[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 166 (Friday, August 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46955-46956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21868]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Bureau of Prisons
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for
the Construction and Operation of a Contractor-Owned/Contractor-
Operated Correctional Facility for 1,000 Inmates
AGENCY: Federal Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft environmental assessment.
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SUMMARY:
Proposed Action
The U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons has
determined that, in order to meet the National Capital Revitalization
and Self Government Improvement Act of 1997, which requires that the
Federal Bureau of Prisons house, in private contract facilities, at
least 2,000 District of Columbia sentenced felony inmates by December
31, 1999, that additional contractor-owned bed-space is needed.
[[Page 46956]]
The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) studies potential
environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of
a contractor-owned/contractor-operated correctional facility to house
approximately 1,000 inmates. The proposed action is based on a need to
house felons, mostly from the Washington, DC, area, due to the
impending closure of correctional facilities in Lorton, Virginia.
The Draft EA considers potential impacts to the natural and manmade
environments including topography, geology and soils, cultural,
aesthetic, hydrological and biological resources, land use, socio-
economics, air quality, noise, transportation, and utility services,
among other topics at each proposed site. The Draft EA will be the
subject of a 30-day review period which begins August 17, 1999 and ends
September 17, 1999. Comments concerning the Draft EA and the proposed
action must be received during this time to be assured of
consideration.
All written comments received during this review period will be
taken into consideration by the Bureau. Copies of the Draft EA are
available for public viewing at:
Holt Memorial Library, Moshannon Valley Partnership Corp. Building, 200
Shady Lane, Philipsburg, PA
Shaw Public Library, 1 South Front Street, Clearfield, PA
Terra Alta Public Library, 120 East Washington Ave., Terra Alta, WV
Anacostia Public Library, Good Hope Road and 18th Street, SE.,
Washington, DC
Alternatives: In developing the Draft EA, the options of ``no
action'' and ``take action'' for the proposed facility have been fully
and thoroughly examined.
Public Hearing Process: Representatives of the Bureau will also
conduct a Public Hearing to which all interested persons are invited to
attend. The Public Hearing is being held to provide for timely public
comments on the Draft EA consistent with the goals of NEPA. The Public
Hearing will be held at 7 P.M., September 9, 1999 at the Philipsburg
Jr. High School, Philipsburg, PA. The meeting is being held to allow
interested persons to formally offer comments and express their views
concerning the proposed action and the Draft EA. The Bureau reserves
the right to impose a time limit for those speakers in order to
accommodate all persons interested in commenting on the Draft EA.
Written comments concerning the Draft EA will also be accepted at the
meeting.
ADDRESS: Questions concerning the proposed action and the Draft
Environmental Assessment can be answered by: David J. Dorworth, Chief,
Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch, Administration
Division, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, N.W, Washington,
DC 20534, Telephone: (202) 514-6470, Telefacsimile: (202) 616-6024, E-
mail: [email protected]
Dated: August 13, 1999.
David J. Dorworth,
Chief, Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch.
[FR Doc. 99-21868 Filed 8-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-55-P