[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 68 (Friday, April 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18238-18239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7911]


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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


United States Section; Final Environmental Impact Statement, 
Flood Control Improvements and Partial Levee Relocation, United States 
Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) Presidio 
Flood Control Project (FCP), Presidio, TX

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: This notice is provided in accordance with 40 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-1508 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), and USIBWC procedures for implementing NEPA. The USIBWC

[[Page 18239]]

anticipates the need to improve existing levees in the Presidio FCP or 
to relocate portions of the Presidio FCP levees. An Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared to evaluate potential consequences 
of each action alternative in reference to flood control improvements. 
Following the evaluation of each alternative in the EIS, the USIBWC 
selected Alternative 2 (rehabilitation of existing levee to provide 25-
year flood protection) as the preferred alternative, and will use the 
ETS as a guide in developing construction plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Borunda, Acting Division 
Chief, Environmental Management Division, USIBWC, 4171 North Mesa 
Street, C-l00, El Paso, Texas 79902 or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Presidio FCP lies within the Presidio-
Ojinaga Valley, in southern Presidio County, Texas. It extends 
approximately 13.1 river miles along the Rio Grande Texas-Mexico 
border. The length of the levee system in the United States (north 
levee of the Presidio FCP) is approximately 15.3 miles, and includes 
the downstream section of Cibolo Creek, a tributary of the Rio Grande 
north of the City of Presidio.
    During September 2008, the Presidio FCP experienced severe flooding 
conditions due to water releases from the Luis Leon Reservoir on Rio 
Conchos in Mexico. The flooding caused substantial damage to the 
Presidio FCP, including levee breaches, overtopping, piping/sand boils, 
under-seepage, and severe surface and slope erosion. The flooding also 
potentially compromised the integrity of the levee foundation within 
several levee segments, primarily at locations of old river meanders. 
Emergency responses during the flooding event included filling over 
25,000 sand bags and placing the bags on the existing levee to add 
support, and using Department of Defense helicopters to fill bridge 
openings with larger sand bags in existing railroad right-of-ways to 
create secondary levees. The sandbags and secondary levees prevented 
the City of Presidio from experiencing more extensive flooding.
    In response to the September 2008 flooding damage, the USIBWC 
developed engineering alternatives for long-term improvement of the 
Presidio FCP flood containment capacity. The EIS evaluates a No Action 
Alternative and six Action Alternatives for levee rehabilitation or 
relocation that would allow USIBWC to minimize potential environmental 
impacts and fulfill the project goal of flood protection. A Draft EIS 
was released for a 45-day public review period on November 24, 2009. 
Oral comments were also received from during a public hearing held in 
the City of Presidio, Texas on December 10, 2009. The Environmental 
Protection Agency Notice of Availability of the Final PEIS was 
published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2010 for a 30-day 
wait period.
    Finding: Based on engineering, economic, and environmental 
considerations, the USIBWC has selected Alternative 2 (repair and raise 
the levee to provide 25-year flood protection) as the preferred option 
for implementation. Because of the damage to the existing levee during 
the September 2008 flooding (including severe erosion, levee breaches, 
and levee under-seepage), the existing levee is insufficient to contain 
a 25-year design flood. Therefore, under Alternative 2, the existing 
levee would be repaired, and sections of the existing levee would be 
raised, as needed, to provide the 25-year design flood protection. This 
would improve the functionality of the existing levee and provide 
protection to the City of Presidio and adjacent agricultural areas from 
a 25-year design flood.
    Availability: Copies of the Record of Decision may be obtained by 
request at the above address. Electronic copies may also be obtained 
from the USIBWC Home Page at: http://www.ibwc.gov.

    Dated: March 31, 2010.
Steven M. Fitten,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2010-7911 Filed 4-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7010-01-M