[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46495-46496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18862]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


United States Marshals Service; Notice of Intent To Prepare a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Development of a Pre-Trial 
Detention Facility in Pinal County, AZ

July 20, 2000.
AGENCY: United States Marshals Service, 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, United 
States Marshals Service (USMS) is to protect the federal courts and 
ensure the effective operation of the judicial system. In addition to 
this primary responsibility, the USMS assumes custody of individuals 
arrested by all federal agencies and is responsible for the housing and 
transportation of prisoners from the time they are brought into federal 
custody until they are either acquitted or incarcerated. Finally, the 
USMS has primary jurisdiction nationwide in conducting and 
investigating fugitive matters involving escaped federal prisoners, 
probation, parole, and bond default violators, and warrants generated 
by Drug Enforcement Administration investigations and certain other 
related felony cases.
    During the past decade, the federal detainee population has 
experienced unprecedented growth as a result of expanded federal law 
enforcement initiatives and resources. The detainee population has 
increased by more than 725 percent, from almost 4,000 in 1981 to more 
than 33,000 today. Current projections indicate that approximately 
38,000 detention beds will be needed for federal detainees by the year 
2001, with approximately 43,000 beds required by 2002. The growth in 
the detainee population is occurring at the same time that available 
local jail space is decreasing. Local jail space is increasingly needed 
to house local offenders, leaving less space available for the 
contractual accommodation of federal detainees. These trends are 
projected to continue unabated for the foreseeable future and present a 
major challenge for those federal agencies responsible for detaining 
prisoners.
    Faced with severe shortages in state and local prisoner bedspace, 
especially in major metropolitan areas (federal court cities), as well 
as court ordered caps on prisoner populations, the USMS is finding it 
increasingly difficult to house federal prisoners. The USMS has been 
forced to house prisoners in facilities that are further away from 
federal court cities. The resultant long-distance movement of federal 
prisoners involves substantial amounts of USMS time and resources and 
strains the USMS Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System to 
its limits. The USMS has determined that there is an immediate and 
long-term need for up to 2,000 beds located within a 100-mile radius of 
Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, both of which are federal court cities. 
The high level of USMS and INS activity in the Southwestern corridor of 
the United States requires more beds than are readily available in 
local or state facilities. The shortage of beds has been ongoing for 
more than two years. The USMS has a specific need for detention 
facilities to be located near federal courthouses because of its 
responsibility to detain those individuals accused of violating federal 
laws.
    Two sites in Pinal County, Arizona have been offered to the USMS 
for consideration in developing the pre-trial detention facility. The 
USMS 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 detention facility. The DEIS to be prepared by the 
USMS will analyze the potential impacts of detention facility 
construction and operation at these sites.

The Process

    In the process of evaluating the sites, several aspects will 
receive detailed examination including, but 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 7:00 P.M., August 16, 2000 at 
the Florence Elementary School, located at Brady and Orlando streets, 
Florence, Arizona. The meeting location, date, and time will be

[[Page 46496]]

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.

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: Charles Coburn, Associate General Counsel, U.S. Marshals 
Service, 600 Army-Navy Drive, Suite 1200, Arlington, Virginia; 
Telephone: (202) 307-9045; Telefacsimile: (202) 307-9456.

    Dated: July 20, 2000.
Charles Coburn,
Associate General Counsel, U.S. Marshals Service.
[FR Doc. 00-18862 Filed 7-27-00; 8:45 am]
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