Prior to the issuance of the waiver, in accordance with applicable Federal environmental laws and policies, CBP pursued a comprehensive effort to address potential environmental impacts associated with constructing, maintaining, and operating tactical infrastructure along the Southwest Border. CBP openly scoped pedestrian fence projects in coordination with Federal and State agencies, as well as the public, to ensure potential environmental impacts were identified and thoroughly evaluated for each project.

CBP notified applicable Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies of the project and requested information and input on potential areas of sensitive environmental resources within the project corridor. CBP also consulted with these agencies to identify methods to minimize impacts from the placement and construction of fencing along the Southwest Border. CBP has coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; State Historic Preservation Office; and other Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies to identify methods to minimize impacts from the placement and construction of fencing along the Southwest Border.

In February 2008, a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) El Paso Sector’s area of operation was released and a 30-day public review and comment period was provided. CBP also hosted a public open house at the Ambassador Ballroom in El Paso, Texas, on February 28, 2008. Agency and public comments were considered and incorporated in the Environmental Stewardship Plan (ESP). The link below provides the comments received on the Draft EA and states how these comments were addressed and incorporated in the ESP.

With the issuance of the waiver, CBP prepared this ESP, which analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with construction of tactical infrastructure in the USBP El Paso Sector’s area of operation. This ESP cites the previous Draft EA as a reference. Additional project information can be found in the Draft EA that was prepared before the April 1, 2008 waiver.