[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24564]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 5, 1994]


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

 

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

AGENCY: The Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice (lead); 
Joint Task Force Six (cooperating); Environmental Protection Agency 
(cooperating).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (FPEIS).

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SUMMARY: This Notice is to notify interested parties that the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has prepared a FPEIS 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. 
The Draft PEIS was filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
and published in the Federal Register on April 15, 1994, at 59 FR 
18115; the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft PEIS was published 
on May 19, 1994, in the Federal Register at 59 FR 26322. Comments on 
the Draft PEIS were received from five Federal Agencies, five State 
Agencies, and four private individuals/organizations. A request for an 
extension of time for review and comment was received from individuals 
in Laredo, Texas, and the U.S. Department of Interior. The request was 
granted and the comment period was extended from May 30, 1994, to June 
10, 1994. Copies of all comments and responses are documented in the 
FPEIS. The FPEIS was filed with the EPA on August 11, 1994, and 
published on August 19, 1994, in the Federal Register at 59 FR 42831. 
One private individual/organization commented on the FPEIS. The Record 
of Decision (ROD) is currently being prepared and will be available for 
public review after its completion.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FPEIS, ``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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the FPEIS should 
be directed to Mr. Eric W. 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 1500-1508.

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 counterdrug 
activities by Federal, State, and Local LEAs, as requested through 
Operation Alliance and approved by the Secretary of Defense or a 
designated representative.
    The JFT-6 program provides operational, engineering, and general 
support to LEAs operating within the Southwestern United States which 
have drug interdiction authorities 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 is also 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 FPEIS. The EPA and JTF-6 elected to act as 
cooperating agencies. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a PEIS was 
published on July 15, 1993, in the Federal Register at 58 FR 38140.

Purpose

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

    Dated: September 23, 1994.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 94-24564 Filed 10-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-M