[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18407-18408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7914]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Federal Bureau of Prisons


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS)

AGENCY: Federal 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: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for development of a medium-security federal 
correctional institution by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal 
Bureau of Prisons. The area under consideration for correctional 
facility development consists of sites in the City of Berlin, Co[ouml]s 
County, New Hampshire.

Background

    The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is responsible for carrying out 
judgments of the federal courts whenever a period of confinement is 
ordered. The mission of the BOP is to protect society by confining 
offenders in the controlled environments of prisons and community-based 
facilities that are safe, humane, cost-efficient and appropriately 
secure, and that provide work and other self-improvement opportunities 
to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens.
    As of March 30, 2004, approximately 148,655 inmates are housed 
within the 105 Federal correctional facilities that have levels of 
security ranging from minimum to maximum. At the present time, the 
Federal inmate population exceeds the combined rated capacities of the 
105 Federal correctional facilities.
    The continuing inmate population is due in part to Federal court 
sentencing guidelines which are resulting in longer terms of 
confinement for serious crimes. The increase in the number of 
immigration offenders and the effort to combat organized crime and drug 
trafficking are also contributing to a continuing inmate population 
increase. Measures being undertaken to manage the growth of the Federal 
inmate population include construction of new institutions, acquisition 
and adaption of facilities originally intended for other purposes, 
expansion and improvement of existing correctional facilities, and 
expanded use of contract beds. Adding capacity through these various 
means allows the BOP to work towards the long-term goal of managing our 
inmate population growth.
    In the face of the continuing increase in the Federal prison 
population, one way the BOP has extended its capacity is through 
construction of new facilities. As part of this effort, the BOP has a 
facilities planning program featuring the identification and evaluation 
of sites for new facilities. The BOP routinely identifies prospective 
sites that may be appropriate for development of new Federal 
correctional facilities. Locations of new Federal correctional 
facilities are determined by the need for such facilities in various 
parts of the country and the resources available to meet that need.
    The BOP routinely screens and evaluates private and public 
properties located throughout the nation for possible use and 
development. Over the past decade, the BOP has examined prospective 
sites for new correctional facilities development in Kentucky, 
Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
California, Florida, Arizona, Indiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and 
Louisiana among other locations around the country and has undertaken 
environmental impact studies in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended.

Proposed Action

    The BOP is facing increased bedspace shortages throughout the 
Federal prison system. Over the past decade, a significant influx of 
inmates has entered the Federal prison system with a large portion of 
this influx originating from the northeast. In response, the BOP has 
committed significant resources to identifying and developing sites for 
new Federal correctional facilities within this region including 
construction of facilities in Devens, Massachusetts, and Canaan 
Township, Pennsylvania, and expansions and/or improvements to 
correctional facilities located at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Otisville, 
New York. Even with the development of these new and expanded 
facilities, projections show the Federal inmate population continuing 
to increase, placing additional demands for bedspace within the 
northeast.
    In response, the BOP has undertaken investigations in Pennsylvania 
and New Hampshire in an effort to identify prospective sites capable of 
accommodating Federal correctional facilities and communities willing 
to host such facilities. Through this process, officials representing 
Berlin, New Hampshire, identified potential locations for development 
of a medium-security Federal correctional institution and offered 
several sites for BOP consideration. These potential sites were 
subjected to initial studies by the BOP and those considered suitable 
for correctional facility development will be evaluated further by the 
BOP in a DEIS that will analyze the potential impacts of facility 
construction and operation.
    The BOP is proposing to build and operate in New Hampshire a 
medium-security Federal correctional institution with an adjoining 
satellite work camp. The medium-security institution would house 
approximately 1,200 inmates.

The Process

    In the process of evaluating the potential environmental impacts 
associated with Federal correctional

[[Page 18408]]

facility development and operation, many factors and features will be 
analyzed including, but not limited to: Topography, geology, soils, 
hydrology, biological resources, cultural resources, hazardous 
materials, aesthetics, fiscal considerations, population/ employment/
housing characteristics, community services and facilities, land uses, 
utility services, transportation systems, meteorological conditions, 
air quality, and noise.

Alternatives

    In developing the DEIS, the No Action alternative, other actions 
considered and eliminated, and alternatives sites for the proposed 
medium-security Federal correctional institution 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. A 
Public Scoping Meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 11, 2004, 
at City Hall, 168 Main Street, Berlin, New Hampshire. The meeting 
location, date, and time will be well-publicized and have been 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 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.

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: Issac J. Gaston, Site Selection Specialist, Site Selection 
and Environmental Review Branch, U.S. Department of Justice--Federal 
Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534 
Telephone: 202-514-6470/Facsimile: 202-616-6024/[email protected].

    Dated: April 2, 2004.
Pamela J. Chandler,
Acting Chief, Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch, Federal 
Bureau of Prisons.
[FR Doc. 04-7914 Filed 4-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-05-P