[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Page 1029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-308]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Federal Bureau of Prisons

 

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Conversion of the Former University of 
Minnesota Technical College in Waseca, MN

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS).

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SUMMARY:

Proposed Action

    The United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons 
has determined that a Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) is needed 
in its system.
    The Federal Bureau of Prisons has preliminarily evaluated the 
former technical college for conversion potential and proposes to 
convert the existing campus to correctional use to house 1,100 
sentenced low-security male inmates. The facility appears to be 
technically suitable for use as a correctional institution, and the EIS 
will address the environmental consequences of converting the facility 
to correctional use.
    The proposed site is approximately 90 acres located in the 
Southwest corner of the City of Waseca, Waseca County, Minnesota. The 
property is bound on the North by Seventh Avenue SW., on the South by 
County Road 57, on the East by Sixth Street SW., and on the West by 
College Parkway.
    It is anticipated that the former campus buildings and grounds are 
of sufficient size to provide space for housing, programs, services and 
support areas as well as administration, parking and staff training.

The Process

    In the process of evaluating the site, several aspects will receive 
detailed examination including: utilities, traffic patterns, noise 
levels, visual intrusion, threatened and endangered species, cultural 
resources and socio-economic impacts.

Alternatives

    The Bureau's plans are site specific, in that the former campus has 
been offered to the Federal Bureau of Prisons via donation. Thus, 
alternatives other than the Waseca Technical College buildings and 
grounds are not being evaluated or considered. In development of the 
DEIS, the option of ``no action'' is being fully and thoroughly 
examined.

Scoping Process

    During the preparation of the DEIS, there will be opportunities for 
public involvement in order to determine the issues to be examined. A 
Scoping Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, 1994 at 
the Waseca High School Little Theater. The meeting will be well 
publicized and will be held at a time which will make it possible for 
the public and interested agencies or organizations to attend. In 
addition, public information meetings have been held by representatives 
of the Bureau of Prisons with interested citizens, officials and 
community leaders.

DEIS Preparation

    Public notice will be given concerning the availability of the DEIS 
for public review and comment.

ADDRESSES: Questions concerning the proposed action and the DEIS can be 
directed to: K. Bradley Wiggins, Site Selection and Environmental 
Review Specialist, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20534, (202) 514-8697.

    Dated: January 3, 1994.
Patricia K. Sledge,
Chief, Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch.
[FR Doc. 94-308 Filed 1-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-5-M