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Comments and Responses, September 26, 2000 Public Hearing in Eugene <br />Transeript 1 <br />3 <br />1 NR. LEVINE: I Chink we are 9oin9 to start the <br />2 meeting. Good evening. Ny Haas is Mlchnel Levine. I'm xlth <br />3 General Bervices Administratton. to my left is John Bland, <br />4 he's the pro,iect manager on this pro,iect. To my right is John <br />5 Meerschoidt, ho is with Horrors Environmental. Mo also have <br />8 Sue Never in the hack of the room, also with Herrera <br />? Eovfronmontal. <br />8 And we also nave another additional person, her <br />9 Hams is Lea Lopez. she is a epnniah translator if anyone's <br />10 here that has any problem and needs to have en interpreter. <br />tt Where is Ms. Lopez? <br />t2 N8. LOPE2: I'm right hero. <br />13 MR. LEVINE: 8he's right hors. Okay. Great. Thank <br />1• you. Just to go Oaok to a itLtle hlBtorY about this oro.fect. <br />18 In 1992, the courts conducted a study of existing long-terw <br />18 space Hoods of the court. <br />17 The study determined that there will be en <br />18 additional need of apace during the next 30 years duo to the <br />19 continual growth of the court in Eugene. That growth is beeed <br />20 on an increase in the drug-related cease along the I-6 corridor <br />21 end the general population growth in the northwest -- <br />22 northwest. <br />23 G8A conducted a separate study that verified <br />24 these apace requirements. The existing courthouse ie 100,000 <br />25 square feat and Muses txo courtrooms. Tho building 1e filled <br />Transcdptl <br />2 <br />t to capacity end is unable to be structurally modified. Tho <br />2 bufiding is considered to bo one of the meet security deficient <br />3 courthouses in the United states. <br />4 The arses of deficiency ere that the building <br />6 lncke secure prisoner entry holding facilities, no vehicle <br />8 sally port, lack of secure prisoner corridors and the tack of <br />7 prisoner holding cells. Any further expansion to the Courts <br />8 in Eugene will rsqulre t:o lease additional apace. <br />8 Tho purpose of the new courthouse would 6a to <br />tO consolidate exteting .lutlicial functtone, accarnodate the <br />ii Dresont and future ne6da of the federal court end court-related <br />72 agencies and to improve security and safety of the courthouse <br />13 of the current standards end replace closely leeaod apace. <br />14 The neM courthouse attl achieve that goal. The <br />16 Haw courthouse will ba 285.000 square feet and will contain six <br />l8 courtrooms end room for additional court-rolatod services. The <br />17 court also wilt hevo BO securo Dorking spaces. <br />18 In 1998. G8A started Lhe enviranmenLel proce66 <br />18 under the environmental HEPA rules. National Environmental <br />20 Policy Act Rules and Regulations with en environmental <br />21 assessment study that was conducted. <br />22 Me studied throe sites that Mere ell located in <br />23 Eugene. Tho silo that was initially selected. based on public <br />24 opinion and comment, rre felt Lhat Lhia woe not an epproprlaW <br />25 location. <br />Final EIS 202 New Federal Courthouse <br />