GSA Anniston Courthouse Environmental Assessment Text

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GSA Anniston Courthouse Environmental Assessment Text OBG Environmental Assessment Proposed Federal Courthouse Anniston, Alabama General Services Administration 77 Forsyth Street Atlanta, GA 30303 September 12, 2017 PROPOSED FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, ANNISTON, AL│ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents......................................................................................................................................................... ii 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The NEPA Process .............................................................................................................................................. 2 2 Description of Proposed Action, Purpose, and Need ........................................................................................... 3 2.1 Proposed Action ................................................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Purpose of the Proposed Action........................................................................................................................ 3 2.3 Need for the Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................... 3 3 Description of Alternatives ................................................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Alternatives Considered .................................................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Site selection criteria ......................................................................................................................................... 4 3.2.1 Minimally Responsive Criteria .................................................................................................................... 4 3.2.2 Technical Criteria ........................................................................................................................................ 5 3.2.3 Cost Criteria ................................................................................................................................................ 5 3.3 Screening of Alternatives .................................................................................................................................. 6 3.4 Alternatives Evaluated in Detail ........................................................................................................................ 7 3.4.1 Alternative 1 - No Action Alternative ......................................................................................................... 8 3.4.2 Alternative 2 – Construction at Block 148, the City Hall Site...................................................................... 8 3.4.3 Alternative 3 – Construction at the Block 149 Site ..................................................................................... 8 3.4.4 Alternative 4 – Construction at the Block 151/159 Site ............................................................................. 8 3.5 Public and Institutional Comments ................................................................................................................... 8 4 Affected Environment, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures ................................................................................ 11 4.1 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.1 Floodplain Determination ......................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.2 Hydrology Study for Constructability ....................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Socioeconomic/Land Use ................................................................................................................................ 14 4.2.1 Comprehensive Planning .......................................................................................................................... 14 4.2.2 Economic and Employment Activities ...................................................................................................... 15 4.2.3 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................................................... 16 4.3 Community Services ........................................................................................................................................ 18 4.3.1 Court Security ........................................................................................................................................... 18 4.4 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................................... 19 4.4.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................................................... 19 4.4.2 Criteria of Evaluation ................................................................................................................................ 19 4.4.3 Impacts and Significance of Effects .......................................................................................................... 19 4.4.4 Mitigation ................................................................................................................................................. 20 4.5 Transportation and Parking ............................................................................................................................. 21 4.5.1 Parking ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 4.5.2 Pedestrian and Bicycle Access .................................................................................................................. 22 4.6 Site Contamination/Hazardous Waste ............................................................................................................ 24 4.6.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................................................... 24 4.6.2 Criteria of Evaluation ................................................................................................................................ 24 OBG, SEPTEMBER 12 , 201 7 | PRE-FINAL| II PROPOSED FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, ANNISTON, AL│ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 4.6.3 Impacts and Significance of Effects .......................................................................................................... 24 4.6.4 Mitigation ................................................................................................................................................. 26 4.7 Existing Conditions that will not be Impacted ................................................................................................. 26 4.8 Cumulative Impacts ......................................................................................................................................... 27 4.8.1 Land Use ................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.8.2 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ............................................................................................. 27 4.8.3 Transportation and Parking ...................................................................................................................... 28 4.8.4 Public Services and Utilities ...................................................................................................................... 28 4.8.5 Water Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 28 4.8.6 Air Quality and Noise ................................................................................................................................ 28 4.9 Summary of Impacts ........................................................................................................................................ 28 4.9.1 Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative ....................................................................................................... 28 4.9.2 Alternative 2 – Construction at City Hall Site ........................................................................................... 28 4.9.3 Alternative 3 – Construction at Block 149 Site ......................................................................................... 29 4.9.4 Alternative 4 – Construction at Block 151/159 Site ................................................................................. 29 5 References .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 6 List of Preparers .................................................................................................................................................
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