Final Environmental Impact Statement - New Federal Courthouse

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Safety and Security The U.S. Courts and federal offices located in Eugene are dispersed in various locations, none of which provides secure parking facilities for judges. The lack of secure parking for judges makes them vulnerable to assault from disgruntled litigants or others who may wish to target judges or their property (Leavitt 1999 personal communication). Public Perception Regarding Safety The 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal office building in Oklahoma City raised fears among both the public and federal government employees that similar incidents could occur elsewhere. Federal buildings, as symbols of the government, are potential targets for antigovernment or terrorist acts. Since the time of the Oklahoma City bombing, the federal government has worked to improve security at all federal buildings, especially courthouses and law enforcement agency offices. Security at the courthouse and federal building in Eugene has been strengthened since 1995, especially in the federal building (Leavitt 1999 personal communication). When the federal building/courthouse in Eugene was constructed in 1975, it met the design standards in effect at that time, including building setbacks. Current design standards require a greater setback from public streets, and the existing federal building/courthouse does not meet the current standard. Because the building is located close to the street, it is vulnerable to the type of incident that occurred in Oklahoma City. There is one public entrance into the existing federal building/courthouse, where security screening measures, including a metal detector and security personnel, are employed. The office of the clerk for the courts is located in another building that does not have a secure entrance. Additional courtrooms are located in space leased in private buildings that do not have secure entrances. The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that high-risk federal agencies (such as courts and other agencies that would occupy the new courthouse) should be co-located in buildings designed for increased security (IJ.S. DOJ 1995). The U.S. Marshals Service has stated that security is inadequate at the existing federal facilities in Eugene (Leavitt 1999 personal communication). The Alternative 2 site (the Chiquita site, formerly Agripac) is adjacent to 1,200 feet of the Southern Pacific Railroad line that traverses the city of Eugene. This track is the main line that ~ travels from Vancouver, Canada, through Seattle, Washington, to Los Angeles, California. The track accommodates approximately 20 trains per day, and these trains travel slowly through the ',! urban center of Eugene. The proximity of the rail line to the alternative sites in Eugene was raised during the scoping process as a safety concern. Issues of concern include an increased risk of pedestrians being struck by trains while at the federal courthouse facility, and the potential for train derailment and hazardous material spills. New Federal Courthouse 153 Final EIS