FEIS Public Notice of Availability 071024.pdf

U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Prisons

Washington, DC 20534

July 10, 2024

Subject: Final Environmental Impact Statement – Proposed Federal Correctional

Institution and Federal Prison Camp, Letcher County, Kentucky

The United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP), is pleased to make available a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) concerning a proposal to develop a new Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) and Federal Prison Camp (FPC) in Letcher County, Kentucky (“Proposed Action”). To address the need for modern, cost efficient, and secure facilities, the FBOP proposes to develop a new FCI to house approximately 1,152 medium-security adults in custody (AIC) and an adjoining minimum-security FPC to house approximately 256 minimum-security AIC, for a total population of approximately 1,408 AIC.

The new facilities would serve the needs of the FBOP’s Mid-Atlantic Region.

The FEIS has been prepared consistent with the regulations implementing the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended in 2023, Council on Environmental

Quality regulations implementing NEPA, as amended May 1, 2024, and Department of Justice regulations implementing NEPA. Pursuant to NEPA, a Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2022, (Volume 87, Number 187) for the development of a new FCI and FPC in Letcher County, Kentucky. Publication of a Notice of Availability of the DEIS in the Federal Register occurred on

March 1, 2024, (Volume 89, Number 42).

The DEIS considered potential impacts to the natural and man-made environments resulting for the Proposed Action including, but not limited to, land use, traffic, utility services, community services, topography, geology and soils, air quality, noise, cultural resources, water resources, biological resources and threatened and endangered species, demographics, employment, housing, environmental justice, fiscal considerations, and visual and aesthetic resources associated with the Proposed Action and was made available to fulfill the requirements of NEPA. Publication of the DEIS initiated a public comment period lasting no less than 45 days during which time the FBOP held a public meeting on March 28, 2024. All comments received during the public comment period, which ended on April 15, 2024, and the public meeting held on March 28, 2024, have been considered and responses to comments have been incorporated within the FEIS.

Federal agencies, Tribal, Commonwealth, and local governments, interested parties, and the public are invited to comment on the FEIS and the Proposed Action which will be the subject of a 30-day comment period beginning July 12, 2024, and August 12, 2024. The

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FEIS and information about the Proposed Action can be found on the project website:

https://www.proposed-fci-letchercountyky.com. The FBOP is also using the NEPA process to support compliance with applicable procedural requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.3(b)(3).

Written comments concerning the FEIS and the Proposed Action will be accepted through July 1, 2024, and can be submitted in any of the following ways:

➢ Delivered by mail or delivery service, enclosed in an envelope addressed to Kimberly S.

Hudson, Chief, Construction and Environmental Review Section, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW, Room 901-5 West, Washington, DC 20534; or

➢ By email to kshudson@bop.gov; or

➢ Via the Comment tab on the project website: https://www.proposed-fci-letchercountyky.com.

Following the end of the public comment period, the FBOP will review and consider the comments received concerning the FEIS and Proposed Action. A Record of Decision will then be completed no sooner than 30 days after the FEIS is released, in accordance with 40 CFR

1506.10. Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,