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.
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.
Grant Preparation Resources
Checklists and other guidance to assist with EHP frontloading during application development, plus funding guidance, cultural and structural mitigation considerations, and more.
e-Grant Application Guidebook
This guidebook clarifies common misunderstandings about what is sufficient and helpful EHP documentation to provide as part of an application.
Access the e-Grant Guidebook
Training
Take a course on Coordinating Environmental and Historic Preservation Compliance for FEMA disaster assistance.
Learn about the Environmental Planning & Historic Preservation process, including:
- Conducting an Environmental & Historic Preservation review
- Completing an environmental assessment
- Understanding regulations and directives
- Search existing environmental assessments and public notices