CBP announces the availability of the Final Environmental Stewardship Plan (ESP) for the border barrier projects in Pima and Cochise counties, Arizona funded in Fiscal Year 2019 by the Department of Defense pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 284.
CBP is constructing new bollard wall in of place existing vehicle barrier and pedestrian barrier in Pima and Cochise counties, Arizona. The project, totaling approximately 63 miles, includes the improvement or construction of roads and the installation of lighting and other detection technology.
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), pursuant to his authority under Section 102(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), issued an environmental waiver on May 15, 2019 covering the project described in this ESP. Although the Secretary’s waiver means that CBP no longer has legal obligations under the laws included in the waiver, the Secretary has committed DHS to responsible stewardship of the Nation’s valuable natural and cultural resources. CBP strongly supports this objective and remains committed to being a good steward of the environment.
CBP prepared this ESP to analyze the potential environmental and cultural impacts associated with constructing 63 miles of border barrier in Pima and Cochise counties. The ESP also provides details on the Best Management Practices associated with the project that CBP will implement during and after construction.
The ESP was developed following environmental and cultural resource surveys of the project areas, coordination and consultation with resource agencies and other interested stakeholders, evaluation of possible impacts, and identification of measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts. As part of CBP’s consultation and outreach efforts, CBP sought public input from May to July 2019 regarding the project’s potential impacts to the environment, culture, quality of life, and commerce, including potential socioeconomic impacts. The comment period closed on July 5, 2019.
| Attachment | Ext. | Size | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pima and Cochise Counties Border Infrastructure Projects Request for Input | 1.80 MB | 05/07/2019 | |
| Cochise and Pima Counties Border Infrastructure Projects Stakeholder Feedback Report | 170.27 KB | 07/14/2020 | |
| Final ESP for FY19 Infrastructure Projects in Cochise and Pima Counties | 4.83 MB | 09/25/2020 | |
| FY19 ESP Appendix Biological Survey Report | 61.11 MB | 10/01/2020 | |
| FY19 ESP Appendix Waters of the US Report | 45.20 MB | 10/01/2020 |