[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 73 (Friday, April 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20180-20181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9376]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Public Buildings Service; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) hereby gives notice 
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 part 1500-1508), for the 
construction of a new Federal courthouse in Eugene/Springfield, Lane 
County, Oregon.
    The EA/EIS will be prepared at the completion of, and based upon, a 
scoping report. The EA/EIS will evaluate the proposed project, any 
other reasonable alternatives identified through the scoping process, 
and the no-action alternative. Scoping will be accomplished through two 
public scoping meetings and direct mail correspondence to interested 
persons, agencies, parties, and organizations. The public scoping 
meetings will be held on May 2nd & 3rd, 2000. The scoping meeting on 
the 2nd will be at the Hilton Hotel, 66 East 6th Ave., Eugene, WA. The 
scoping meeting on the 3rd, will be held at the Springfield City Hall--
Council Meeting Room, 225 5th Street, Springfield, OR. Both meetings 
will start at 6:30 p.m. with a open house at 6 p.m. GSA will publish a 
Public Notice of these meetings and all subsequent public meetings in 
the Eugene and Springfield newspapers approximately two weeks prior to 
each event. If an Environmental Assessment 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 then prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement. Public meeting(s) 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 
through 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 either the 
Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement on our 
proposal to acquire a site, and design and construct a new US 
Courthouse in Eugene/Springfield, Oregon. GSA will serve as the lead 
agency and scoping will be conducted consistent with NEPA regulations 
and guidelines. GSA invites interested individuals, organizations, 
federal, state and local agencies to participate in defining and 
identifying any significant impacts and issues to be studied in the EA/
EIS, including social, economic, cultural, historic, or environmental 
concerns. Scoping will identify the significant issues to be analyzed 
in the environmental document and serve as a method for commenting on 
the alternatives.

Project Purpose, Historical Background, Description

    The District Judges, Magistrates, and US Marshal are currently 
located in the existing US Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon. Bankruptcy and 
other court related Agencies are located in lease space in downtown 
Eugene. The existing Courthouse does not meet the requirements of the 
US Court's Design guide. The existing Courthouse/Federal building 
complex cannot be adapted to accommodate the required space and 
security needs of both the Court and Agency tenants.
    Congress has authorized GSA to acquire a site for construction of 
the new US Courthouse. The approximate gross square feet planned for 
the project is 228,000 for all US District Court and Bankruptcy Court 
activities.

Alternatives

    The EA/EIS will examine the short and long term impacts on the 
natural and built environment. The impact assessment will include, but 
not be limited to impacts such as cultural, historic, environmental, 
changes in land use, aesthetics, changes in traffic and parking 
patterns, economic impacts, and city planning and zoning.
    The EA/EIS will also examine measures to mitigate significant 
unavoidable adverse impacts resulting from the proposed action. 
Concurrent with NEPA implementation, GSA will also implement its 
consultation responsibilities under Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act to identify potential impacts to existing 
historic or cultural resources.
    The EA/EIS will consider a no action alternative. The no-action 
alternative (no-build) alternative would continue the occupancy in the 
existing courthouse and continue to lease Court space in Eugene.
    The 5 alternative locations are:
    Site 1: C Street, Mill Street, Main Street, and Willamette River, 
Springfield.
    Site 2: 8th Ave, Mill Street, Railroad tracks, Eugene.
    Site 3: Fronting on the north side of International Way, Tax lot 
3500, Springfield.
    Site 4: 4th Ave, Willamette River, Hilyard Street, Railroad tracks, 
High Street, Eugene.
    Site 5: 8th Ave, Hilyard Street, Broadway, High Street, and Main 
Street, Eugene.

ADDRESSES: As part of the public scoping process, GSA solicits your 
written comments on the scope of alternatives and potential impacts at 
the following address: Michael D. Levine, Regional Environmental 
Program Officer, 10PCP, symbol), General Services Administration, 400 
15th Street SW, Auburn, WA, 98001, or fax: 253-931-7263, or e-mail at 
[email protected] Written comments should be received no later 
than May X, 2000

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Meerscheidt at Herrera 
Environmental Consultants, 2200 Sixth Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 or call 
206-441-9080, or Michael D. Levine, GSA, (206) 931-7263.

[[Page 20181]]

Mailing List

    If you wish to be placed on the project mailing list to receive 
future or further information as the EIS process develops, contact 
Herrera at the address noted above.

    Dated: April 6, 2000.
L. Jay Pearson,
Regional Administrator (10A).
[FR Doc. 00-9376 Filed 4-13-00; 8:45 am]
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