[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 232 (Friday, December 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75310-75311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30240]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Prisons


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Construction of a Federal Correctional 
Facility in Yuma and/or Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Prisons, DOJ.

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

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SUMMARY:

Proposed Action

    The United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, has 
determined that in order to meet increasing demands for additional 
inmate capacity a new federal correctional facility is needed in its 
system. The Bureau of Prisons proposes to construct and operate a high-
security United States Penitentiary (USP) or a medium-security Federal 
Correctional Facility (FCI). The USP would have a rated capacity of 
approximately 1,000 inmates and an FCI would have a rated capacity of 
approximately 1,200 inmates. The Bureau has identified potential sites 
that could meet our needs in both the Yuma and Tucson, Arizona areas 
and they will be considered in the DEIS. If one or more of these 
potential sites are selected, they would also be

[[Page 75311]]

used for road access, administration, programs and services, parking, 
and support facilities.
    In the process of evaluating potential sites, several aspects will 
receive a detailed examination including utilities, traffic patterns, 
noise levels, visual intrusions, threatened and endangered species, 
cultural resources, and socio-economic impacts. This notice also 
initiates the Federal Bureau of Prisons responsibilities under the 
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.

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

    Informal discussions and meetings with local officials and economic 
development staff have already been held on the proposed project, and 
during the preparation of the DEIS, there will be other opportunities 
for public involvement. There will be two public scoping meetings held 
and the first one will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday December 13, 2000, 
at the Woodard Junior High School in Yuma, Arizona. The second will be 
held on Thursday December 14, 2000, at 7 p.m. at the Craycroft 
Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona. The meetings have been well 
publicized and are scheduled at a time that will make it possible for 
the public and interested agencies or organizations to attend.

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 can be 
answered by: David J. Dorworth, Chief, Site Selection & Environmental 
Review Branch, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20534, Attention: Rodney Anderson, Telephone: (202) 514-
6470, Telefacsimile: (202) 616-6024, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: November 21. 2000.
David J. Dorworth,
Chief, Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch.
[FR Doc. 00-30240 Filed 11-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-05-P