[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13536]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 3, 1994]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

 

Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for New Federal 
Courthouse in Savannah, GA

    Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C.A. 4321 to 4370d), and the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), as implemented by 
General Services Administration (GSA) Order PBS P 1095.4B, GSA 
announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the siting and construction of a new Federal Courthouse within the 
Central Business Area (CBA) of Savannah, Georgia.
    The EIS will examine the short and long term impacts from 
constructing and operating a New Courthouse in the Savannah CBA, on the 
natural and human environments. This includes but is not limited to 
impacts on historic and cultural resources, traffic and parking, and 
socioeconomics (including the impacts on local businesses and 
neighborhoods). The EIS will also examine measures to mitigate 
unavoidable adverse impacts of the proposed action. Concurrent with 
NEPA implementation, GSA will also implement its consultation 
requirements under Section 106 (36 CFR 800) of the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470), regarding the impacts on 
historic properties as a result of undertaking the proposed action. GSA 
is very much aware of the potential for adverse affects on historic 
resources as a result of proposed action, and will make every effort to 
identify and take into account such affects when siting this project.
    The New Courthouse will house 331 employees in an approximately 
250,000 gross square foot structure that will meet the 10-year space 
requirements of the US Courts. The project will contain five 
courtrooms, and office space for Court-related agencies, as well as 
space for GSA and the Postal Service. This information is presented 
only as a summary of the project's space requirements: GSA has not 
designed the facility even in concept. Design of the facility will not 
begin until after a site has been selected and procured. The site 
itself will not be procured until after the EIS and the NEPA process is 
completed.
    Although a specific site has not yet been determined, there are two 
important locational considerations for this project. First, Executive 
Order 12072 (16 AUG 1978, 43 FR 36869) requires Federal agencies to 
give primary consideration to the CBA when acquiring space in an urban 
area unless the Federal agency has operational needs requiring it to 
locate outside the CBA. The purpose of this Executive Order is to 
encourage the location of Federal facilities where they will serve to 
strengthen the nation's cities and to make them attractive places to 
live and work. In this case, the Court has no need to locate outside of 
the CBA.
    Second, the Court does have an operational need that would be best 
served if the New Courthouse is located adjacent to the existing 
Federal Building-Courthouse at 125 Bull Street. This location would 
considerably reduce the security risk, as well as the administrative 
and operational inefficiencies of ``splitting'' the Courts, by 
minimizing the distance between two locations. An adjacent location is 
strongly preferred by the Courts and GSA; however, it is a preference 
only, and does not preclude consideration of an alternative CBA site.
    As part of NEPA and Section 106 implementation, GSA is actively 
seeking public input into the decision-making process, including the 
identification of issues to be examined in the EIS, and the 
identification of ``reasonable'' alternatives to the proposed action. 
Reasonable, in this case, means that the alternative must still satisfy 
GSA's basic project goals. These goals are to satisfy the Courts' 
operational requirements, and house its 10-year space requirement, in a 
cost-effective manner, in Government-owned space.
    GSA has tentatively identified the following alternatives, some of 
which may not be technically feasible, to be examined in the EIS:
     ``No Action,'' that is, undertake no new construction.
     Construction adjacent to the existing Federal Building-
Courthouse at one of the following potential locations:

--On a parcel bounded by State, Bull, Broughton, and Whitaker Streets 
(preferred alternative).
--On a parcel bounded by York, Bull, Oglethorpe, and Whitaker Streets.
--On a parcel bounded by Broughton, Barnard, State, and Whitaker 
Streets.
--On a parcel bounded by State, Barnard, York, and Whitaker Streets.
--On a parcel bounded by Barnard, York, Whitaker, and Oglethorpe 
Streets.

     Identification and consideration of other feasible sites 
that will satisfy the stated goals of the project in the CBA will be 
determined through the scoping process and by Solicitation for Offers 
by GSA.
    As part of the public scoping process, you are encouraged to 
contact GSA in writing at the following address with your concerns and 
comments regarding the proposed project: Mr. Philip Youngberg, Regional 
Environmental Officer--4PL, 401 West Peachtree Street, NW., Suite 2500, 
Atlanta, GA 30365-2550; or FAX your comments to Mr. Youngberg at 404-
331-7169. Comments should be postmarked no later than July 5, 1994.
    GSA also intends to conduct a Public Scoping Meeting to solicit 
verbal comments, and address general questions concerning the project, 
NEPA, and Section 106. A Notice of this meeting and all subsequent 
public meetings conducted by GSA for this project will appear in the 
Savannah News-Press at lest two weeks prior to the meeting date. 
Notices announcing the availability and review periods for the Draft 
EIS and Final EIS will also be published in the Savannah News-Press. 
Persons and organizations on the mailing list will be notified of all 
meetings and publications by mail. Persons who would like to be added 
to the mailing list should write or call GSA at the address or phone 
number listed in this notice.

    Dated: May 19, 1994.
Judith M. Cobb,
Director, Planning Staff (4PL).
[FR Doc. 94-13536 Filed 6-2-94; 8:45 am]
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