[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 31639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13486]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Notice of the Availability of the Finding of No Significant
Impact Concerning a Proposal To Award a Contract to House Federal, Low-
Security, Criminal Aliens in a Contractor-Owned/Contractor-Operated
Correctional Facility
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.
ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons
(BOP) announces the availability of the Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) concerning the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the
proposal to award one or more contracts to house 900 to approximately
3,000 federal, low-security, adult male, non-U.S. citizen, criminal
aliens within one or more existing contractor-owned and operated
correctional facilities.
Background Information
Pursuant to Section 102, 42 U.S.C. 4332, of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the BOP
published an EA concerning a proposal to award one or more contracts to
house 900 to approximately 3,000 Federal, low-security, adult male,
non-U.S. citizen, criminal aliens within one or more existing
contractor-owned and operated correctional facilities.
The 30-day public comment period began on January 28, 2011 and was
extended by 10 days at the request of a member of the public in order
to submit comments to the BOP concerning the EA. By March 9, 2011, the
BOP received comment letters from several government agencies and a
member of the public which raised technical and non-technical issues
and questions.
Following a thorough review of all public comments and
environmental documentation amassed in support of the proposed action,
the BOP determined that it was appropriate and in the best interests of
the public to prepare a new EA. The new EA incorporated additional
information prepared in response to public comments. The new EA also
provided the most current information available regarding the
alternative facilities as well as the BOP's Preferred Alternative.
Project Information
Under the proposed action, the contractor(s) selected to house the
approximately 3,000 Federal, low-security, adult male, criminal aliens
would be responsible for ensuring that the correctional facility(s) is
operated in a manner consistent with the mission of the BOP and state
and federal laws and regulations. It is anticipated that the BOP will
predominantly assign Federal, low-security, adult male, criminal aliens
(comprised primarily of persons with a year or less remaining to serve)
to the selected facility. However, the BOP may designate any inmate
within its custody utilizing the same designation criteria as used at
other BOP facilities. All inmate services and programs would be
developed and implemented to comply with the BOP's contract
requirements and all applicable federal, state and local laws and
regulations.
Following publication of the solicitation for the Short Term
Sentences procurement, the BOP received responses from contractors
representing nine alternative facilities. Of the nine alternative
locations, six were either withdrawn by contractor(s) or eliminated
from consideration by the BOP on the basis of non-environmental
criteria. Three existing correctional facilities, located in Oklahoma
and Texas, were considered worthy of further consideration. Possible
use of each of three existing facilities, in addition to the No Action
alternative, were evaluated in an EA prepared by the BOP. The BOP would
select one or more contractors for contract award from among the three
offerors:
--Diamondback Correctional Center, Watonga, Oklahoma.
--Great Plains Correctional Facility, Hinton, Oklahoma.
--Willacy County Processing Center, Raymondville, Texas.
No other facilities were under consideration by the BOP. The BOP
reserves the right to make multiple awards. In the event it is in the
Government's best interest, the BOP may make up to two (based on
proposals received) contract awards as long as the total quantity is
within the scope of approximately 3,000 beds.
The BOP issued the EA on May 2, 2011, with publication of the
Notice of Availability (NOA) in newspapers serving the area surrounding
each of the alternative locations. The NOA included information
concerning the 30-day public comment period which began on May 2, 2011,
and ended on May 31, 2011. The BOP also distributed copies of the EA to
federal agencies, state and local governments, elected officials,
interested organizations, public libraries and individuals.
Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact
The FONSI is available upon request. To request a copy of the
FONSI, please contact: Richard A. Cohn, Chief, or Issac J. Gaston, Site
Selection Specialist, Capacity Planning and Site Selection Branch,
Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534
Tel: 202-514-6470/Fax: 202-616-6024/E-mail: [email protected] or
[email protected]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard A. Cohn, or Issac J. Gaston,
Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Dated: May 24, 2011,
Richard A. Cohn,
Chief, Capacity Planning and Site Selection Branch.
[FR Doc. 2011-13486 Filed 5-31-11; 8:45 am]
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