[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45277-45278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17810]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Prisons


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for Development of a United States Penitentiary (USP) 
and Federal Prison Camp (FPC) by the U.S. Department of Justice, 
Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) on Land Under Consideration for 
Development Located in Letcher County, Kentucky

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

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

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SUMMARY:

Background

    The Bureau was established in 1930 to provide more progressive and 
humane care for federal inmates, to professionalize the prison service, 
and to ensure consistent and centralized administration of federal 
prisons. The mission of the United States (U.S.) Department of Justice, 
Federal Bureau of Prisons is to protect society by confining offenders 
in the controlled environments of prison 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. The Bureau accomplishes its 
mission through the appropriate use of community correction, detention, 
and correctional facilities that are: Federally-owned and operated; 
Federally-owned and non-Federally operated; and non-Federally owned and 
operated.
    The federal inmate population has grown continuously since the 
1980s. In 1981, the federal inmate population consisted of 
approximately 23,800 inmates. By 1986, the federal inmate population 
had increased to about 38,700, a 63 percent increase. Growth continued 
at a steady rate through the 1990s, and in 1998 the federal inmate 
population had grown 280 percent, reaching 108,000 inmates. As of March 
30, 2013, the Bureau inmate population reached 218,123; this includes 
176,039 inmates being housed in 119 Bureau institutions, 29,075 being 
housed in privately-managed secure facilities, and 13,009 being housed 
in other contract care. Of the 176,039 inmates housed in Bureau 
institutions, 22,651 are high-security inmates. The Bureau houses these 
22,651 high-security inmates in 19 USPs located throughout six regions 
within the US: The Mid-Atlantic Region; North Central Region; Northeast 
Region; South Central Region; Southeast Region; and Western Region. 
Each region provides facilities for housing inmates at all security 
levels. The 19 USPs are rated for a total capacity of 14,909 high-
security inmates. Therefore, the Bureau is currently 53 percent 
overcrowded at their high-security institutions and are operating at 
above rated capacity for their USPs.
    The inmate population is continuing to grow throughout the regions 
and security levels. To meet the current and projected bed space needs, 
the Bureau evaluates the bedspace needs of the regions using a 
geographically balanced program. When considering placement of an 
individual the Bureau does consider the origin of the inmate and 
attempts to place the inmate in an institution that is within the 
region of the inmate's origin. Placing inmates within their region of 
origin provides greater opportunity for visitation with family, which 
aids in the rehabilitation process.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action being evaluated in this Draft EIS is the 
acquisition of property and the construction of a federal correctional 
facility in Letcher County, Kentucky. The Bureau proposes to acquire 
approximately 800 acres of land to construct a USP (approximately 
61,654 square feet) and FPC (approximately 6,063 square feet) in 
Letcher County. Inmates housed in the USP would be high-security male 
inmates and those housed in the FPC would be minimum security male 
inmates. The facilities would house approximately 1,200 total inmates 
(approximately 1,088 within the USP and approximately 128 within the 
FPC). In addition to the USP and FPC, several ancillary facilities 
necessary for the operation of the USP and FPC would be constructed.
    These facilities include the following:
     Central Utility Plant--1,217 square feet
     Firing Range--96 square feet
     Outside Warehouse--3,279 square feet
     UNICOR Warehouse--1,375 square feet
     Staff Training Building--910 square feet
    Operation of the USP and FPC would employ approximately 300 full-
time staff.

The Process

    The process of evaluating the potential environmental impacts 
associated with federal correctional facility development and operation 
involves the analysis of many factors and features including, but not 
limited to: Topography, geology, soils, hydrology, biological 
resources, cultural resources, hazardous materials, visual and 
aesthetic features, fiscal considerations, population/employment/
housing characteristics, community services and facilities, land uses, 
utility services, transportation systems, air quality, and noise.

Alternatives

    The No Action Alternative, other actions considered, but not 
carried forward, and alternative development areas for the proposed USP 
and FPC will be analyzed in this Draft EIS. The proposed sites to be 
examined consist of non-Bureau property near Whitesburg, Letcher 
County, Kentucky.

Scoping Process

    During the preparation of the Draft EIS, there will be 
opportunities for public involvement in order to determine the issues 
to be examined. The first opportunity will be during the project 
scoping period which will begin on July 26, 2013 with the publication 
of the Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft EIS in the Federal Register. 
Publication in the Federal Register will begin the 30-day public 
scoping period, which will end on August 26, 2013. During this 30-day 
public scoping period, a public Scoping Meeting will be held between 
5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on August 13, 2013 at the Letcher County 
Central High School located at 435 Cougar Drive, Whitesburg, Kentucky. 
The meeting location, date, and time will be well publicized and has 
been arranged to allow for the public, as well as interested agencies 
and organizations to attend. The meetings are being held to allow 
interested persons to formally express their views on the scope and 
significant issues to be studied as part of the EIS process. The 
Scoping Meeting will 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

[[Page 45278]]

Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.

EIS Preparation

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

ADDRESSES: Questions concerning the proposed action and the EIS may be 
directed to: Bridgette Lyles, Site Selection Specialist, Capacity 
Planning and Site Selection Branch, U.S. Department of Justice, Federal 
Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street NW., Washington, DC 20534, 
[email protected],[email protected], Telephone (202) 514-6470, 
Telefacsimile (202) 616-6024.
    All comments regarding the scoping process must be received or 
postmarked by August 26, 2013 for consideration in the preparation of 
the EIS.

     Dated: July 18, 2013.
Bridgette Lyles,
Site Selection Specialist, Capacity Planning and Site Selection Branch.
[FR Doc. 2013-17810 Filed 7-25-13; 8:45 am]
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