[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 101 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30166-30167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11123]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Federal Bureau of Prisons


Notice of the Availability of the Finding of No Significant 
Impact for the Proposed Federal Correctional Institution--Hazelton, WV

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact/Final Environmental 
Assessment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons 
(BOP) announces the availability of the Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) for the proposed development of a Federal Correctional 
Institution (FCI) to be located in Hazelton, Preston County, West 
Virginia.

[[Page 30167]]

    The BOP is seeking to expand the facilities that currently exist at 
BOP's USP Hazelton facility due to a growing population of federal 
inmates and an increased demand in the Mid-Atlantic region for 
facilities to house the growing inmate population.

Background Information

    Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 and the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 
CFR Parts 1500-1508), BOP has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment 
(EA) for a medium-security FCI to house approximately 1,200 adult male 
inmates in Hazelton, West Virginia.
    USP Hazelton occupies 915 acres and is currently comprised of a 
high-security penitentiary housing approximately 1,608 male inmates, a 
Secured Female Facility (SFF) housing approximately 623 female inmates 
and a Federal Prison Camp (FPC) housing approximately 124 low-security 
inmates. Environmental studies were conducted before the construction 
of the USP Hazelton and the FPC in 1999, and the SFF in 2000. It is the 
intent of the BOP to construct the FCI on a portion of the existing 915 
acres currently owned by BOP. The EA was prepared in accordance with 
NEPA and published on February 29, 2008 for a 30-day comment period.

Project Information

    The proposed action in Hazelton, West Virginia, is part of the 
BOP's comprehensive expansion effort to accommodate an increasing 
federal inmate population and reduce system-wide inmate crowding. The 
proposed action would consist of construction and operation of a 
medium-security FCI at the existing USP Hazelton facility. The 
principal function of the correctional facility would be to provide a 
safe, secure and humane environment for the care and custody of federal 
inmates, primarily from the Mid-Atlantic region of the country. Upon 
activation, the facility would have a staff of approximately 250 full-
time employees who would provide 24-hour supervision. Development of 
the proposed facility will occur on 250 acres of the 915 acres 
comprising the existing USP Hazelton facilities.
    An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared for the 
original development of the 915-acre site in 1999, and additional 
environmental studies were prepared for further development of the site 
in 2000. The current EA was undertaken to evaluate current 
environmental, cultural and socioeconomic resources and potential 
impacts of the proposed FCI. The previous NEPA documents included the 
area currently being evaluated in this EA.
    The impacts of the proposed build alternatives were considered in 
an EA published on February 29, 2008. The EA evaluated the effects of 
the development of the FCI Hazelton site. Review of the EA with the 
necessary mitigation has led to a FONSI, as that phrase is defined 
pursuant to NEPA. The proposed build alternative would result in 
negligible impacts to environmental resources within the community. 
There would be no significant adverse impacts to surrounding land uses, 
utility systems, traffic patterns or other community considerations. No 
significant adverse on-site impacts as defined pursuant to NEPA are 
anticipated as a result of the Action alternative. After review of the 
comments received from interested agencies and local citizens 
concerning the EA, the BOP signed the FONSI for the Action alternative.

Notice of Availability

    The BOP provided written notices of the availability of the EA in 
three local newspapers and the Federal Register. The BOP also 
distributed approximately 135 copies of the EA to federal and state 
agencies, state and local governments, elected officials, interested 
organizations, and individuals.

Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact

    The FONSI along with the Final EA and other information regarding 
this project are available upon request. To request a copy of the 
Finding of No Significant Impact, please contact: Pamela J. Chandler, 
Chief, or Issac J. Gaston, Site Selection Specialist, Site Selection 
and Environmental Review Branch, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534, Tel: 202-514-6470, Fax: 202-616-
6024/E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected].
    Copies of the Finding of No Significant Impact and the Final 
Environmental Assessment are available for public viewing at:

Preston County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street, Room 101, Kingwood, WV 
26537.
Kingwood Public Library, 205 West Main Street, Kingwood, WV 26537.
Terra Alta Public Library, 701B East State Avenue, Terra Alta, WV 
26764.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela J. Chandler, or Issac J. 
Gaston, Federal Bureau of Prisons.

    Dated: May 12, 2008.
Issac J. Gaston,
Site Specialist, Site Selection and Environmental Review Branch.
 [FR Doc. E8-11123 Filed 5-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-05-P