[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 221 (Friday, November 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64663-64664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22483]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection


Notice of Availability and Public Open House Announcement for the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Construction, Maintenance, and 
Operation of Tactical Infrastructure, U.S. Border Patrol, Rio Grande 
Valley Sector, Texas

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announces that a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is available for public review and 
comment. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA), CBP has prepared a Draft EIS to identify 
and assess the potential impacts associated with the proposed 
construction, maintenance, and operation of tactical infrastructure, to 
include pedestrian fence, access roads, and patrol roads along 
approximately 70 miles of the U.S./Mexico international border within 
the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Rio Grande Valley Sector, Texas (the 
Proposed Action).

DATES: The Draft EIS will be available for public review and comment on 
November 16, 2007 and all comments must be received by December 31, 
2007.
    A public open house will be held on December 11, 2007, at the 
McAllen Convention Center in McAllen, TX. A second public open house 
will be held on December 12, 2007, at the Brownsville Events Center in 
Brownsville, TX. Each public open house will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 
8 p.m. Please refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for 
more information.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft EIS can be downloaded by visiting 
www.BorderFenceNEPA.com, or https://ecso.swf.usace.army.mil/Pages/Publicreview.cfm, or requested by emailing: 
[email protected]. To request a hard copy of the Draft 
EIS, you may call toll-free 1-877-752-0420. Alternatively, written 
requests for information may be submitted to: Charles McGregor, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Construction Support Office, 
819 Taylor St., Room 3B10, Fort Worth, Texas 76102; phone: (817) 886-
1585; and fax: (757) 282-7697. Hard copies of the Draft EIS can be 
reviewed at the McAllen Memorial Library (601 N. Main St., McAllen, TX 
78501, (956) 688-3300); Speer Memorial Library (801 E. 12th St., 
Mission, TX 78572, (956) 580-8750); Brownsville Public Library (2600 
Central Blvd., Brownsville, TX 78520, (956) 548-1055); Rio Grande City 
Public Library (591 E. Canales St., Rio Grande City, TX 78582, (956) 
487-4389); Weslaco Public Library (525 S. Kansas Ave., Weslaco, TX 
78596, (956) 968-4533); Mercedes Memorial Library (434 S. Ohio Ave., 
Mercedes, TX 78570, (956) 565-2371); Harlingen Public Library (410 76 
Dr., Harlingen, TX 78550, (956) 216-5802); and San Benito Public 
Library (101 W. Rose St., San Benito, TX 78586, (956) 361-3860).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles McGregor, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Engineering and Construction Support Office, 819 Taylor St., 
Room 3B10, Fort Worth, Texas 76102; phone: (817) 886-1585; and fax: 
(757) 282-7697.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 24, 2007, CBP published a Notice of Intent to Prepare 
an EIS in the Federal Register (72 FR 54276) for the Proposed Action. 
This EIS is being prepared to comply with 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.
    The mission of CBP is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons 
from entering the U.S., while also facilitating the flow of legitimate 
trade and travel. In supporting CBP's mission, USBP is charged with 
establishing and maintaining effective control of the border of the 
U.S. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide USBP agents with 
the tools necessary to strengthen their control of the U.S. border 
between Ports of Entry in the Rio Grande Valley Sector. The Proposed 
Action also provides a safer work environment and enables USBP agents 
to enhance response time.
    The Proposed Action includes the installation of tactical 
infrastructure in

[[Page 64664]]

21 sections of fence along the international border with Mexico in the 
vicinity of Roma, Rio Grande City, McAllen, Progresso, Mercedes, 
Harlingen, and Brownsville, Texas. Individual fence sections would 
range from approximately 1 mile to more than 13 miles in length. For 
much of its length, the proposed tactical infrastructure would follow 
the existing U.S. Section International Boundary and Water Commission 
levee. The tactical infrastructure would cross multiple land use types, 
such as agricultural, rural, suburban, and urban. Impacted parcels are 
both publicly and privately owned. The Proposed Action would also 
encroach upon portions of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife 
Refuge and Texas state parks in the Rio Grande Valley.
    Two alternatives for the route for the tactical infrastructure are 
being considered under the Proposed Action--Route A and Route B. Route 
A is the route initially identified by USBP Rio Grande Valley Sector as 
meeting its operational requirements. Route B was developed through 
coordination with Federal and state agencies and incorporates input 
received through the public scoping period. The Route B alignment 
continues to meet current operational requirements with less 
environmental impact.
    In addition to Routes A and B described above, an alternative of 
two layers of fence, known as primary and secondary fence, is analyzed 
in the EIS. Under this alternative, two layers of fence would be 
constructed approximately 130 feet apart along the same alignment as 
Route B and would be most closely aligned with the fence description in 
the Secure Fence Act of 2006, Public Law 109-367, 120 Stat. 2638, 8 
U.S.C. 1701 note, 8 U.S.C. 1103 note. This alternative would also 
include construction and maintenance of access and patrol roads for 
USBP agents. The patrol road would be between the primary and secondary 
fences.
    Under the No Action Alternative, proposed tactical infrastructure 
would not be built and there would be no change in fencing, access 
roads, or other facilities along the U.S./Mexico international border 
in the proposed project locations.

Public Open Houses

    CBP will hold public open houses to provide information and invite 
comments on the Proposed Action and the Draft EIS. A public open house 
will be held on December 11, 2007, at the McAllen Convention Center in 
McAllen, TX. A second public open house will be held on December 12, 
2007, at the Brownsville Events Center in Brownsville, TX. Each public 
open house will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central Standard Time. 
Notifications of these open houses will be published in the Brownsville 
Herald, Valley Morning Star, The Monitor, La Frontera, and El Nuevo 
Heraldo one week prior to these open houses. USBP agents and Draft EIS 
preparers will be available during the open houses. Anyone wishing to 
submit comments may do so orally and/or in writing at the open houses. 
Comments received at the open houses will be recorded and transcribed 
into the public record for the meeting. Commentors must include their 
name and address. Spanish language translation will be provided. Those 
who plan to attend the public open house and will need special 
assistance such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable 
accommodation should notify the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 3 business days in advance. 
Include contact information, as well as information about specific 
needs. Those unable to attend may submit comments as described under 
``Request for Comments'' below.

Request for Comments

    CBP requests public participation in the EIS process. The public 
may participate by attending public open houses and submitting written 
comments on the Draft EIS. CBP will consider all comments submitted 
during the public comment period, and subsequently will prepare the 
Final EIS. CBP will announce the availability of the Final EIS and once 
again give interested parties an opportunity to review the document.
    When submitting comments, please include name and address, and 
identify comments as intended for the Rio Grande Valley Sector Draft 
EIS. To avoid duplication, please use only one of the following 
methods:
    (a) Attendance and submission of comments at the Public Open House 
meetings to be held December 11, 2007 at the McAllen Convention Center 
in McAllen, TX and December 12, 2007 at the Brownsville Events Center 
in Brownsville, TX.
    (b) Electronically through the Web site at www.BorderFenceNEPA.com.
    (c) By e-mail to: [email protected].
    (d) By mail to: Rio Grande Valley Tactical Infrastructure EIS, c/o 
e2M, 2751 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 200, Fairfax, Virginia 
22031.
    (e) By fax to: (757) 282-7697.
    Comments on the Draft EIS should be submitted by December 31, 2007.

    Dated: November 8, 2007.
Elaine Killoran,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Finance, Customs and Border 
Protection.
 [FR Doc. E7-22483 Filed 11-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P