[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 91 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21184-21185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11542]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Public Buildings Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for
the Consolidated Law Federal Office Building, Portland, OR
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) hereby gives notice
it intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA),
as amended for the Consolidated Law Federal Office Building, in
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. The EIS would evaluate the proposed
project, other reasonable alternatives, and the no action alternative
identified during the scoping process. Scoping would be accomplished
through written correspondence, through a public scoping meeting, and
through individual meetings with interested persons, groups,
organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and potential
impacts should be sent to GSA's environmental contractor, Herrera
Environmental Consultants, at the following address: 2200 Sixth Avenue,
Suite 601, Seattle, Washington, 98121.
DATES: Written comments should be sent to Herrera Environmental
Consultants by May 25, 1996. Comments will also be accepted at a public
scoping meeting from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 7, 1996 and May 8,
1996 at the location indicated below.
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING: Comments and suggestions will be solicited at a
public scoping meeting to be held at: Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal
Building, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Donna M. Meyer, Regional Environmental Program Officer, General
Services Administration, (206) 931-7675 or Ms. Nona Diediker at Herrera
Environmental Consultants, 2200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 601, Seattle,
Washington, 98121, (206) 441-9080.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The General Services Administration,
assisted by the environmental contractor, is considering preparation of
a federal NEPA Environmental Impact Statement on a proposal to design
and construct a new Consolidated Law Federal Office Building in
Portland, Oregon. The scoping process would determine the level of
effort, the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental
document, and identify the significant issues related to the proposed
project. Scoping will be conducted consistent with the Council on
Environmental Quality's (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the
Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). GSA will serve
as the lead agency for the preparation of the EIS pursuant to Section
1501.5(a) of the regulations.
Scoping
GSA invites interested individuals, organizations, and federal,
state, and local agencies to participate in defining the reasonable
alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS, and in identifying any
significant physical, biological, or socioeconomic environmental issues
related to the alternatives. Scoping comments can be made verbally at
the public scoping meeting, or in writing (see Dates and Addresses
section above for location and time of meeting). During scoping,
comments should focus on identifying specific impacts to be evaluated
and suggesting alternatives that minimize adverse impacts while
achieving similar objectives. Comments may also identify issues which
are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental
review. Scoping should be limited to commenting on the project
alternatives. There will be opportunity to comment on preferences
during the Draft EIS comment review phase.
Additional Information
A project information newsletter will be available at the public
scoping meeting or can be obtained by contacting Nona Diediker at
Herrera Environmental Consultants. The newsletter will describe in more
detail the proposed project, alternatives, and the EIS process.
Mailing List
If you wish to be placed on our mailing list to receive further and
future information as the EIS process develops, contact Herrera
Environmental Consultants at the address or phone listed above.
Project Purpose, Historical Background, and Project Description
The House and Senate Subcommittees on Treasury, Postal Service, and
General Government have determined a need exists for a facility to
serve as a detention center for prisoners appearing before the Federal
courts and for the consolidation of Federal law enforcement agencies in
Portland, Oregon. The committees have directed the General Services
Administration to undertake the necessary studies to address this
requirement. Detention facilities in Portland for federal prisoners
awaiting a trial and sentencing are limited. Federal law enforcement
officials are forced to move federal prisoners back and forth from the
federal prison in Sheridan, Oregon and other county holding facilities
in Oregon and Washington. This situation often leads to many security
and logistical problems.
The proposal to design and construct a 350,000 occupiable square
foot office, court and 300-bed facility to consolidate federal law
enforcement agencies and provide detention capabilities would aid in
alleviating security and logistic problems by establishing an adjacency
relationship to the new U.S. Courthouse. Site alternatives are
presently under investigation and a delineated area has been identified
as
[[Page 21185]]
follows: SW Taylor Street on the north, SW 1st Avenue on the east, SW
Madison Street on the south, and SW 4th Avenue on the west.
Alternatives
The EIS would consider several action alternatives and a no action
alternative. The facility would be located adjacent to the new U.S.
Courthouse located at 1030 SW 3rd Avenue. Alternatives to be considered
include:
1. Design and construction on a full block site bounded by SW
Taylor Street on the north, SW 2nd Avenue on the east, SW Salmon Street
on the south, and SW 3rd Avenue on the west;
2. Design and construction on a full block site bounded by SW
Taylor Street on the north, SW 3rd Avenue on the east, SW Salmon Street
on the south, and SW 4th Avenue on the west;
3. Design and construction on a full block site bounded by SW Main
Street on the north, SW 1st Avenue on the east, SW Madison Street on
the south, and SW 2nd Avenue on the west;
4. Acquisition then alternation of a leased building bounded by SW
Taylor Street on the north, SW 1st Avenue on the east, SW Madison
Street on the south, and SW 4th Avenue on the west, and,
5. No action.
Probable Effects
GSA will evaluate physical, biological and socioeconomic
environmental impacts of the alternatives in the EIS. Potential impacts
include, but are not limited to, changes in physiography; impacts to
groundwater; changes to vegetation and wildlife; changes in open space
and visual characteristics; impacts to air quality and noise,
utilities, and transportation; changes in the social environment; and
impacts to zoning and historical/cultural resources. The impacts will
be evaluated both for the construction period and during the operation
of the facility. Measures to mitigate any significant adverse impacts
will be addressed.
Procedures
The EIS will be prepared based on the outcome of the scoping phase,
A Draft EIS will be made available for public and agency comments, with
a public hearing held to receive comments regarding the Draft EIS. Upon
completion of the public review process, a Final EIS would be prepared
to address issues raised during the Draft EIS and the public hearing.
Dated: April 26, 1996.
Richard J. Moen,
Legal Counsel, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 96-11542 Filed 5-8-96; 8:45 am]
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