June 27, 2019 RE: FY19 Rio Grande Valley Levee/Border Wall System Construction Projects Request for Input To Whom it May Concern: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking your input concerning the construction of a levee/border wall system in Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Texas. CBP is accepting comments until Monday, August 26, 2019. CBP proposes to design and construct approximately 95 miles of new border and levee wall system in Starr, Hidalgo, and Cameron counties, including the design and construction of (1) approximately 52 miles of border wall system in Starr County, Texas; (2) approximately 24 miles of levee wall system in Hidalgo County, Texas; and (3) approximately 19 miles of levee/border wall system in Cameron County, Texas. CBP is seeking input on potential impacts to the environment, culture, quality of life and commerce, including potential socioeconomic impacts. CBP will be conducting environmental site surveys and assessments and is also gathering data and input from state and local government agencies, federal agencies, Native American tribes, and landowners that may be affected by or otherwise have an interest in the construction projects. As the projects progress, there will be additional opportunities for public comment. CBP will prepare environmental planning documents to evaluate potential environmental impacts and make those documents available to the public. How to Provide Comments Comments and information will be accepted until Monday, August 26, 2019. Comments should include data or information that could help inform CBP’s analysis of potential impacts. Helpful comments are fact-based, include links to data or research, and provide specific information concerning potential impacts to biological, cultural, and natural resources. If known, your response should include any state and local restrictions, permitting or other requirements that CBP should consider during project siting, construction, and operation. Specifically, CBP is looking for answers to the following questions: • Are you aware of threatened or endangered plant or animal species within the areas of proposed construction? If so, where? • Are you aware of recreational activities that take place in the area of proposed construction? Page 2 • • • • • Are you aware of possible impacts to businesses by the proposed project? Where are those businesses located? Are you aware of historical sites or areas of cultural significance located within the area of proposed construction? If so, where? Do you foresee your day-to-day activities being impacted by the proposed project? Are you aware of any studies, data or other information available that would aid in the analysis of potential environmental impacts in the proposed project area? Do you have any recommendations for practices the construction contractor should follow to avoid or minimize impacts? Comments can be submitted online at www.regulations.gov by searching docket number “USCBP-2019-0018.” Questions can also be emailed to CBP at commentsenv@cbp.dhs.gov. Please include “FY19 RGV Border Construction Projects” in the subject of your email. Comments received in response to this letter, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record. If you are providing a comment about a specific area, please specify that in your comment. More information about the projects located in your area are included in an attachment to this letter. Additional information about other projects in RGV, including maps and Spanishlanguage materials, are available at the following web site: www.cbp.gov/about/environmental-cultural-stewardship/nepa-documents/docs-review You may also submit comments, questions, or concerns to the following address: U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. 6.5E Mail Stop 1039 Washington, DC 20229-1100 We appreciate your feedback and help with evaluating the environmental impacts of these projects. Sincerely, Paul Enriquez Acquisition, Real Estate and Environmental Director Border Wall Program Management Office, U.S. Border Patrol Enclosure: Fiscal Year 2019 Rio Grande Valley Levee/Border Wall System Construction Projects Overview Fiscal Year 2019 Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Levee/Border Wall System Construction Projects Overview Proposed Border Barriers for Hidalgo, Starr, and Cameron Counties The construction projects proposed for Fiscal Year 2019 are similar to other levee and border wall systems located within the Rio Grande Valley. Totaling approximately 95 miles, the mileage by county is divided as follows: Hidalgo County Starr County APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY 24 52 19 MILES MILES Cameron County MILES Enclosed you will find maps showing the proposed locations for the levee and border wall system. The maps are also