Public Buildings Service, Region 10; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Public Buildings Service, Region 10; Notice of Intent To Prepare

an Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement

ACTION: The US General Services Administration (GSA) hereby gives

notice that it intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the requirements of

the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and the

President's Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts

1500-1508), for the construction of a new Federal Courthouse in Eugene,

Lane County, Oregon.

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Procedures: The EA will be prepared at the completion of, and based

upon, a scoping report. The EA will evaluate the proposed project,

including all reasonable alternatives identified through the scoping

process and a no-action alternative. Scoping will be accomplished

through direct mailing correspondence to interested persons, agencies,

and organizations and through two Public Scoping Meetings. The public

scoping meetings will be held on December 14th and 15th, 1998 at the

Hilton Hotel, 66 East 6th Ave., Eugene, OR, in the Joplin/Seeger

Conference Room at 6:00 pm following an open house beginning at 5:30

pm. GSA will publish a public notice of these meetings in Eugene

newspapers approximately two weeks prior to the events.

After the EA is prepared, it will be made available for public

review. If significant impacts are not identified in the EA, GSA will

issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

If, upon completion of the EA, significant impacts to the

environment are identified, GSA will prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement. Public meetings will be held after the release of the Draft

Environmental Impact Statement and GSA will respond to all relevant

comments received during the 45-day public comment period in the Final

Environmental Impact Statement. After a minimum 30-day period following

publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement GSA will issue

a Record of Decision that will identify the site selected.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GSA, assisted by Herrera Environmental

Consultants, is anticipating the preparation of an Environmental

Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement to acquire a site, design,

and construct a new US Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon. GSA will serve as

the lead agency and scoping will be conducted consistent with NEPA

regulations and guidelines. GSA invites interested individuals,

organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies to participate in

defining and identifying any significant impacts and issues to be

studied in the EA, including social, economic, or environmental

concerns. Scoping should be limited to identifying significant issues

to be analyzed in the environmental document and commenting on

alternatives and the merit of the proposal.

Project Purpose, Historical Background, and Description

The District Judges, Magistrates, and US Marshals are currently

located in the existing US Courthouse. Bankruptcy and other Court

related Agencies are located in leased space in downtown Eugene. The

existing Courthouse does not currently meet the requirements of the US

Court's Design guide. The existing Courthouse/Federal Building complex

cannot be adapted to accommodate the required space needs of both the

Court and Agency tenants.

Congress has authorized GSA to acquire a site for construction of a

new US Courthouse in Eugene. The approximate gross overall square feet

planned for the project is 265-290 for all US District Court and

Bankruptcy Court activities in Eugene, Oregon.

Alternatives: The EA/EIS will examine the short- and long-term

impacts on the natural and physical environment. The impact assessment

will include but not be limited to impacts such as social environment,

changes in land use, aesthetics, changes in traffic and parking

patterns, economic impacts, and consideration of City planning and

zoning requirements.

The EA/EIS will examine measures to mitigate significant adverse

impacts resulting from the proposed action. Concurrent with NEPA

implementation, GSA will also implement its consultation

responsibilities under Section 106 of the National Historical

Preservation Act to identify potential impacts to existing historic or

cultural resources.

The EA/EIS will consider a no-action alternative and action

alternatives. The no-action alternative would continue the occupancy in

the existing Courthouse and continue to lease Court space in Eugene.

The action alternatives will consist of different sites and

configurations for construction of a new building in the delineated

area in downtown Eugene. The delineated area includes a portion of the

centralized business area. The delineated area includes property that

is adjacent to the boundaries of the delineated area. The delineated

area is as follows:

Bounded on the north by 5th Avenue, on the east by High Street, on

the south by Broadway, and by Olive Street on the west.

ADDRESSES: In addition to the public scoping process, please send your

written comments on the scope of alternatives and potential impacts to

the following address: Michael D. Levine, Regional Environmental

Program Manager, 10PCB, General Services Administration, 400 15th

Street SW, Auburn, WA, 98001, or fax: Michael D. Levine at 253-931-

7308, or e-mail at [email protected] Written comments should be

received no later than January 7, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nona Diediker at Herrera Environmental Consultants, 2200 Sixth Ave,

Suite 601, Seattle, Washington, 98121 or call 206-441-9080; or Michael

D. Levine, GSA (253) 931-7263.

Mailing List: If you wished to be placed on the project mailing

list to receive further information as the EA process develops, contact

Nona Diediker at the address noted above.

Dated: November 13, 1998.

L. Jay Pearson,

Regional Administrator (10A).

[FR Doc. 98-31265 Filed 11-20-98; 8:45 am]

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