This Notice provides clarifying guidance, waivers, and alternative requirements for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG–DR) grantees in receipt of funds under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (the Appropriations Act). This Notice modifies requirements for projects funded by the HUD-sponsored Rebuild by Design (RBD) competition, described in Federal Register Notices published on July 29, 2013 (78 FR 45551); August 23, 2013 (78 FR 52560); October 16, 2014 (79 FR 62182); and May 11, 2015 (80 FR 26942). These changes will allow RBD grantees to submit their required subsequent Action Plan amendments before the RBD project’s design has been finalized, the draft environmental impact statement has been completed and permits for the project have been issued. Additionally, this Notice modifies requirements of a Notice published on March 5, 2013 (78 FR 14329), to allow grantees to submit Action Plan amendments after June 1, 2017.

This Notice also modifies requirements for infrastructure projects funded through the allocation of CDBG–DR funds for Hurricane Sandy. Specifically, this Notice provides waivers and alternative requirements for certain infrastructure projects funded by the State of New York, including the Breezy Point Storm Drainage system, as well as for New York City’s Raised Shorelines program.

The Notice also provides a waiver of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (HCDA) to authorize the State of New Jersey to use up to $30 million of CDBG–DR funds for the provision of up to 21 months of rental assistance for participants in its single-family housing rehabilitation programs. The waiver for the State of New Jersey expires on December 31, 2017.

View the Notice.