available online at: www.cbp.gov/about/environmental-cultural-stewardship/nepa-documents/docs-review Additional details of the possible components of the projects are as follows: ● Levee Wall— The proposed levee wall consists of concrete wall to the approximate height of the levee crest with 18-foot tall bollards installed on top of the levee wall. ● Border Wall— The proposed border wall is 20- to 30-feet high utilizing 6” x 6” concrete-filled steel bollards. ● 150-foot Enforcement Zone— The proposed enforcement zone extends from the south/river side of the border wall approximately 150 feet and involves clearing all vegetation within the enforcement zone. ● Gates— Automated vehicle gates will be installed with a minimum height of 18 feet and minimum width of 20 feet. In addition, gates designed to allow for farming equipment to travel through will be installed where appropriate and range in width from 40 to 50 feet. All gates will be motorized overhead sliding gates. ● Lighting— LED lighting will be installed as part of this project. CBP will work with the appropriate stakeholders to develop solutions to avoid excess lighting beyond the enforcement zone. ● All-Weather Road— An all-weather patrol road will be constructed on the south/river side, parallel to the border wall and within the 150-foot enforcement zone. The specific location of the road within the enforcement zone will be determined during the design phase of the project. ● Cameras— A camera surveillance system will be installed to monitor the wall system, the enforcement zone, and southern approach. Page 1 of 6 Starr County Consultation Areas The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is meeting with elected officials to identify the location and design of the border barrier in Salineno, Roma, Escobares, Rio Grande City, and La Grulla. Those cities are marked as “consultation areas” in the following maps, CBP anticipates proposing approximately 14 miles of border barrier within these areas. Feedback from elected officials and the general public will be considered along with requirements of the U.S. Border Patrol to identify the location of the border barrier. Page 2 of 6 0W4, North 5?3 Escobares g. ljy',? a . {?00 Escobares: Garceno - I . . La Rosita Roma 8: Escobares . Consultation Area 1' vii. Los Alvarez ,1 '11 L- .y ll I: 'J?l a - 8.3 Miles '2 Proposed Border Wall System AREA ENLARGED Proposed Starr County Border Infrastructure Projects Starr L?ig L05 VI. Villareales . RioGi-ande' ,'City Rio Grande City Consultation Area Ciudad Camargo Proposed Starr County Border Infrastructure Prolects I Rio Grande . 5/ La Enignada Las Lomas la Victoria Rio Grande City 1 Consultation Area La Puma \g . Santa Cruz 0.5 Mlles 5 Refugio 1? La Casita- ij? Garciasville Ciudad Camargo Alta Starr Bonito Proposed BorderWall System ix}: Elsa-71??. ?3 . 4 Lamina ?sh? . . . . /Sullivarl ?ioalgo a fr 3 ??yefrilas . . ., I f( DARFAENLARGED La Grulla . . . Consultation "x ., g; 3.3 Miles 4' Area \j Page 3 of 6 Hidalgo County Consultation Areas Proposed Hidalgo County Border Infrastructure Projects Sullivan City Cuevilas La Joya Hava na I I Ebanos I??s Wall System Existing Levee Wali Levee Proposed Levee/Border Buffing P: ilas i Ln. ?Emma. EI AREA ENLARGED Palmview Palmview Abram- South Perezvil Ie . . Proposed Hidalgo County Border lnfrastructu re Prejects -tas Palmview '3 Grim? a) J. ?"ng 3: 2 Abram- Palmview Perezville South :Mission alum-?1?? i i 7 3 Madam c' i. I F, MA m: A'uu- . I ,de F- whim - 5. H) mm i 0'8 MIIES i i . rumProposed Levee/Border 1 Mile Wall System Existing Levee Wall Levee ?)1"in I limwnw I 3.1 Miles 0.8 Miles [nu-3w FF I: 83;: Lutmm lu?n? Hidalgo DAREA ENLARGED . . A Reynosa i iv Page 4 of 6 i? ?a 9300 Proposed Hidalgo County Border Infrastructure Projects Scissors SanJuan Pharr A, m; ,n re ?We: I Hidalgo xi" END Proposed Levee/Border LE 1 Wall System Existing Levee Wall Levee an?vn El AREA EN LARGED Alto Cameron County Consultation Areas Proposed Hidalgo/Cameron County Border Infrastructure Projects Bixby Mercedes 2 Q. Rangerville 2.2 Mlles Q: Relampago I Santa Marla Bluelnwne Iglesia 4 Antigua 3' Las Rusias -. y" ?ariaMiles gr?Mf Venadito Proposed Levee/Border '1 xx 3.8 Mlles 5 Inches .7 ?11-?71 r? a a 1 Mile . I ,1 Wall System Existing Levee Wall Levee 3. ("uh h?tallen i DAREA Page 5 of 6 ART g: are Jay La Paloma Proposed Levee/Border Wall System Levee AREA ENLARGED Page 6 of 6 5' 4? . Rancho .N . . .5 VIEJO .5 Entantada- Ranchim 3" El Calaboz .5 0? I . g4 Elf, Fm in; Olmllo l? I 4.4 Miles ,r ?u Brownsville \\41 San Pedro 1.4 Mlles A i a innmr REM 25) mm. mm. )5 we we? 2.1 Miles Proposed Levee/Border Wall System Levee INN male? x?ruwuwl ?1 El AREA EN LARGED 57; Four 1 Corners 4??71/ we? 0.2 Miles Matamoros 1.3 Miles l? 0.4 Miles Port Brownsville 3 Reid Hope King Brownsville Villa Pancho South Point