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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Eligibility and Completeness Review Checklist for Project Subapplications
May 1, 2018
EHP Fact Sheet: Debris Removal Activities
Link to Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Fact Sheet: Debris Removal Activities
GET STARTED
Conduct an Environmental & Historic Preservation Review
All federally funded projects must undergo an environmental review. Learn about the process and find resources for applicants and practitioners.
Complete an Environmental Assessment
Environmental assessments are used to determine if significant environmental impacts would occur as a result of a federally funded action.
Search Environmental Assessments and Public Notices
Organized by region, browse libraries of documents related to environmental assessments and public notices issued by FEMA.