Tecate and Calexico Border Infrastructure Projects

CBP announces the availability of the Final Environmental Stewardship Plan (ESP) for the border barrier projects in Tecate and Calexico, California.

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 effects associated with replacing existing primary fence and constructing, operating, and maintaining approximately 15 miles of new bollard wall along the U.S.–Mexico international border within the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego and El Centro Sectors.  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 June 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 June 13, 2019.