[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 184 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54277-54278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18830]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and Request for Public Comments Concerning Proposed Construction 
and Operation of Tactical Infrastructure for the U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, Office of Border Patrol San Diego Sector

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
and Request for Public Comments.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify and 
assess the potential impacts associated with a proposal to construct 
and operate approximately four miles of tactical infrastructure and 
supporting patrol roads along the U.S./Mexico international border 
south of and adjacent to Otay Mountain Wilderness area in San Diego 
County, California (the Proposed Action). The purpose of the Proposed 
Action is to further CBP's ability to gain effective control of the 
border by denying pedestrian and other access in this high priority 
section of the Office of Border Patrol's (OBP's) San Diego Sector. CBP 
is the decision-making agency for this Proposed Action.
    Notice is hereby given that the public scoping process has been 
initiated to prepare an EIS that will address the impacts and 
alternatives of the Proposed Action. The purpose of the scoping process 
is to solicit public comment regarding the range of issues, including 
potential impacts and alternatives that should be addressed in the EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visit http://www.BorderFenceNEPA.com 
or e-mail: [email protected]. Written requests for 
information may be submitted to: Charles McGregor, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Engineering Construction and Support Office, 819 Taylor St., 
Room 3A14, Fort Worth, Texas 76102; Phone: (817) 886-1585; and Fax: 
(817) 886-6404.
    Background: An EIS is being prepared in support of a proposal by 
OBP's San Diego Sector for controlling and deterring the influx of 
illegal immigration and contraband into the United States. To assist 
Border Patrol officers, OBP is proposing to install and operate 
tactical infrastructure consisting of pedestrian fence, vehicle 
barriers, supporting patrol roads, lights, and other infrastructure 
along approximately four miles of the U.S./Mexico international border 
within OBP's San Diego Sector.
    In order to secure the nation's borders, CBP is developing and 
deploying the most effective mix of proven technology, infrastructure, 
and increased personnel. In some locations, fencing is a critical 
element of border security. OBP has identified this area of the border 
as a location where fence would significantly contribute to CBP's 
priority mission homeland security. As a part of this Proposed Action, 
two segments of fence are proposed for construction.
    One segment is approximately 3.4 miles long and would start at the 
Puebla Tree and end at boundary monument 250. The proposed segment 
would be adjacent to and south of the Otay Mountain Wilderness; would 
follow the Pack Truck Trail; and would not connect to any existing 
fence. The Otay Mountain Wilderness is on public lands administered by 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Department of the Interior in 
San Diego County, California. The wilderness boundary is at least 100 
feet from the U.S./Mexico border, and the proposed fence would occur in 
this corridor between the U.S./Mexico border and the wilderness 
boundary. However, due to steep topography, a portion of road or other 
tactical infrastructure might encroach into the wilderness area.
    The second segment would be approximately 0.6 miles long and would 
connect with existing border fence west of Tecate. This fence segment 
is an extension of existing fence up Tecate Peak and would pass through 
a riparian area. This proposed fence segment would be on privately 
owned land.
    Potential alternatives for environmental impacts analysis will 
consider location, construction, and operation of tactical 
infrastructure. Potential alternatives must meet the need to gain 
effective control of our nation's borders, as well as essential 
technical, engineering, and economic threshold requirements to ensure 
that the Proposed Action is environmentally sound, economically viable, 
and meets all applicable laws and regulations.
    The EIS will comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality regulations in 40 CFR 
Parts 1500-1508, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Management 
Directive 5100.1 (Environmental Planning Program).
    Consistent with 40 CFR 1508.28, the EIS will analyze the site-
specific environmental impacts of the proposed action which were 
broadly described in two previous programmatic EISs prepared by the 
former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (which now falls 
under the responsibility of CBP), Department of Defense, and Joint Task 
Force 6 (JTF-6). The Programmatic EIS for JTF-6 Activities Along the 
U.S./Mexico Border, August 1994, and its supplementing document, 
Supplemental Programmatic EIS for INS and JTF-6 Activities, June 2001, 
were prepared to address the cumulative effects of past and reasonably 
foreseeable projects undertaken by JTF-6 for numerous law enforcement 
agencies within the four southwestern states (California, Arizona, New 
Mexico, and Texas). These documents can be obtained from the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, Engineering Construction and 
Support Office Web site, at https://ecso.swf.usace.army.mil/; by 
sending an e-mail to [email protected]; or by 
mailing a request to: Charles McGregor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Engineering Construction and Support Office, 819 Taylor St., Room 3A14, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
    Public Participation: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental 
Quality's regulations, CBP invites public participation in the NEPA 
process. This notice requests public participation in the scoping 
process, establishes a public comment period, and provides information 
on how to participate.
    Public scoping is an open process for determining the scope of the 
EIS and identifying significant issues related to the proposed action. 
Anyone wishing to provide comments, suggestions, or relevant 
information on the Proposed Action may do so as follows:

[[Page 54278]]

    You may submit comments to CBP by contacting the SBInet, Tactical 
Infrastructure Program Office. To avoid duplication, please use only 
one of the following methods:
    (a) Electronically through the Web site at: http://www.BorderFenceNEPA.com;
    (b) By e-mail to: [email protected];
    (c) By mail to: San Diego Tactical Infrastructure EIS, c/o e\2\M, 
2751 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 200, Fairfax, Virginia 22031; or
    (d) By fax to: (757) 257-7643.
    Comments and related material must reach CBP by October 15, 2007. 
CBP will consider all comments and material received during the NOI 
comment period. If you submit a comment, please include your name and 
address, and identify your comments as for the San Diego Sector EIS. 
Comments received after October 15, 2007 will receive responses 
following the publication of the draft EIS.
    This scoping period is not the only opportunity you will have to 
comment. A draft EIS will be prepared, and prior to the development of 
a final EIS, CBP will release the draft EIS for public review. At that 
time, a Notice of Availability (NOA) will be published in the Federal 
Register, the San Diego Union Tribune, and the San Diego Daily 
Transcript. The NOA will announce the availability of the draft EIS, 
how to obtain a copy, and the dates, times, and places of any 
associated public informational meetings.

    Dated: September 19, 2007.
Eugene H. Schied,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Finance.
[FR Doc. E7-18830 Filed 9-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P