    [Federal Register Volume 90, Number 84 (Friday, May 2, 2025)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 18858-18859]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2025-07646]

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    GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

    [Notice-PBS-2025-02; Docket No.2025-0002; Sequence No.4]

    Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Record of Decision (ROD) for
    the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Prepared on the Proposed
    Modernization of the Bridge of the Americas Land Port of Entry (LPOE),
    El Paso, Texas

    AGENCY: Office of Public Buildings Service (PBS), General Services
    Administration (GSA).

    ACTION: Notice of availability.

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    SUMMARY: The GSA, in cooperation with the U.S. Customs and Border
    Protection (CBP), the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission
    and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
    1969, announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the
    Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared on the proposed
    modernization of the BOTA LPOE in El Paso, Texas.

    DATES: Applicable: Friday, April 25, 2025.

    ADDRESSES:  The Final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) are available on
    the GSA project website at: gsa.gov/bota under Project News.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla R. Carmichael, NEPA Program
    Manager, Environmental, Fire and Safety & Health Branch, GSA/PBS,
    Facilities Management and Services Programs Division, 819 Taylor St.,
    Fort Worth, TX 76102 or via telephone at 817-822-1372.
        Email: bota.nepacomments@gsa.gov.

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Background

        The Bridge of the Americas is a port of entry for vehicles and
    pedestrians crossing the U.S.-Mexico border between El Paso, Texas and
    Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The port is

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    operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and
    Border Protection (CBP) and is a full-service, multi-modal facility
    where CBP officers inspect commercially owned vehicles (COVs),
    privately owned vehicles (POVs), and pedestrians.
        CBP's priority mission is homeland security, with responsibilities
    for improving security at and between U.S. ports of entry (POEs), as
    well as extending the zone of security beyond the physical borders of
    the U.S. While carrying out its mission, CBP facilitates legitimate
    trade and travel through the Nation's borders in an effective and
    efficient manner.

    Purpose and Need for Action

        The purpose of the proposed action is for the GSA to support CBPs
    mission by bringing the BOTA LPOE infrastructure in line with current
    CBP land port design standards and operational requirements while
    addressing existing deficiencies identified with ongoing port
    operations. In order to bring the BOTA LPOE in line with CBP's design
    standards and operational requirements, action is needed to satisfy the
    following overriding needs:
         Improve the capacity and functionality of the LPOE to meet
    future public demand, while maintaining the capability to meet border
    security initiatives.
         Ensure the safety and security for the employees and the
    travelling public.

    Proposed Action and Alternatives Development

        As part of project planning, the GSA developed two (2) action
    alternatives as potential means of implementing the proposed action.
    The no action alternative was also considered in the EIS. Both action
    alternatives include the phased razing of all existing buildings/
    structures and infrastructure within the existing LPOE boundaries and
    construction of new buildings/structures and supporting infrastructure.
    Both action alternatives also include minimal land acquisition in areas
    immediately adjacent to the port.

    Summary of Potential Impacts

        The EIS identified, described, and analyzed the potential effects
    of the action alternatives developed to implement the proposed action
    and the no action alternative and documented measures that could
    potentially avoid, minimize, or mitigate any identified adverse
    impacts.

    GSA's Preferred Alternative and Environmentally Preferable Alternative

        GSA considered the findings in the Final EIS, stakeholder input,
    all public comments, and tenant needs at the LPOE to determine the
    preferred alternative, including the environmentally preferable
    alternative, and has selected:
        Viable Action Alternative 4--Multi-Level Modernization within the
    Existing Port Boundaries with Minor Land Acquisition Immediately
    Adjacent to the Port (4 acres--TxDOT) and Elimination of All Commercial
    Cargo Operations which includes the following rationale.
         Balancing likely adverse impacts (both short- and long-
    term) to the City of El Paso, El Paso County, the communities,
    residents, and citizens in the immediate vicinity of the BOTA LPOE and
    those near the other LPOEs that would likely receive commercial cargo
    traffic in the future.
         The likely impacts (both short- and long-term) to the
    overall trucking/trade industry in the region.
         The need to support CBP's mission by bringing the BOTA
    LPOE facilities in line with current CBP land port design standards
    (i.e., CBP Land Port of Entry Design Standard [CBP 2023]) and
    operational requirements while addressing existing deficiencies
    identified with the ongoing port operations.
         The overall need to improve operational efficiency,
    effectiveness, security, and safety for the CBP staff and cross-border
    travelers at the BOTA LPOE.
        This decision also takes into account concerns voiced by the public
    which were primarily centered around commercial truck traffic at the
    port and the associated noise and air quality impacts to nearby
    residents. GSA's data collection and analysis as presented in the Final
    EIS demonstrates that there are likely existing environmental impacts
    in the vicinity of the BOTA LPOE. These largely relate to traffic
    (primarily commercial truck traffic) and the resulting effect on both
    local and regional air quality and increases in noise. Furthermore,
    GSA's data collection and analysis indicates that should the No Action
    Alternative or Action Alternative 1a be chosen for implementation,
    these existing conditions would likely degrade further over time. GSA's
    data collection and analysis for Action Alternative 4 results in no
    furtherance of any existing impacts and represents a likely positive
    move in correcting these conditions over time.

    Aaron Bollinger,
    Acting Director, Facilities Management Division (7PM), General Services
    Administration-Public Building Service, Greater Southwest Region.
    [FR Doc. 2025-07646 Filed 5-1-25; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6820-AY-P