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Short-Term Uses of Environment and Maintenance <br />and Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity <br />Construction of the new federal courthouse would result in both short-term and long-term effects <br />on the environment. Construction activities would cause temporary increases in air particulate <br />levels associated with dust and equipment emissions. Dewatering may cause temporary <br />increases in turbidity of stormwater effluent discharging into the Willamette River. Neither of <br />these impacts would be of significant magnitude, and both would end once construction is <br />complete. <br />Based on historical land uses, hazardous materials may be present in the soils beneath the sites. <br />In the event that hazardous materials are discovered, .they would be removed and disposed of in <br />accordance with federal and state environmental regulations. Cleanup of any hazardous <br />materials encountered may not occur for a long period of time if the proposed facility is not <br />developed. The longer the materials stay in the ground, the greater hazard they pose to human <br />health and the environment. Contaminant removal associated with construction would result in <br />long-term improvement of environmental conditions at the selected site. <br />The new building would be constructed using GSA guidelines for energy and water conservation <br />management. The proposed facility would provide a significant increase in conservation of <br />natural resources compared to some of the existing facilities currently being occupied. Some of <br />these old buildings were constructed prior to current conservation guidelines and the availability <br />of energy-conserving materials. Consolidation of multiple court functions in one location would <br />provide additional conservation opportunities. <br />The overall long-term effects on the environment from construction of the new federal <br />courthouse would include increases in energy and water conservation, increased agency <br />efficiency, and removal of hazardous materials from the courthouse site. <br />New Federal Courthouse 157 Final EIS <br />