Federal environmental review remains a critical component of housing and community development projects that rely on HUD funding. Recent executive actions and evolving regulatory interpretations have created uncertainty for municipalities, housing authorities, developers, and their partners, raising questions about what NEPA requirements may change and which core obligations will remain firmly in place.
This moderated panel discussion will bring together NEPA practitioners and subject matter experts to unpack the current regulatory landscape for HUD-funded projects. Panelists will discuss how recent federal actions may affect environmental review expectations, while grounding the conversation in practical, real-world experience drawn from housing, infrastructure, and redevelopment projects across the country. Equal emphasis will be placed on clarifying foundational requirements that are not going away—such as due diligence, historic preservation compliance, floodplain review, and agency coordination—to help project teams avoid common missteps that can delay financing and construction.
Designed for municipalities, developers, nonprofit partners, and housing authorities, this session will focus on practical compliance strategies, persistent areas of confusion (including the difference between Phase I ESAs and NEPA Environmental Assessments), and how to navigate NEPA requirements efficiently amid ongoing regulatory uncertainty. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A to address audience-specific challenges.