Public notice for funding release for Lopez Food Center construction project.

NOTICE OF  FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT  IMPACT AND  NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST  RELEASE OF FUNDS February 18, 2026 San Juan County Health and Community Services PO Box 607, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-370-7518 These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the San Juan County Health and Community Services (SJCHCS) REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about March 5, 2026 the SJCHCS will submit a request to the Department of Commerce for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title I, Housing and Community Development Act of the 1974, to undertake a project known as the Lopez Food Center for the purpose of constructing a multi-use facility to house the Lopez Food Share food bank, community kitchen, food storage, and distribution site for the San Juan Islands Food Hub at 201 Weeks Rd, Lopez Island WA 98261. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The SJCHCS 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 San Juan County Health and Community Services office located at 145 Rhone Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:30 AM to 3:30 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the SJCHCS attention Kristen Rezabek.  All comments received by March 5, 2026 will be considered by the SJCHCS prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.  Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The SJCHCS certifies to Washington State Department of Commerce that Sev Jones in his capacity as Director of Department of Community Development 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.  Commerce approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Lopez Food Center to use CDBG Program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS Department of Commerce will accept objections to its release of fund and the SJCHCS 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 the SJCHCS; (b) the SJCHCS 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 CDBG funds by Department of Commerce; or (d) another Federal ag-ency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.  Object- ions must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to Department of Commerce, Local Government, CDBG Project Manager at PO Box 42525 Olympia, WA 98504-2525.  Potential objectors should contact Department of Commerce at 360-725-4000 to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Sev Jones, Director, Department of Community Development Legal No. S1026331 Published: The Islands Sounder February 18, 2026  ad+#1026331]