[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 91 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21184-21185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11542]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Public Buildings Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Consolidated Law Federal Office Building, Portland, OR

SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) hereby gives notice 
it intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 
as amended for the Consolidated Law Federal Office Building, in 
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. The EIS would evaluate the proposed 
project, other reasonable alternatives, and the no action alternative 
identified during the scoping process. Scoping would be accomplished 
through written correspondence, through a public scoping meeting, and 
through individual meetings with interested persons, groups, 
organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and potential 
impacts should be sent to GSA's environmental contractor, Herrera 
Environmental Consultants, at the following address: 2200 Sixth Avenue, 
Suite 601, Seattle, Washington, 98121.

DATES: Written comments should be sent to Herrera Environmental 
Consultants by May 25, 1996. Comments will also be accepted at a public 
scoping meeting from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 7, 1996 and May 8, 
1996 at the location indicated below.

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING: Comments and suggestions will be solicited at a 
public scoping meeting to be held at: Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal 
Building, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Donna M. Meyer, Regional Environmental Program Officer, General 
Services Administration, (206) 931-7675 or Ms. Nona Diediker at Herrera 
Environmental Consultants, 2200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 601, Seattle, 
Washington, 98121, (206) 441-9080.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The General Services Administration, 
assisted by the environmental contractor, is considering preparation of 
a federal NEPA Environmental Impact Statement on a proposal to design 
and construct a new Consolidated Law Federal Office Building in 
Portland, Oregon. The scoping process would determine the level of 
effort, the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental 
document, and identify the significant issues related to the proposed 
project. Scoping will be conducted consistent with the Council on 
Environmental Quality's (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the 
Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). GSA will serve 
as the lead agency for the preparation of the EIS pursuant to Section 
1501.5(a) of the regulations.

Scoping

    GSA invites interested individuals, organizations, and federal, 
state, and local agencies to participate in defining the reasonable 
alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS, and in identifying any 
significant physical, biological, or socioeconomic environmental issues 
related to the alternatives. Scoping comments can be made verbally at 
the public scoping meeting, or in writing (see Dates and Addresses 
section above for location and time of meeting). During scoping, 
comments should focus on identifying specific impacts to be evaluated 
and suggesting alternatives that minimize adverse impacts while 
achieving similar objectives. Comments may also identify issues which 
are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental 
review. Scoping should be limited to commenting on the project 
alternatives. There will be opportunity to comment on preferences 
during the Draft EIS comment review phase.

Additional Information

    A project information newsletter will be available at the public 
scoping meeting or can be obtained by contacting Nona Diediker at 
Herrera Environmental Consultants. The newsletter will describe in more 
detail the proposed project, alternatives, and the EIS process.

Mailing List

    If you wish to be placed on our mailing list to receive further and 
future information as the EIS process develops, contact Herrera 
Environmental Consultants at the address or phone listed above.

Project Purpose, Historical Background, and Project Description

    The House and Senate Subcommittees on Treasury, Postal Service, and 
General Government have determined a need exists for a facility to 
serve as a detention center for prisoners appearing before the Federal 
courts and for the consolidation of Federal law enforcement agencies in 
Portland, Oregon. The committees have directed the General Services 
Administration to undertake the necessary studies to address this 
requirement. Detention facilities in Portland for federal prisoners 
awaiting a trial and sentencing are limited. Federal law enforcement 
officials are forced to move federal prisoners back and forth from the 
federal prison in Sheridan, Oregon and other county holding facilities 
in Oregon and Washington. This situation often leads to many security 
and logistical problems.
    The proposal to design and construct a 350,000 occupiable square 
foot office, court and 300-bed facility to consolidate federal law 
enforcement agencies and provide detention capabilities would aid in 
alleviating security and logistic problems by establishing an adjacency 
relationship to the new U.S. Courthouse. Site alternatives are 
presently under investigation and a delineated area has been identified 
as

[[Page 21185]]

follows: SW Taylor Street on the north, SW 1st Avenue on the east, SW 
Madison Street on the south, and SW 4th Avenue on the west.

Alternatives

    The EIS would consider several action alternatives and a no action 
alternative. The facility would be located adjacent to the new U.S. 
Courthouse located at 1030 SW 3rd Avenue. Alternatives to be considered 
include:
    1. Design and construction on a full block site bounded by SW 
Taylor Street on the north, SW 2nd Avenue on the east, SW Salmon Street 
on the south, and SW 3rd Avenue on the west;
    2. Design and construction on a full block site bounded by SW 
Taylor Street on the north, SW 3rd Avenue on the east, SW Salmon Street 
on the south, and SW 4th Avenue on the west;
    3. Design and construction on a full block site bounded by SW Main 
Street on the north, SW 1st Avenue on the east, SW Madison Street on 
the south, and SW 2nd Avenue on the west;
    4. Acquisition then alternation of a leased building bounded by SW 
Taylor Street on the north, SW 1st Avenue on the east, SW Madison 
Street on the south, and SW 4th Avenue on the west, and,
    5. No action.

Probable Effects

    GSA will evaluate physical, biological and socioeconomic 
environmental impacts of the alternatives in the EIS. Potential impacts 
include, but are not limited to, changes in physiography; impacts to 
groundwater; changes to vegetation and wildlife; changes in open space 
and visual characteristics; impacts to air quality and noise, 
utilities, and transportation; changes in the social environment; and 
impacts to zoning and historical/cultural resources. The impacts will 
be evaluated both for the construction period and during the operation 
of the facility. Measures to mitigate any significant adverse impacts 
will be addressed.

Procedures

    The EIS will be prepared based on the outcome of the scoping phase, 
A Draft EIS will be made available for public and agency comments, with 
a public hearing held to receive comments regarding the Draft EIS. Upon 
completion of the public review process, a Final EIS would be prepared 
to address issues raised during the Draft EIS and the public hearing.

    Dated: April 26, 1996.
Richard J. Moen,
Legal Counsel, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 96-11542 Filed 5-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-M