Border Fence Gets More Real
September 24th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Thanks to the Rio Grande Guardian for letting us know that today the Department of Homeland Security advertised its plans in the Federal Register for almost 70 miles of fencing along the Texas Mexico border.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Border Patrol (OBP) is preparing Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and Environmental Assessments (EAs) to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts associated with proposed construction and operation of tactical infrastructure along the U.S./Mexico international border (the Proposed Actions). The tactical infrastructure includes primary fence and patrol roads.
Tactical infrastructure indeed. The EIS and EAs provide time for comment. But as Mary Jo McConahay explains in her recent Observer story Habitat for Inanity, the move toward the fence will likely end up in court.
September 25th, 2007 at 10:58 am
The Border Patrol’s plans for the border wall and maps of its route through Rio Grande Valley communities and refuges can be found at http://www.borderfencenepa.com/rio-grande-valley-sector-eis/ . Scroll down to the 3 “General Locations of Tactical Infrastructure” lines to see PDF maps. The Lower Valley map is particularly disturbing, as it includes mileage beyond the 700+ mandated by the Secure Fence Act running up the coast from Boca Chica. I would urge everyone to submit a commit at the bottom of the page, then call Senators Cornyn and Hutchison and demand that they stop this monstrosity in its tracks. Though it won’t stop human border crossers, it will do tremendous damage to our communities and environment.