[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29357-29358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12512]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment for the Deployment and Operation of High Energy X-Ray 
Inspection Systems at Sea and Land Ports of Entry

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is advising the 
public that a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for 
High Energy X-Ray Inspection Systems (HEXRIS) at sea and land ports of 
entry has been prepared and is available for public review. The draft 
PEA analyzes the potential environmental impacts due to the use of 
HEXRIS. CBP seeks public comment on the draft PEA. CBP will consider 
comments before issuing a final PEA.

DATES: The draft PEA will be available for public review and comment 
for a period of 30 days beginning on the date this document is 
published in the Federal Register. To ensure consideration, comments 
must be received by June 24, 2010. Comments regarding the draft PEA may 
be submitted as set forth in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft PEA may be obtained by accessing the 
following Internet address: http://ecso.swf.usace.army.mil/Pages/Publicreview.cfm, or by sending a request to Guy Feyen of CBP by 
telephone (202-344-1531), by fax (202-344-1418), by e-mail to 
[email protected] or by writing to: CBP, Attn: Guy Feyen, 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Suite 1575, Washington, DC 20229.
    You may submit comments on the draft PEA by mail or e-mail. 
Comments are to be addressed to CBP, Attention: Guy Feyen, 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Suite 1575, Washington, DC 20229, or sent to 
[email protected].
    Substantive comments received during the comment period will be 
addressed in, and included as an appendix to, the final PEA. The final 
PEA will be made available to the public through a Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Antoinette DiVittorio, Environmental 
and Energy Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, telephone 
(202) 344-3131.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    A draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the 
deployment and operation of High Energy X-Ray Inspection Systems 
(HEXRIS) at sea and land ports of entry has been completed by the U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Information and 
Technology, Laboratories and Scientific Services, Interdiction 
Technology Branch. The draft PEA is available for public comment.
    HEXRIS is a non-intrusive inspection technology that is used to aid 
in inspecting high-density cargo containers for contraband such as 
illicit drugs, currency, guns, and weapons of mass destruction. To 
assist in meeting CBP's mission requirements of securing the borders of 
the United States while simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade 
and travel, HEXRIS units are proposed to be deployed and operated at 
both sea and land ports of entry across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. 
HEXRIS fills a unique niche in the types of inspection tools used by 
CBP at the nation's ports of entry. HEXRIS is capable of penetrating 
dense cargo loads that cannot otherwise be examined with other 
technologies such as gamma imaging systems or low-energy X-ray systems. 
HEXRIS will also assist in fulfilling the requirement for the 100% 
scanning of containers entering the U.S. as directed in the Security 
and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006. Public Law 109-
347 (Oct. 13, 2006).
    The draft PEA addresses the potential impacts from the installation 
and operation of HEXRIS at various ports throughout the United States 
for the purpose of conducting non-intrusive inspections of high density 
cargo containers. Evaluations were conducted on various resources 
present at the ports, including: Climate, soils, water quality, air 
quality, vegetation, wildlife, noise, infrastructure, aesthetics, and 
radiological heath and safety.

Next Steps

    This process is being conducted pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations for Implementing the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), 
and Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 5100.1, 
Environmental Planning Program of April 19, 2006.
    Substantive comments concerning environmental impacts received from 
the public and agencies during the comment period will be evaluated to 
determine whether further environmental impact review is needed in 
order to complete the final PEA. Should CBP determine that the 
implementation of the proposed action would not have a significant 
impact on the environment, it will prepare a Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI). The FONSI would be published in the Federal Register.
    Should CBP determine that significant environmental impacts exist 
due to the action, CBP will prepare a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

[[Page 29358]]

This NOI to prepare an EIS would be published in the Federal Register.

    Dated: May 18, 2010.
Gregory Giddens,
Executive Director, Facilities Management and Engineering, Office of 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-12512 Filed 5-24-10; 8:45 am]
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