[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 48251-48253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12490]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 5, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 48251]]


                Presidential Permit of May 31, 2024

                
Authorizing the City of Laredo, Texas, To Expand 
                and Continue To Maintain and Operate a Vehicular and 
                Pedestrian Border Crossing at the World Trade Bridge 
                Land Port of Entry

                By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of 
                the United States of America (the ``President''), I 
                hereby grant permission, subject to the conditions set 
                forth herein, to the City of Laredo in Webb County, 
                Texas (the ``permittee''), to expand and continue to 
                maintain and operate a vehicular and pedestrian 
                crossing at the World Trade Bridge Land Port of Entry 
                located on the United States border with Mexico in 
                Laredo, Texas, as described in the ``Laredo World Trade 
                Bridge Expansion Project Presidential Permit 
                Application'' dated April 29, 2022 (``April 29, 2022, 
                Application''), by the permittee to the Secretary of 
                State and determined to be complete on February 9, 
                2024, in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 535d and associated 
                procedures.

                The term ``Border facilities'' as used in this permit 
                consists of the bridge over the Rio Grande, including 
                two additional commercial lanes on the existing World 
                Trade Bridge land port of entry and the addition of a 
                second span adjacent to the existing World Trade Bridge 
                land port of entry, its approaches, and any land, 
                structures, installations, or equipment appurtenant 
                thereto located approximately 9.35 river miles north of 
                Laredo International Bridge I on the United States side 
                of the international boundary between the United States 
                and Mexico.

                This permit is subject to the following conditions:

                Article 1. The Border facilities herein described and 
                all aspects of their operation are subject to all the 
                conditions, provisions, and requirements of this permit 
                and any subsequent Presidential amendment to it. The 
                construction, maintenance, and operation of the Border 
                facilities shall be in all material respects as 
                described in the April 29, 2022, Application.

                Article 2. The standards for and the manner of 
                construction, maintenance, and operation of the Border 
                facilities are subject to inspection by the 
                representatives of appropriate Federal, State, and 
                local agencies. The permittee shall grant officers and 
                employees of such agencies that are duly authorized and 
                performing their official duties free and unrestricted 
                access to said Border facilities.

                Article 3. The permittee shall comply with all 
                applicable Federal laws and regulations regarding the 
                construction, maintenance, and operation of the Border 
                facilities.

                Article 4. (1) The permittee shall take or cause to be 
                taken all appropriate measures to mitigate adverse 
                impacts on or disruption of the human environment in 
                connection with the construction, maintenance, and 
                operation of the Border facilities. Mitigation measures 
                are those that avoid, minimize, or compensate for 
                adverse impacts.

                    (2) The permittee shall hold harmless and indemnify 
                the United States for any claimed or adjudged liability 
                arising out of construction, maintenance, and operation 
                of the Border facilities, including environmental 
                contamination from the release, threatened release, or 
                discharge of hazardous substances or hazardous waste.

[[Page 48252]]

                    (3) The permittee is responsible for obtaining any 
                required Federal, State, and local permits, approvals, 
                and authorizations prior to commencing construction 
                activities. The permittee shall implement the 
                mitigation identified in any environmental decision 
                documents prepared in accordance with the National 
                Environmental Policy Act and Federal permits, including 
                stormwater permits and permits issued in accordance 
                with section 402 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 
                1342). The permittee shall comply with applicable 
                Federal, State, and local environmental laws.

                Article 5. The permittee shall immediately notify the 
                President or his designee of any decision to transfer 
                custody and control of the Border facilities or any 
                part thereof to any executive department or agency 
                (agency) of the United States Government. Said notice 
                shall identify the transferee agency and seek the 
                approval of the President for the transfer of the 
                permit. In the event of approval by the President of 
                such transfer, this permit shall remain in force and 
                effect, and the Border facilities shall be subject to 
                all the conditions, permissions, and requirements of 
                this permit and any amendments thereof. The permittee 
                may transfer ownership or control of the Border 
                facilities to a non-Federal entity or individual only 
                upon the prior express approval of such transfer by the 
                President, which approval may include such conditions, 
                permissions, and requirements that the President, in 
                the President's discretion, determines are appropriate 
                and necessary for inclusion in the permit, to be 
                effective on the date of transfer.

                Article 6. The permittee is responsible for acquiring 
                and maintaining any right-of-way grants or easements, 
                permits, and other authorizations as may become 
                necessary or appropriate. To ensure the safe operation 
                of the Border facilities, the permittee shall maintain 
                them and every part of them in a condition of good 
                repair and in compliance with applicable law and use of 
                best management practices.

                Article 7. To the extent authorized by law, and 
                consistent with Donation Acceptance Agreements (DAAs) 
                already executed with the permittee under the Donation 
                Acceptance Authority found in 6 U.S.C. 301a and section 
                559 of title V of division F of the Consolidated 
                Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76), as 
                amended, as continued by 6 U.S.C. 301b, the permittee 
                shall provide to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and 
                Border Protection of the Department of Homeland 
                Security and the heads of any other relevant agencies, 
                at no cost to the United States, suitable inspection 
                facilities, infrastructure improvements, equipment, and 
                maintenance, as set forth in the DAAs. Nothing in this 
                permit obligates such agencies to provide a particular 
                level of services or staffing for such inspection 
                facilities or for any other aspect of the port of entry 
                associated with the Border facilities.

                Article 8. Upon request, the permittee shall provide 
                appropriate information to the President or his 
                designee with regard to the Border facilities. Such 
                requests could include requests for information 
                concerning current conditions, environmental 
                compliance, mitigation, or anticipated changes in 
                ownership or control, construction, connection, 
                operation, or maintenance of the Border facilities.

                Article 9. Before initiating construction, the 
                permittee shall obtain the concurrence of the United 
                States Section of the International Boundary and Water 
                Commission, United States and Mexico.

                Article 10. The permittee shall not initiate 
                construction until the Department of State has provided 
                notification to the permittee that the Department of 
                State has completed its exchange of diplomatic notes 
                with the Government of Mexico regarding authorization. 
                The permittee shall provide written notification to the 
                President or his designee at the time that the 
                construction authorized by this permit begins, at the 
                time as such construction is completed, interrupted, or 
                discontinued, and at other times as may be requested by 
                the President.

                Article 11. The permittee shall file any applicable 
                statements and reports required by applicable Federal 
                law in connection with the Border facilities.

[[Page 48253]]

                Article 12. The permittee shall make no substantial 
                change to the Border facilities, in the location of the 
                Border facilities, or in the operation authorized by 
                this permit, unless such changes have been approved by 
                the President. The President may terminate, revoke, or 
                amend this permit at any time at his sole discretion. 
                The permittee's obligation to implement any amendment 
                to this permit is subject to the availability of funds. 
                If the permittee permanently closes the World Trade 
                Bridge and it is no longer used as an international 
                crossing, then this permit shall terminate, and the 
                permittee may manage, utilize, or dispose of the Border 
                facilities in accordance with applicable authorities. 
                This permit shall continue in full force and effect for 
                only so long as the permittee continues the operations 
                hereby authorized.

                Article 13. This permit shall expire 5 years from the 
                date of its issuance if the permittee has not commenced 
                construction of the Border facilities by that date.

                Article 14. This permit is not intended to, and does 
                not, create any right or benefit, substantive or 
                procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any 
                party against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 
                agents, or any other person.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2024-12490
Filed 6-4-24; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P