[Federal Register: November 13, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 218)]
[Notices]               
[Page 66182-66183]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13no06-56]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection

 
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border 
Protection, Office of Border Patrol, Laredo Sector, Laredo North and 
South Station's Road Improvement and Non-Native Vegetation Removal 
Project

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection (CBP) will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) for the construction and improvement of existing patrol roads 
and the removal of non-native (giant cane, Arundo donax) vegetation 
along 111 miles of the Rio Grande (Proposed Action) in Webb County, 
Texas. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the decision-making 
agency for this project. This EIS is being prepared in support of the 
proposal by the Office of Border Patrol's (OBP) Laredo North and Laredo 
South Stations for controlling and deterring the influx of illegal 
immigration and contraband into the United States. Due to the increased 
violent activity in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and increase in drug 
trafficking in Webb County, the Secretary of Homeland Security has 
mandated this effort as the top priority of the OBP's Laredo Sector.
    The Laredo Sector has a need to secure the border by obtaining an 
unobstructed line of sight to the Rio Grande and a continuous patrol 
road. These actions are intended to gain and maintain control of the 
border to further prevent the influx of illegal aliens and drugs into 
the United States.

[[Page 66183]]

    Prior NEPA documents, developed to address those project portions 
which have been previously constructed or proposed to be constructed, 
will be incorporated into the DEIS by reference. Direct project impacts 
of the remaining portions of the project, as well as cumulative impacts 
of the comprehensive project, will also be addressed. Pursuant to the 
Council on Environmental Quality's regulations, a scoping process will 
be conducted. As part of this process, a public workshop/open house 
will be held to identify issues of concern for analysis during the NEPA 
process.

DATES: The meeting dates are:
    1. December 5, 2006, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Carrizo Springs, TX.
    2. December 6, 2006, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Laredo, TX.

ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
    1. Carrizo Springs--Carrizo Springs Intermediate School, 300 N. 7th 
Street, Carrizo Springs, TX 78834.
    2. Laredo--Holiday Inn--Civic Center, 800 Garden Street, Laredo, TX 
78040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn Bixler, DHS Engineering 
Construction and Support Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 819 
Taylor St., Room 3A14, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Phone: (817) 886-1713 
and Fax: (817) 886-6499.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Alternatives. Alternatives to be covered by the DEIS will include 
various alignments and configurations within the narrow geographic 
scope dictated by the international border (typically 300 feet from the 
United States bank of the Rio Grande). Other reasonable alternatives 
(to include the required ``No Action'' alternative) identified will 
also be fully examined.
    Scoping Process. During the preparation of the EIS, there will be 
numerous opportunities for public involvement, including scoping and 
review. Two open house public scoping meetings are scheduled (see 
DATES). The purpose of the meetings is to inform the public of the 
proposed action and identify issues and concerns regarding this 
project. Appropriate displays and exhibits will be provided to inform 
meeting participants of potential alternatives and actions. 
Representatives from the CBP, OBP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and 
private contractors will be present to provide the public with 
information and address questions. The meetings will be conducted in an 
informal format. No formal presentation will be conducted during the 
meeting. Oral and written comments will be accepted at the public 
scoping meetings or by mail until February 20, 2006.
    DEIS Preparation. Public notice will be given in the Federal 
Register concerning the availability of the DEIS for public review and 
comments.

Mark A. Gable,
T.I. Program Manager (NM/TX)/Environmental Program Manager, Dallas 
Facility Division, Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 06-9163 Filed 11-9-06; 8:45 am]

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