[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 27 (Friday, February 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6290-6292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2143]


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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, 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 Federal correctional complex by 
the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons. The area 
under consideration for correctional facility development includes 
sites in the Aliceville area in Alabama.

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

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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 February 5, 2007 approximately 194,000 inmates are housed 
within the 114 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 
114 federal correctional facilities. An additional 18,746 federal 
inmates are housed within privately-managed secure facilities and 
approximately 11,109 inmates are housed in other facilities for a total 
federal inmate population of approximately 194,000.
    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 the 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, New 
Hampshire, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Indiana 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 Southeast region.
    In response, the BOP has committed significant resources to 
identifying and developing sites for new federal correctional 
facilities throughout this region, including construction of facilities 
in Coleman, Florida; Yazoo City, Mississippi; Marlboro County, South 
Carolina; Williamsburg County, South Carolina; and Pollock, Louisiana. 
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 Southeast Region.
    In response, the BOP has undertaken preliminary investigations 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 the 
Aliceville, Alabama, area identified potential locations for 
development of federal correctional institutions 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 the Southeast region a federal correctional complex which could 
ultimately consist of four institutions of varying security levels. 
However, immediate plans look toward construction of one of these 
institutions, a medium-security federal correctional institution with 
an adjoining satellite work camp.

The Process

    In the process of evaluating the potential environmental impacts 
associated with federal correctional 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.
    Three sites are currently identified as alternatives for federal 
correctional complex development. Site 1 is comprised of approximately 
735 acres and is located approximately three miles northwest of 
Aliceville along Route 14. Site 2 is comprised of approximately 827 
acres and is located approximately six miles south-southeast of 
Aliceville along Route 2. Site 3 is comprised of approximately 838 
acres and is located approximately three miles south of Aliceville 
along Route 13. Additional sites may also be examined as sites become 
available through the scoping process and preparation of the 
Environmental Impact Statement.

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, March 6, 2007, 
at City Hall, Memorial Parkway East, Aliceville, Alabama. 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: Pamela J. Chandler, Chief, or Issac J. Gaston, Site 
Selection Specialist, Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch, 
U.S. Department of Justice--Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First

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Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534 Telephone: 202-514-6470 / Facsimile: 
202-616-6024 / [email protected].

    February 5, 2007.
Issac J. Gaston,
Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch, Federal Bureau of 
Prisons.
[FR Doc. E7-2143 Filed 2-8-07; 8:45 am]
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