Environmental Review Page

 

 Resources

 

Natural Resources

      Management Guide (NRMG)

 

Conducting Environmental

      Reviews Memo

 

Uniform Environmental

      Review Process

 

Programmatic Agreement

      with SHPO

 

SHPO Review Request

      Guidance

 

Sole Source Aquifer Memo

      (07/10/1985 Memo of

      Understanding)

 

PA PN 291 - Filing Environmental   

      Review Documents

 

PA AN 1201 - Environmental

      Justice

 

Engineer Information

 

Architect Information

 

If you have any questions about the proper use of these documents, please contact the Rural Development Pennsylvania State Environmental Coordinator:

 

Korah Abraham, SEC

(717) 237-2291 

Korah Abraham

 

or

 

Kelly Herzog, ASEC

(717) 237-2176

Raquel Herzog

 

 Useful Websites

Environmental Links

 

Mapping Links 

 
Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader, free!
 
 
Download Acrobat Reader
 
 

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS

In order to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable environmental requirements, all proposed actions undertaken by Rural Development in all program areas, are required to complete an environmental review process. The applicable RD regulations for each program are:

  • 1940-G  for Housing Program and Business and Cooperative Program except Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC)
  • 1794 for Utilities Program and Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC)

APPLICANTS at the earliest possible time shall provide sufficient information, for RD to determine the type of environmental review to be conducted.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT will work with the applicant to obtain comments and reviews form other agencies when required and prepare Categorical Exclusions, Categorical exclusions without an Environmental Report, Class I and Class II assessments as appropriate. Additional information using Form RD 1940-20 and attachments will be obtained from the applicant to complete Class I and Class II assessments, under 1940-G. An Environmental Report (ER) will need to be prepared by the applicant’s consultant in case of Categorical Exclusions with ER and Environmental Assessments, under 1794.

Agencies got together and developed a Uniform Environmental Review (UER) process to eliminate conflicts and save time in preparing multiple documents under different agencies’ criteria.  The ER prepared under the Uniform Environmental Review process is acceptable to EPA, DEP, PENNVEST, DCED, RUS (RD) and HUD. Additional information on UER is available at web sites Uniform Environmental Review Process and www.dep.state.pa.us and refer DEP DOCUMENT ID: 381-5511-111.  The "Resources" listed on the Environmental Page will be helpful to develop a stand alone UER Report.

The Natural Resources Management Guide can be helpful to identify the environmental factors to be addressed, the agencies to be contacted and the process for addressing each potential environmental impact.  Click on link below for a copy of the Natural Resources Management Guide.

For further assistance contact the RD Area Specialist for the specific program.

To find the closest office near you, please click here.

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Architect Information Page

 

If you have any questions about the proper use of these documents, please contact the Rural Development Pennsylvania Architect:

 

Ron Pankratz

(717) 237-2271

Ronald Pankratz

  

ARCHITECTURAL/CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

Rural Development (RD) Programs, such as Community Facility (CF), Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG), & Multi-Family Housing (MFH), involve the construction of new buildings or renovation of existing facilities. The development of these facilities involves the need for architectural services for the preparation of plans & specifications, public bidding, contracting, construction, and construction monitoring.

 

APPLICANTS at the earliest possible time, should provide a Preliminary Architectural Feasibility Report, including the Cost Estimate, for the review by the RD State Architect and a Financial Feasibility Report for the review by the RD Area Loan Specialist. These two documents are needed to determine the project’s feasibility.

 

RURAL DEVELOPMENT State Architect will evaluate and provide architectural/ construction guidance to the Applicants and their Architects, for RD financed architectural projects, in the following areas:

  • Initial site visit & evaluation of the proposed project.

  • Preliminary Architectural Feasibility Report.

  • Agency concurrence of Owner/Architect Agreements.

  • Agency acceptance of Plans & Specifications.

  • Agency concurrence of Construction Contract Documents.

  • Construction & construction monitoring.

In addition, the RD State Architect provides technical assistance to the Rural Development staff in various support capacities.

 

Refer to the “General Information for Architects” and other guide documents for information on Agency’s architectural/construction requirements & policies.

