Notice2023-20177
Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grant Funding Programs
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 19, 2023
Issuing agencies
Justice DepartmentJustice Programs Office
Abstract
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has completed a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). The OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and uphold the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. The PEA evaluates the potential environmental impacts of implementing OJP programs that provide funding to applicants in support of OJP's mission. NEPA requires that federal agencies consider the effects of a proposed action and any reasonable alternatives on the human environment. This Draft PEA evaluates the impacts that would result from the implementation of the Proposed Action as compared to the No Action alternative. OJP is accepting comments on this Draft PEA as detailed below.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 180 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64465-64466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20177]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of Justice Programs
[OJP (OJP) Docket No. 1800]
Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grant Funding
Programs
AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft programmatic environmental
assessment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs
(OJP) has completed a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment
(PEA). The OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical
assistance and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to
prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and uphold the rule of law by
strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. The PEA
evaluates the potential environmental impacts of implementing OJP
programs that provide funding to applicants in support of OJP's
mission. NEPA requires that federal agencies consider the effects of a
proposed action and any reasonable alternatives on the human
environment. This Draft PEA evaluates the impacts that would result
from the implementation of the Proposed Action as compared to the No
Action
[[Page 64466]]
alternative. OJP is accepting comments on this Draft PEA as detailed
below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 19, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may view an electronic version of the Draft PEA at
<a href="https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/ojppea.pdf">https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/ojppea.pdf</a>, or contact OJP (contact information below) to request a
hardcopy. Comments must be in writing and may be submitted via email
(preferred) or mail to the addresses below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Gallas, Office of Justice
Programs, 810 7th St. NW, Washington, DC 20531; (202) 307-0790;
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#77121a1e1b0e5910161b1b160437020413181d59101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4520282c293c6b222429292436053036212a2f6b222a33">[email protected]</span></a>, (Please reference ``Draft PEA, Docket 1800'' in
the subject line.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a component of OJP,
prepared a PEA that was issued in 2010 to evaluate the impacts of NIJ
grant programs. This existing 2010 NIJ PEA has since been adopted by
the Bureau of Justice Assistance, another component of OJP. Council on
Environmental Quality guidance recommends that agencies re-examine
existing NEPA analyses for long-term programs every five years.
Consistent with this recommendation, OJP has reviewed its existing PEA
and has determined that a new analysis is warranted based on the
factors found in 40 CFR 1502.19. OJP has prepared an updated PEA that
is intended to replace the 2010 NIJ PEA and will cover all of OJP's
funding programs. OJP publishes this notice pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.
II. Proposed Action Description
The Proposed Action considered under this Draft PEA is for OJP to
continue to provide funding to applicants to support its mission. OJP
evaluates and funds approximately 7,000 projects per year nationwide.
All activities considered under the Draft PEA support criminal justice
activities and are funded under one of OJP's grant programs or other
funding vehicles such as interagency agreements. The Draft PEA provides
analysis of the following activities:
<bullet> Construction: Interior or exterior construction activities
that involve minor renovation, new construction, or expansion of
buildings and/or building systems.
<bullet> Training: Indoor classroom, laboratory, and computer
training activities in support of education or attendance at
conferences, workshops, and seminars at existing facilities. Firearms
training activities at existing, established outdoor and indoor firing
ranges. Activities may include funding individuals to attend a training
or funding a training event/activity directly.
<bullet> Routine Lab Work: Indoor laboratory work using known or
accepted methodology and industry standard equipment to achieve known
outcomes.
<bullet> Body Decomposition Research: Research on body
decomposition at forensic anthropological centers.
<bullet> Standards Development Testing and Compliance Testing for
Protective Equipment: Indoor and outdoor laboratory testing activities
completed in support of developing a standard or for testing a product
for inclusion on the National Institute of Justice Compliant Products
List.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to allow OJP to better meet
the needs of state, local, and tribal criminal justice professionals
and local communities. OJP supports forensic science programs dedicated
to research, development, testing, and evaluation in conjunction with
capacity building and technical assistance. OJP provides funding for
these activities to combat crime and promote justice across the
country.
Emily Gallas,
Assistant General Counsel, OJP Office of the General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023-20177 Filed 9-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P
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