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

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