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Purpose and Need for Proposed Action <br />In 1992, the Administrative Office of the Court conducted a study of the existing and long-term <br />(30-year) space needs of the United States Courts located in Eugene, Oregon. The study <br />identified a continuing increase in space required by the courts during the 30-year period. The <br />U. S. General Services Administration (GSA) separately verified the space requirements and <br />determined that the number of judges is expected to increase from five (at present) to six in 2008 <br />': and 11 in 2028. <br />In January 1993, GSA published a prospectus development study to establish the feasibility of <br />constructing a new federal courthouse in Eugene, and to explain the project scope and design <br />requirements and provide information to support project planning decisions. In June 1994, an <br />additional planning document was prepared examining planning issues associated with <br />construction of the new federal courthouse. <br />On October 9, 1998, after consideration of these documents, Congress authorized appropriations <br />for acquisition of a site and development of a design for a new federal courthouse to be located <br />in the central business district of Eugene. An environmental assessment was issued in June 1999 <br />addressing construction of a new courthouse at one of three possible sites. However, this effort <br />did not result in agreement on the location of a new federal courthouse. The site selection <br />process was reinitiated, and additional sites in Eugene and the neighboring city of Springfield, <br />Oregon were solicited for consideration. Five new sites were identified for further consideration <br />in a draft environmental impact statement. Following the issuance of the draft environmental <br />impact statement on September 5, 2000 three site alternatives (Gateway, EWEB, and Broadway) <br />were determined to be impractical and eliminated from further consideration. The two remaining <br />alternative sites (Riverfront and Chiquita) are addressed in the final environmental impact <br />statement. <br />The purpose of the proposed project is to: <br />^ Consolidate existing judicial functions <br />^ Accommodate the immediate (10-year) and future (30-year) space needs <br />of the federal courts and court-related agencies <br />^ Improve security and safety of courthouse occupants and the U. S. <br />Marshals Service <br />^ Replace costly leased space. <br />The U. S. Courts currently have two district judges, one magistrate judge, and two bankruptcy <br />judges in Eugene. The courts currently occupy 108,085 square feet of space, including two <br />courtrooms, in the existing federal building/courthouse. The building is filled to capacity and <br />New Federal Courthouse 1 Final EIS <br />