[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47661-47662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19209]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket Number DHS-2014-0042]


Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Program

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for departmental actions to address the increased 
influx of unaccompanied children and families across the southwest 
border of the United States.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS or Department) has prepared a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for 
actions to address the influx of unaccompanied alien children and 
families across the southwest border of the United States. The PEA was 
prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 
Parts 1500-1508), and the Department's NEPA procedures (Directive 023-
01, Environmental Planning Program).

DATES: The Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact documents are being made available for public 
inspection for thirty (30) days.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For NEPA-related inquires, contact: 
Dr. Teresa R. Pohlman, Director, Sustainability and Environmental 
Programs, Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer, Management 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security by any of the following 
means: By mail to 245 Murray Lane SW., Mail Stop 0075, Washington, DC 
20528-0075; by calling 202-343-4051; or by emailing [email protected]. Media inquiries regarding the DHS response to and 
operations regarding the influx of unaccompanied alien children and 
families may be emailed to the DHS Office of Public Affairs at 
[email protected]. For further information on the DHS response to 
the humanitarian situation, visit www.dhs.gov/uac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The June 2, 2014, Presidential Memorandum 
Response to the Influx of Unaccompanied Alien Children Across the 
Southwest Border directed the Secretary of the Department of Homeland 
Security to establish an interagency Unified Coordination Group to 
ensure unity of effort across the executive branch in responding to the 
humanitarian aspects of the situation, consistent with the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 
(Management of Domestic Incidents), including coordination with State, 
local, and other nonfederal entities. In addition to the influx of 
unaccompanied alien children, there is also an increase in the number 
of family units entering the United States.
    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for the 
apprehension, processing, detention, and removal of such persons 
crossing the southwest border into the United States without 
authorization. The increased influx in the number of apprehended 
persons has the potential to fill or exceed the capacity of the DHS 
support resources and infrastructure (real property for processing and 
housing apprehended persons, services including medical care, 
transportation, utilities, meals, hygiene, recreation, etc.) currently 
available.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to implement the DHS response 
to the influx of unaccompanied alien children and family units entering 
the United States across the southwest border, and to identify a 
process for efficient and effective environmental review for action(s) 
subject to NEPA.
    The need for the Proposed Action is based on the existing and 
expected increase in the number of apprehended persons being processed 
that may exceed the then current capacity of the DHS support resources 
and infrastructure. In addition, the need for the proposed action is to 
meet the requirements in the June 2, 2014 Presidential Memorandum to 
address the humanitarian situation.
    The PEA evaluated two alternatives: the No Action Alternative and 
the Proposed Action Alternative. Under the Proposed Action Alternative, 
DHS proposes to increase, in accelerated fashion, its capacity for 
managing unaccompanied alien children and family units crossing the 
southwest border of the United States until said persons can have their 
status determined or, in the case of unaccompanied alien children, can 
be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services. 
Increased DHS capacity is needed in the following areas: temporary 
detention space and housing, transportation, childcare, and medical 
care.
    Under the No Action Alternative, no additional facilities and 
services would be acquired in an accelerated fashion. Unaccompanied 
alien children and family units would be detained in custody for 
unacceptable lengths of time in overcrowded and potentially unsafe and 
unhealthy conditions which do not meet standards acceptable to the 
United States. Because of the potential for adverse impacts to human 
health and safety if there is no accelerated increase in facilities and 
services to address the influx of unaccompanied alien children and 
family units, the No-Action Alternative is not viable.
    The PEA and FONSI are available on the internet at www.dhs.gov/nepa 
and www.regulations.gov (Docket Number DHS-2014-0042).


[[Page 47662]]


    Dated: August 7, 2014,
 Teresa R. Pohlman,
Director of Sustainability and Environmental Programs.
[FR Doc. 2014-19209 Filed 8-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9B-P