A record of decision issued by the Office of Federal Detention Trustee May 6 confirms a decision to proceed with selecting a contractor to build a federal detention center on East Mesquite Avenue in Pahrump.

Assistant Federal Detention Trustee Scott Stermer said he expects a contract to be awarded to Corrections Corporation of America as soon as this week or next to build the facility.

"We conditionally accepted their offer before we did the ROD," Stermer said. He wouldn't reveal the contract amount until it's finalized.

By his estimate, the federal detention center could be open by fall 2009.

Brad Wiggins, Corrections Corporation of America senior director of site acquisition and development, was unavailable for comment.

CCA is the nation's largest operator of private detention facilities.

The public comment period on the final EIS ended April 28, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, after which the federal government was able to issue a record of decision.

The proposed detention center will house 1,000 to 1,500 prisoners awaiting trial in the federal courts or deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The trustee's report said the site at 2250 E. Mesquite Ave. was the largest proposed location with 120 acres, enough to easily accommodate the detention center while allowing for a buffer area. The site is also close enough to utility infrastructure.

The location conforms to local planning and economic development goals, policies and objectives, the record states. The East Mesquite Avenue site also minimizes the potential for adverse environmental impacts.

Stermer's record of decision states:

"Development of the proposed detention facility is expected to be accomplished within approximately 12 to 15 months following contract award. The selected contractor would be responsible for providing all facilities, personnel and management staff and equipment in order to ensure the safety, security and care of all federal detainees confined at the detention facility."

During a follow up interview, Stermer said it could be more like 15 to 18 months before it's completed, with a biological assessment still to be completed.

Stermer's report adds, "The proposed project enjoys the support of elected officials representing the town of Pahrump and Nye County."

The trustee predicts the design and construction of the federal detention facility will cost $60 to $100 million. Once open, the detention center is expected to provide full-time employment for 200 to 250 individuals and have an annual operating budget of $25 million to $40 million.

During the first of two lightly-attended public hearings in Pahrump last year, Stermer said contractors would be required to pay at least $17.45 per hour to the lowest paid detention officers at the facility.

The option of an on-site water or sewer treatment system was listed in the final EIS if the extension of lines wasn't possible. But the record of decision states there are no plans to develop on-site water and sewer facilities.

The detention center lies outside the service area of Utilities Inc., but the decision states the project will rely on public utility providers.

"Environmental and other relevant concerns presented by interested agencies, organizations and private citizens have been fully addressed within the final EIS," the record states.

During a telephone interview Tuesday, Stermer said about 75 letters were received about the federal detention center after the start of the public comment period on the final EIS March 28, but there were no objections that really jumped out.

"We examined the site for a pretty long time," Stermer said. "On our normal EIS process we got very little comment."

A biological assessment still needs to be conducted to study possible impacts on the desert tortoise, but Stermer said that's a minor study that should be completed next month. A memorandum of understanding will be signed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he said.

"We don't anticipate any big delay," Stermer said.

The final EIS released in March mentioned the Office of Federal Detention Trustee was preparing the biological assessment. Further consultations with the Fish and Wildlife Service, lasting up to 90 days, would be required if it is determined the project is "likely to adversely affect" the desert tortoise but not if the project "may affect but is not likely to adversely affect" the tortoise.

The final EIS noted during various field investigations few wildlife were observed on the East Mesquite Avenue site except for a black-tailed jack rabbit, but there were numerous burrows potentially used by tortoises.

In a related matter, the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Wednesday approved a request by the property owner, United Holdings Corp., to subdivide the property into a 120-acre parcel for the detention center and a 40-acre parcel where no development is currently planned.

United Holdings will dedicate right-of-way on Powerline Road, Blosser Ranch Road, Panorama Road and Mesquite Avenue.