[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64465-64466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20177]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs

[OJP (OJP) Docket No. 1800]


Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grant Funding 
Programs

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft programmatic environmental 
assessment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs 
(OJP) has completed a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment 
(PEA). The OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical 
assistance and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to 
prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and uphold the rule of law by 
strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. The PEA 
evaluates the potential environmental impacts of implementing OJP 
programs that provide funding to applicants in support of OJP's 
mission. NEPA requires that federal agencies consider the effects of a 
proposed action and any reasonable alternatives on the human 
environment. This Draft PEA evaluates the impacts that would result 
from the implementation of the Proposed Action as compared to the No 
Action

[[Page 64466]]

alternative. OJP is accepting comments on this Draft PEA as detailed 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 19, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may view an electronic version of the Draft PEA at 
https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/ojppea.pdf, or contact OJP (contact information below) to request a 
hardcopy. Comments must be in writing and may be submitted via email 
(preferred) or mail to the addresses below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Gallas, Office of Justice 
Programs, 810 7th St. NW, Washington, DC 20531; (202) 307-0790; 
[email protected], (Please reference ``Draft PEA, Docket 1800'' in 
the subject line.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a component of OJP, 
prepared a PEA that was issued in 2010 to evaluate the impacts of NIJ 
grant programs. This existing 2010 NIJ PEA has since been adopted by 
the Bureau of Justice Assistance, another component of OJP. Council on 
Environmental Quality guidance recommends that agencies re-examine 
existing NEPA analyses for long-term programs every five years. 
Consistent with this recommendation, OJP has reviewed its existing PEA 
and has determined that a new analysis is warranted based on the 
factors found in 40 CFR 1502.19. OJP has prepared an updated PEA that 
is intended to replace the 2010 NIJ PEA and will cover all of OJP's 
funding programs. OJP publishes this notice pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.

II. Proposed Action Description

    The Proposed Action considered under this Draft PEA is for OJP to 
continue to provide funding to applicants to support its mission. OJP 
evaluates and funds approximately 7,000 projects per year nationwide. 
All activities considered under the Draft PEA support criminal justice 
activities and are funded under one of OJP's grant programs or other 
funding vehicles such as interagency agreements. The Draft PEA provides 
analysis of the following activities:
     Construction: Interior or exterior construction activities 
that involve minor renovation, new construction, or expansion of 
buildings and/or building systems.
     Training: Indoor classroom, laboratory, and computer 
training activities in support of education or attendance at 
conferences, workshops, and seminars at existing facilities. Firearms 
training activities at existing, established outdoor and indoor firing 
ranges. Activities may include funding individuals to attend a training 
or funding a training event/activity directly.
     Routine Lab Work: Indoor laboratory work using known or 
accepted methodology and industry standard equipment to achieve known 
outcomes.
     Body Decomposition Research: Research on body 
decomposition at forensic anthropological centers.
     Standards Development Testing and Compliance Testing for 
Protective Equipment: Indoor and outdoor laboratory testing activities 
completed in support of developing a standard or for testing a product 
for inclusion on the National Institute of Justice Compliant Products 
List.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to allow OJP to better meet 
the needs of state, local, and tribal criminal justice professionals 
and local communities. OJP supports forensic science programs dedicated 
to research, development, testing, and evaluation in conjunction with 
capacity building and technical assistance. OJP provides funding for 
these activities to combat crime and promote justice across the 
country.

Emily Gallas,
Assistant General Counsel, OJP Office of the General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-20177 Filed 9-18-23; 8:45 am]
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