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U.S. Customs and Border Protection Mr. Bird: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is writing once again to solicit your input concerning the proposed construction of border barriers in the United States Border Patrol (USBP) Rio Grande Valley Sector. This letter follows-up on an initial scoping letter that was sent in March 2018. As part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18), Congress specifically appropriated funds for the construction of border barriers in the USBP Rio Grande Valley Sector. With the funding that has been provided by Congress, CBP is proposing: (1) to design and construct approximately 25 miles of levee fencing in Hidalgo County, Texas within the USBP Rio Grande Valley Sector, McAllen and Weslaco Stations areas of responsibility (AOR); and (2) to design and construct approximately eight (8) miles of bollard wall in Starr County, Texas within the USBP Rio Grande Valley Sector, Rio Grande City Station AOR. CBP would like your input on the proposed construction. The purpose of the proposed barrier construction is to increase CBP’s ability to impede or deny illegal border crossings and to provide improved surveillance and detection capabilities to the areas of greatest risk of illegal cross-border activity located within the USBP Rio Grande Valley Sector. The Rio Grande Valley Sector continues to lead the nation in apprehensions of illegal immigrants and accounted for 45% of all apprehensions along the southwest border last year. Approximately 85% of all Rio Grande Valley Sector apprehensions come from the Western Corridor. The project will be similar to other existing levee and border wall systems located within the Rio Grande Valley Sector. Enclosed you will find maps showing the proposed locations for levee wall and bollard wall in Hidalgo and Starr Counties. The approximate mileage for each USBP AOR within the Rio Grande Valley Sector is as follows: * Weslaco Station AOR — Approximately 14 miles (Hidalgo County) * McAllen Station AOR — Approximately 11 miles (Hidalgo County) * Rio Grande City AOR — Approximately 8 miles (Starr County) Regarding the approximately 25 miles of levee wall in Hidalgo County, the proposed alignment would be situated on the south face of the northern U.S. International Boundary Water Commission (IBWC) levee. The proposed design includes a reinforced concrete levee wall to the approximate height of the existing levee, with 18-foot tall stee! bollards installed on the top of the levee wall. The project would also include a 150-foot enforcement zone on the south/river side of the levee wall, detection and surveillance technology that would be incorporated into the levee wall, automated vehicle gates, pedestrian gates, and an all-weather patrol road that would run parallel to the levee wall, and enforcement zone lighting. Regarding the approximately 8 miles of bollard wall in Starr County, proposed design includes 20 to 30- foot tall steel bollards, detection and surveillance technology that would be incorporated into the bollard wall design, pedestrian gates, and an all-weather patrol road parallel to the bollard wall. It could also Inelnde 9 130-fomt enforcement zone ant the suuhitiver side af the bollagd wall aad enforeement zone in. Adtitional details ofthe possible coraponents ofthe projcuts ate ss follow + Levee Wall~The levee wall would he a concrete wal to the upprowimate height of te lavee real ‘vith 18- foo tall bollards nvtalled in the top of the Hever all + Bollard Wall — The bollad veal sould be 20 wo 30 feet igh ulzing 6°x6” concrete filled stel bollaels. #180 Fout Knfarcerent Zone — The enforcement anne woud be an aren extending from the southiriver side ofthe levee wall orbollard wall approwimately 1$0 fel. 1 vegetition within the |s0-foot enforcement zane will e cleared > Gates - Aurmand vehicle gates would be installed with a minimum height of 18 teet and ‘minimum width of 20 fect. i addition, gates designed allow for farming equipment would be insiulled where appropriate ard range in widlhficm 40 tn $0 fect, All gates will be motorized ‘overhead siding gates with an enclosed drive and operate: syst, ing - LED fighting would be inwalled ws part of this project. CLAP would work with the approprio stakeholdees lu develnp solutions to avoid exces lighling heyond the enforcement + All Weather Rod ~ An all-neathor aggregate patrol rad Qype FC-2) would be constructed on the south sls and parallel tothe levee or hoTlurd wall nd shin the ¥50-foct enforcement zon, The specific location of the road wilhin the enforcement zone Would be delernined during the lesion phase of “he peyject > Cameras camer surveillance system vould be iuslalled us mumilor dhe wall the enforcement zon, und southern apgreach, CDP in in the process of obtaining Fighls of entry far survey’ po demi Ina ceyuirements, eppraising the sersage that woul be required for the proposed constructizn, wnd gathering input fom Inndowaers. CBP wil! also conduct enviromental and design related suevey and sie asseesmen activities, (CBP will evaluate she potential enviconmental inguctsasrociatodwita the levee wall andatce] hallad wall ‘construction, I9 addition o the survey and site assessments, CBP is gothering data and iapet Hom stare ane Joval government agensics federal agcnciss, Native American Tribes av landowners that may be affect by ot otherwise have an interest inthe proposed voniruetion, Bosausc youragency or organisation is likely lo bave knowledge and expertise regertirg. Ihe porcmal envonmental impacts, your input is sought regarding the Iikely ur antieiputed cfsets to biological, cultural, and natural resourees froin the proposed coastmution. Your respones should include any stuue und Toeal restitions, porntiting ve ther requivements with which CBM should vonsider during project siting, consteuction, and uperaion, ‘Comments soaght hy CBP include saccitic iupur eegacding Le progosed constustion, intoemation that could be pertinent to CHP's analysis of poteatial envicenmental effects, aud identitication of significant jesus. Cnr ments 1aseived In respowse to Tis Iter, neloding namics and addresiesof thoes who comineat, ‘will be part ofthe public reeard fords action, Cone submitted unomymously will be accepted and considered; hawever, anonymous comments will ant provide Ihe agency with the ability ly provide the respondent with subsequent envizoaental ducurents, CBP is commilted to providing additional opportunities for public comment for these projects und will prepece appropriate environmesral planaiag documents ln evaluate potential crvisonmesial impacts Fen he implementation ofthe planned penjecis. Your pramp!stcnion fo this request is appreciated. Comments and iommtion will be aocepred upto 30 days fotlowsiag the date of thi leer, you have any questions or comments please eonacl me u. sommentsonudichpdhs.gov, Please elude RGV Rorder Rarrice Cousirtiog” in te tile of yaue email, Vou may also subuit somments, quests, ‘oF concens tothe following addres: U.S, Customs and Border Proteetion UW'S. Border Pasol Feadquartere Program Manaycment Office Ditcezerae Wall Portotie 1300 Pennspivania Ave. 6.5E Mail Stop 1033 ‘Washington, DC 20229-1160 ‘Thank yuu fur your enoperation, Sineecoly Lega Paul Tmviquer Real Estat and Euvizonmental Dranch Chiet (8, Customs aud order Protection Cited States Bender Patil Borer Wall Proyrara Mansgemeut Ottice Program Venagemont Office Diceotorate Propased Barrier Hidalgo County LEGEND