[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 93 (Friday, May 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30622-30623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11788]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Prisons


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for Development of a Medium-Security Federal 
Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania

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

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

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SUMMARY:

Proposed Action

    The mission of the United States Department of Justice, Federal 
Bureau of Prisons is to protect society by confining offenders in the 
controlled environments of prison and community-based facilities that 
are safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure, and that 
provide work and other self-

[[Page 30623]]

improvement opportunities to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding 
citizens. The Bureau accomplishes its mission through the appropriate 
use of community correction, detention, and correctional facilities 
that are either: Federally-owned and operated; Federally-owned and non-
Federally operated; and non-Federally owned and operated.
    The Bureau is facing a period of unprecedented growth in its inmate 
population. Projections show the federal inmate population increasing 
from approximately 120,000 inmates to 205,000 inmates by 2007. As such, 
the demand for bedspace within the federal prison system will continue 
to grow at a significant rate. To accommodate a portion of the growing 
inmate population, the Bureau of Prisons has determined that an 
additional medium-security Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) is 
needed in its system. Therefore, the Bureau of Prisons is proposes to 
build and operate a medium-security federal correctional facility, with 
an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp, in Pennsylvania. The main 
medium-security facility would provide habitation for approximately 
1,200 inmates, with an additional 150-300 inmates to be housed at the 
minimum-security satellite camp.
    Several sites in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania have been 
offered to the Bureau for consideration in developing the medium-
security FCI and satellite camp. The Bureau of Prisons has 
preliminarily evaluated these sites and determined that the prospective 
sites appear to be of sufficient size to provide space for housing, 
programs, administrative services and other support facilities 
associated with the correctional facility. The DEIS to be prepared by 
the Bureau will analyzed the potential impacts of correctional facility 
construction and operation at these sites.

The Process

    In the process of evaluating the sites, several aspects will 
receive detailed examination including, but are not limited to: 
topography, geology/soils, hydrology, biological resources, utility 
services, transportation services, cultural resources, land uses, 
socio-economics, hazardous materials, air and noise quality, among 
others.

Alternatives

    In developing the DEIS, the options of ``no action'' and 
``alternative sites'' for the proposed facility will be 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 
public Scoping Meeting will be held at 7 P.M., May 31, 2000 at the 
Northumberland County Career & Arts Center located at 2 East Arch 
Street, Shamokin, Pennsylvania. The meeting location, date, and time 
will be well publicized and has been arranged to allow for the public 
as well as interested agencies and organizations to attend. The meeting 
is being held to allow interested persons to formally express their 
views on the scope and significant issues to be studied as part of the 
DEIS process. The Scoping Meeting is being held to provide for timely 
public comments and understanding of federal plans and programs with 
possible environmental consequences as required by the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. In addition, public information 
meetings have been held in Northumberland County by representatives of 
the Bureau of Prisons with interested citizens, elected 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 may be 
directed to: David J. Dorworth, Chief, Site Selection and Environmental 
Review Branch, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW., 
Washington, D.C. 20534, Telephone (202) 514-6470, Telefacsimile (202) 
616-6024, E-Mail: [email protected].

    Dated: May 5, 2000.
David J. Dorworth,
Chief, Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch.
[FR Doc. 00-11788 Filed 5-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-05-P