[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 96 (Thursday, May 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12156]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 19, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1626-94]

 

Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement to Continue the 
Program of Protecting the Southwest Border Through the Interdiction of 
Illegal Drugs With the Support of the Joint Task Force Six

AGENCY: The Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice. Joint Task 
Force Six, Environmental Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft programmatic environmental 
impact statement (DPEIS).

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SUMMARY: This Notice is to notify interested parties that the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has prepared a DPEIS for 
the proposed continuation of the Joint Task Force Six (JTF-6) support 
Program. The JTF-6 Program involves providing operational, engineering, 
and general support to Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) that have drug 
interdiction responsibilities within the southwestern border states.

DATES: Written comments and suggestions must be received no later than 
May 30, 1994. The final PEIS will be prepared after receipt of public 
comments.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the DPEIS, ``JTF-6 Activities Along the U.S./
Mexico Border (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California),'' are 
available upon written request to the following address: U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, CESWF-PL-RE, P.O. Box 17300, 
819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-0300.
    Send written comments on the DPEIS to Mr. Eric Verwers, 
Environmental Resource Planner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort 
Worth District, CESWF-PL-RE, P.O. Box 17300, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-
0300.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the DPEIS should 
be directed to Mr. Eric Verwers, Environmental Resource Planner, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, CESWF-PL-RE, telephone (817) 334-3246, or P.O. 
Box 17300, 819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-0300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Statutory Authority

    This Notice is being issued to interested parties in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Public Law 91-190, 
and Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, 40 
CFR parts 1500-1508. These Regulations allow for a 45-day comment 
period from the date the DPEIS is submitted to Environmental Protection 
Agency and the Notice of availability is published in the Federal 
Register. That date was April 15, 1994.

Background

    JTF-6 was activated on November 13, 1989, at Fort Bliss, Texas, by 
the Secretary of Defense in accordance with the President's National 
Drug Control Strategy. The thrust of this program is the use of 
Department of Defense training resources in the support of agencies 
responsible for the fight against illegal drugs.
    The mission of JTF-6 is to plan and coordinate military training 
along the U.S. Southwest Land Border in support of counter-drug 
activities by Federal, State, and Local LEA's, as requested through 
Operation Alliance and approved by the Secretary of Defense or a 
designated representative.
    The JTF-6 Program provides operational, engineering, and general 
support to LEAs operating within the Southwestern United States which 
have drug interdiction authority and allows the LEAs to conduct their 
missions more efficiently and effectively. The actions performed by 
JTF-6 personnel are quite diverse, ranging from reconnaissance 
operations to the building and renovation of roads and radio towers. 
The JTF-6's primary area of concern is within a 50-mile-wide corridor 
along the U.S./Mexico Border from Port Arthur, Texas, to San Diego, 
California.
    The INS is responsible for the prevention of smuggling and unlawful 
entry of aliens into the United States. This is the task of the Border 
Patrol, which also has been designated the primary law enforcement 
component responsible for drug interdiction between the U.S. land 
Ports-of-Entry.
    Since the Border Patrol has been the primary beneficiary of most 
JTF-6 engineering actions to date, INS elected to act as lead agency 
for the preparation of this DPEIS. The Environmental Protection Agency 
and JTF-6 elected to act as cooperating agencies. A Notice of Intent to 
prepare a PEIS was published on July 15, 1993, in the Federal Register 
at 58 FR 38140.

Purpose

    The purpose of the DPEIS is to address cumulative environmental 
impacts of previous actions as well as those actions which may be 
developed within the reasonably foreseeable future. The DPEIS analyzes 
these cumulative impacts and generically examines the impacts of future 
individual actions based on experience with similar past actions. The 
DPEIS also describes the different types of actions performed by JTF-6.

Proposed Action

    Based on performance accomplishments, INS wishes to have JTF-6 
continue to provide the support services to the LEA's at the same or 
similar levels that have occurred since November 1989. The support 
services provided by JTF-6 to the LEA's are characterized as 
operational, engineering, and general.
    This proposed action complies with the National Defense 
Authorization Act (Pub. L. 101-510, as amended) and the President's 
National Drug Control Strategy, in accordance with Section 1005 of the 
Anti Drug Abuse Act (Pub. L. 100-690). Continuation of the JTF-6 
Program is INS' preferred alternative.

Alternatives

    1. No action, which essentially is a discontinuation of the JTF-6 
support services to the LEA's.
    2. To continue the JTF-6 Program without the engineering support 
services, which is the support category that has greatest potential for 
environmental impacts.

    Dated: May 12, 1994.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 94-12156 Filed 5-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-M