94-13536. Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for New Federal Courthouse in Savannah, GA  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-13536]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: June 3, 1994]
    
    
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    GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
    
     
    
    Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for New Federal 
    Courthouse in Savannah, GA
    
        Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
    Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C.A. 4321 to 4370d), and the Council on 
    Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), as implemented by 
    General Services Administration (GSA) Order PBS P 1095.4B, GSA 
    announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
    for the siting and construction of a new Federal Courthouse within the 
    Central Business Area (CBA) of Savannah, Georgia.
        The EIS will examine the short and long term impacts from 
    constructing and operating a New Courthouse in the Savannah CBA, on the 
    natural and human environments. This includes but is not limited to 
    impacts on historic and cultural resources, traffic and parking, and 
    socioeconomics (including the impacts on local businesses and 
    neighborhoods). The EIS will also examine measures to mitigate 
    unavoidable adverse impacts of the proposed action. Concurrent with 
    NEPA implementation, GSA will also implement its consultation 
    requirements under Section 106 (36 CFR 800) of the National Historic 
    Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470), regarding the impacts on 
    historic properties as a result of undertaking the proposed action. GSA 
    is very much aware of the potential for adverse affects on historic 
    resources as a result of proposed action, and will make every effort to 
    identify and take into account such affects when siting this project.
        The New Courthouse will house 331 employees in an approximately 
    250,000 gross square foot structure that will meet the 10-year space 
    requirements of the US Courts. The project will contain five 
    courtrooms, and office space for Court-related agencies, as well as 
    space for GSA and the Postal Service. This information is presented 
    only as a summary of the project's space requirements: GSA has not 
    designed the facility even in concept. Design of the facility will not 
    begin until after a site has been selected and procured. The site 
    itself will not be procured until after the EIS and the NEPA process is 
    completed.
        Although a specific site has not yet been determined, there are two 
    important locational considerations for this project. First, Executive 
    Order 12072 (16 AUG 1978, 43 FR 36869) requires Federal agencies to 
    give primary consideration to the CBA when acquiring space in an urban 
    area unless the Federal agency has operational needs requiring it to 
    locate outside the CBA. The purpose of this Executive Order is to 
    encourage the location of Federal facilities where they will serve to 
    strengthen the nation's cities and to make them attractive places to 
    live and work. In this case, the Court has no need to locate outside of 
    the CBA.
        Second, the Court does have an operational need that would be best 
    served if the New Courthouse is located adjacent to the existing 
    Federal Building-Courthouse at 125 Bull Street. This location would 
    considerably reduce the security risk, as well as the administrative 
    and operational inefficiencies of ``splitting'' the Courts, by 
    minimizing the distance between two locations. An adjacent location is 
    strongly preferred by the Courts and GSA; however, it is a preference 
    only, and does not preclude consideration of an alternative CBA site.
        As part of NEPA and Section 106 implementation, GSA is actively 
    seeking public input into the decision-making process, including the 
    identification of issues to be examined in the EIS, and the 
    identification of ``reasonable'' alternatives to the proposed action. 
    Reasonable, in this case, means that the alternative must still satisfy 
    GSA's basic project goals. These goals are to satisfy the Courts' 
    operational requirements, and house its 10-year space requirement, in a 
    cost-effective manner, in Government-owned space.
        GSA has tentatively identified the following alternatives, some of 
    which may not be technically feasible, to be examined in the EIS:
         ``No Action,'' that is, undertake no new construction.
         Construction adjacent to the existing Federal Building-
    Courthouse at one of the following potential locations:
    
    --On a parcel bounded by State, Bull, Broughton, and Whitaker Streets 
    (preferred alternative).
    --On a parcel bounded by York, Bull, Oglethorpe, and Whitaker Streets.
    --On a parcel bounded by Broughton, Barnard, State, and Whitaker 
    Streets.
    --On a parcel bounded by State, Barnard, York, and Whitaker Streets.
    --On a parcel bounded by Barnard, York, Whitaker, and Oglethorpe 
    Streets.
    
         Identification and consideration of other feasible sites 
    that will satisfy the stated goals of the project in the CBA will be 
    determined through the scoping process and by Solicitation for Offers 
    by GSA.
        As part of the public scoping process, you are encouraged to 
    contact GSA in writing at the following address with your concerns and 
    comments regarding the proposed project: Mr. Philip Youngberg, Regional 
    Environmental Officer--4PL, 401 West Peachtree Street, NW., Suite 2500, 
    Atlanta, GA 30365-2550; or FAX your comments to Mr. Youngberg at 404-
    331-7169. Comments should be postmarked no later than July 5, 1994.
        GSA also intends to conduct a Public Scoping Meeting to solicit 
    verbal comments, and address general questions concerning the project, 
    NEPA, and Section 106. A Notice of this meeting and all subsequent 
    public meetings conducted by GSA for this project will appear in the 
    Savannah News-Press at lest two weeks prior to the meeting date. 
    Notices announcing the availability and review periods for the Draft 
    EIS and Final EIS will also be published in the Savannah News-Press. 
    Persons and organizations on the mailing list will be notified of all 
    meetings and publications by mail. Persons who would like to be added 
    to the mailing list should write or call GSA at the address or phone 
    number listed in this notice.
    
        Dated: May 19, 1994.
    Judith M. Cobb,
    Director, Planning Staff (4PL).
    [FR Doc. 94-13536 Filed 6-2-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6820-23-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/03/1994
Department:
General Services Administration
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Document Number:
94-13536
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: June 3, 1994