[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2562-2563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-809]


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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 Low Energy X-Ray 
Inspection Systems at U.S. Customs and Border Protection Operational 
Areas

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability 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 Low 
Energy X-Ray Inspection Systems (LEXRIS) at CBP operational areas has 
been prepared and is available for public review. The draft PEA 
analyzes the potential environmental impacts due to the deployment and 
use of LEXRIS. 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 February 17, 2012. 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 addresses: http://ecso.swf.usace.army.mil/Pages/Publicreview.cfm or www.dhs.gov/nepa, or by sending a request to David 
Duncan of CBP by telephone (202) 344-1527 by fax (202) 344-1418, by 
email to [email protected] or by writing to: CBP, Attn: David 
Duncan, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite 1575, Washington, DC 20229.
    You may submit comments on the draft PEA by mail or email. Comments 
are to be addressed to CBP, Attention: David Duncan, 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.
    Respondents may request to withhold names or street addresses, 
except for city or town, from public view or from disclosure under the 
Freedom of Information Act. Such request must be stated prominently at 
the beginning of the comment and will be honored to the extent allowed 
by law. A request to withhold personal information does not apply to 
submissions from organizations or businesses, or from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses.

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 Low Energy X-Ray Inspection Systems 
(LEXRIS) at CBP operational areas 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.
    The purpose of deploying and operating LEXRIS is to non-intrusively 
scan vehicles for the presence of contraband, including weapons of mass 
destruction, explosives, and illicit drugs. Use of LEXRIS at U.S. ports 
of entry, for example, directly supports CBP's mission of securing the 
U.S. borders and homeland from terrorists and other threats while 
simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade and travel by assisting 
CBP personnel in preventing contraband, including illegal drugs and 
terrorist weapons, from entering the United States.
    Two different LEXRIS models are available. One system is mobile, 
mounted on a truck or van type platform and will be used at CBP 
operational areas. The system can be driven along side a parked vehicle 
and will scan the vehicle as it drives by. The driver and passenger(s) 
will exit the vehicle to be scanned and be escorted outside the 
controlled area before the vehicle is scanned. The other system is a 
stationary, portal configuration that will be installed along an 
existing traffic lane. Vehicles will be scanned as they are driven 
through the portal. Occupants of the vehicle will have the option of 
remaining in the vehicle while the driver drives it through the portal 
or exiting the vehicle and having CBP personnel drive it through the 
portal. Examples of CBP operational areas include, but are not limited 
to, ports of entry, CBP checkpoints, and locations of events designated 
as national special security events.
    LEXRIS is needed to fill a unique capability to detect objects that 
are not effectively visualized by other non-intrusive inspection 
technologies currently used by CBP. LEXRIS gives a clear image of 
objects in the vehicle, including objects that may be hidden in 
fenders, tires, trunks, gas tanks, and under hoods. LEXRIS provides CBP 
personnel with information about what may be encountered during a 
manual search and, in some cases, will

[[Page 2563]]

eliminate the need for CBP personnel to manually enter vehicles to 
search for contraband. As a result, LEXRIS will increase the safety of 
CBP personnel.
    The draft PEA addresses the potential impacts from the installation 
and operation of LEXRIS at various CBP operational areas throughout the 
United States for the purpose of conducting non-intrusive inspections. 
Evaluations were conducted on various resources present at operational 
areas, including: climate, soils, water quality, air quality, 
vegetation, wildlife, noise, infrastructure, aesthetics, and 
radiological health and safety.

Next Steps

    This process is being conducted pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the NEPA 
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Department of Homeland Security Directive 
023-01, Environmental Planning Program, (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. The Final PEA will be made available 
to the public through a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
    Should CBP determine, after review of the comments, 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), and a Notice of Availability of the FONSI for 
publication 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) for publication in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: January 12, 2012.
Karl H. Calvo,
Executive Director, Facilities Management and Engineering, Office of 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-809 Filed 1-17-12; 8:45 am]
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