[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55247-55248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24170]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

U.S. Marshals Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for development of a contract detention facility to 
house persons in the custody of the U.S. Department of Justice. The 
contract detention facility is proposed to be located within a 50-mile 
radius of the U.S. Courthouse located at 1300 Victoria in Laredo, 
Texas.

Background

    The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is the nation's oldest 
and most versatile federal law enforcement agency. Created by the 
Judiciary Act of 1789, the same legislation that established the 
federal judicial system, the USMS has served the nation through a 
variety of vital law enforcement activities. The Director, Deputy 
Director and 94 U.S. Marshals (appointed by the President or the 
Attorney General) direct the activities of 95 district offices and 
personnel stationed at more than 350 locations throughout the 50 states 
and U.S. territories. The USMS occupies a uniquely central position in 
the federal justice system and is involved in virtually every federal 
law enforcement initiative. Approximately 4,000 Deputy Marshals and 
career employees perform a variety of nationwide, day-to-day missions.
    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 almost 1,000 percent, from approximately 4,000 in 1981 to 
over 45,000 today. These prisoners are being housed in a combination of 
local, state, federal and private facilities around the country. 
However, the growth in the detainee population is occurring at the same 
time that available space in local jails 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 for the foreseeable future and 
present a major challenge for federal agencies such as the USMS to 
house detainees.
    Faced with severe shortages in state and local bed space, 
especially in major metropolitan areas (federal court cities), as well 
as court-ordered caps on prisoner populations, the USMS is finding it 
increasingly difficulty to local bedspace in state and local jails that 
have traditionally been used to house federal prisoners. Consequently, 
the USMS periodically contracts with the private sector for detention 
services or must house detainees farther and farther from their 
respective federal court cities. The resultant long-distance movement 
of federal detainees requires substantial amounts of USMS time and 
resources, and strains the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation 
System to its limit.

Proposed Action

    The USMS has determined that there is a need to house up to 2,800 
federal detainees within the Laredo, Texas area. The high level of USMS 
and U.S. Department of Homeland Security activity in the southwestern 
United States in general and Texas in particular requires more beds 
than are readily available in local or state facilities. The USMS has a 
particular need for detention facilities to be located near federal 
courthouses because of its responsibility to detain those individuals 
accused of violating federal laws.
    In response to this need, the USMS is seeking to contract with a 
private detention contractor to provide a contractor-owned and operated 
facility capable of housing 2,800 detained individuals charged with 
federal

[[Page 55248]]

offenses and while awaiting trial or sentencing. Eight prospective 
contract detention facility sites within a 50-mile radius of the U.S. 
Courthouse located at 1300 Victoria, Laredo, Texas have been offered to 
the USMS for consideration. The eight sites are described as follows:
    [sbull] Killam Property--East of I-35 and north of Laredo in Webb 
County, Texas.
    [sbull] San Rafael Property--West of I-35 and south of Laredo in 
Webb County, Texas.
    [sbull] Las Blancas Subdivision Property--North of State Highway 
359 and east of Laredo in Webb County, Texas.
    [sbull] Pinto Valle Industrial Park Property--East of Farm-to-
Market Road 1472 and northwest of Laredo in Webb County, Texas.
    [sbull] Riata/Laredo Property--North of State Highway 359 and east 
of Laredo in Webb County, Texas.
    [sbull] Valley Boulevard/Highway 83 Property--West of State Highway 
83 and south of Laredo, in Webb County, Texas.
    [sbull] Webb County Detention Center Property--West of State 
Highway 83 and south of Laredo in Webb County, Texas.
    [sbull] Encinal Property--East of I-35, south of State Highway 44 
and east of the City of Encinal in La Salle County, Texas.
    All sites offered will be evaluated by USMS in a DEIS that will 
analyze the potential impacts of detention facility construction and 
operation at the prospective sites.

The Process

    In the process of evaluating prospective sites, many factors and 
features will be analyzed 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 No Action alternative and alternative 
sites for the proposed contract detention facility will be 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. 
Public Scoping Meetings will be held in and around communities under 
consideration for development of the contract detention facility at 
times, dates and at locations to be determined. The meeting locations, 
dates, and times will be well publicized and will be arranged to allow 
for the public as well as interested agencies and organizations to 
attend and formally express their views on the scope and significant 
issues to be studied as part of the DEIS process. The Scoping Meetings 
are also 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.

Availability of DEIS

    Public notice will be given concerning the availability of the DEIS 
for public review and comment.

Contact

    Questions concerning the proposed action and the DEIS may be 
directed to: Karin E. Eddy, Contract Specialist, U.S. Department of 
Justice--United States Marshals Service, Headquarters Contracts Office, 
C.S. 3, Room 927, Washington, DC 20530-1000, Telephone: 202-
353-8348/Facsimile: 202-307-9695.

    Dated: September 2, 2003.
Thomas J. McCafferty,
Contracting Officer, United States Marshals Service.
[FR Doc. 03-24170 Filed 9-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-04-M