[Federal Register: August 27, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 166)]
[Notices]               
[Page 46955-46956]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27au99-92]                         

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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: siteselection@bop.gov

    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