMA Form 024-0-1)

FEMA Form 024-0-1. This form is designed to initiate and facilitate the environmental and historic preservation (EHP) compliance review for your FEMA preparedness grant-funded project(s).

June 1, 2017

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Environmental and Historical Preservation Resources At-A-Glance Guide

This EHP Resources At-A-Glance Guide is a Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) product. This guide was prepared to assist applicants with identification of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Resources.

February 1, 2013

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