 

 

 

For further assistance contact the RD Area Specialist for the specific program.

To find the closest office near you, please click here. 

 

 
 
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Engineer Information Page

 

If you have any questions about the proper use of these documents, please contact one of the Rural Development Pennsylvania State Engineers:

 

John Williams, P.E.

(717) 237-2295

John Williams

 

Judith Tutino, P.E. 

(724) 482-4800 x122

Judith Tutino

 

Information for Consulting Engineers

 

Before Funding Obligation

Before receiving RD funds it is usually necessary to complete the Uniform Environmental Report  (Go to the Environmental Review Page for further details).

 

For further assistance contact the RD loan specialist for the specific program.

To find the closest office near you, please click here.

 

Engineering Services Agreements

One of the following formats must be used to document your understandings with your client, if RD funds will be used for your water or waste project:

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Fee Guideline. 

Applicable to both sets of documents.

Ask one of us if your fees differ from these guidelines for your project.

Any changes must be strikethroughs NOT deletions.

Standard Contract Documents for Rural Utility Projects in Pennsylvania
April 2005

Listed below are the standard non-technical contract documents to be used for Rural Utility Water and Waste Disposal projects. 

Nationally, USDA Rural Development has adopted the Engineers Joint Contract Document Committee "EJCDC" document standard.  Firms must make a one time purchase of the 2002 Funding Agency Edition (only) from one of the Committee's sales agents, and after these are purchased they must be modified in accordance with Pennsylvania Rural Development Administrative Notice No. 1186 (1780) dated March 1, 2004, Attachment No. 1.

All "old style" items are Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files, except item 14 which is an HTML document and item 18 which is a Powerpoint file.  Note: Items 1-4, 9-13, and 15-16 are all included in a single file. (rb-13pa.pdf)

EJCDC:  Be aware the standard "Funding Agency Edition" EJCDC documents dated 2002 must be modified according to Pennsylvania Rural Development Administrative Notice 1186 (1780) dated March 1, 2004; Attachment No. 1: RUS Bulletin 1780-26 (PA Revision, 12-2003). The "Funding Agency Edition" must be purchased from an EJCDC sales agent. Rural Development is not permitted to distribute the documents. For your convenience a purchasing link to each document is provided below.

  1. Instructions to Bidders (RB 1780-26 PA Rev. 12-2003 Exhibit E)
  2. Bid Form (C-410)
  3. Bid Bond (C-430)
  4. Certification Regarding Debarment…
  5. Compliance Statement
  6. Certification for Contracts, Grants and Loans
  7. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
  8. Notice of Intent to Award
  9. Construction Performance Bond (C-610)
  10. Construction Payment Bond (C-615)
  11. Notice of Award (C-510)
  12. Owner-Contractor Agreement (C-521)
  13. Certificate of Owner’s Attorney 
  14. Notice to Proceed (C-550)
  15. Standard General Conditions of the Construction Contract (C-710)
  16. Pennsylvania Supplementary Conditions
  17. Project Sign - Portrait  -  Landscape
  18. Change Order (C-941)
  19. Contractor's Application for Payment (C-620)
  20. "Equal Employment Opportunity Is The Law" poster
  21. Certificate of Substantial Completion (C-625)

RUS Bulletins 1780-13 & 1780-14, PA Revision 10-2000 ("Old Style"):  These documents will not normally be authorized for use after 12/31/05.

  1. Advertisement for Bids
  2. Information for Bidders
  3. Bid
  4. Bid Bond
  5. Certification Regarding Debarment…
  6. Compliance Statement
  7. Certification for Contracts, Grants and Loans
  8. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
  9. Notice of Intent to Award
  10. Performance Bond
  11. Payment Bond
  12. Notice of Award
  13. Agreement
  14. Certificate of Owner’s Attorney 
  15. Notice to Proceed
  16. General Conditions
  17. RUS Supplemental General Conditions for PA
  18. Project Sign - Portrait  -  Landscape
  19. Contract Change Order
  20. Partial Payment Estimate
  21. "Equal Employment Opportunity Is The Law" poster

For further assistance contact the RD Area Specialist for the specific program.

 

To find the closest office near you, please click here.

 

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