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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