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Environmental Assessment Supporting the Mechanical Control of Carrizo Cane in the Rio Grande Basin in Texas

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Environmental Assessment Supporting the Mechanical Control of Carrizo Cane in the Rio Grande Basin in Texas Draft Environmental Assessment Supporting the Mechanical Control of Carrizo Cane in the Rio Grande Basin in Texas Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection July 2016 Abbreviations and Acronyms BMP best management practice NHPA National Historic Preservation CBP U.S. Customs and Border Act Protection NO2 nitrogen dioxide CEQ Council on Environmental NOx nitrogen oxide Quality NPS National Park Service CFR Code of Federal Regulations NRHP National Register of Historic CO carbon monoxide Places CWA Clean Water Act O3 ozone dBA A-weighted decibel P.L. Public Law DHS Department of Homeland Pb lead Security percent g percent of the force of gravity EA Environmental Assessment PM2.5 particulate matter less than or EIS Environmental Impact equal to 2.5 microns in diameter Statement PM10 particulate matter less than or EO Executive Order equal to 10 microns in diameter ESA Endangered Species Act RCRA Resources Conservation and ESP Environmental Stewardship Recovery Act Plan ROW right-of-way FEMA Federal Emergency SO2 sulfur dioxide Management Agency TCEQ Texas Commission on FM&E Facilities Management and Environmental Quality Engineering TPWD Texas Parks and Wildlife FONSI Finding of No Significant Department Impact tpy tons per year FPPA Farmland Protection Policy Act TXDOT Texas Department of FR Federal Register Transportation HUC hydrologic unit code USC United States Code mph miles per hour USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers msl mean sea level USBP U.S. Border Patrol NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Standards Agency NAGPRA Native American Graves USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Protection and Repatriation Act VOC volatile organic compounds NEPA National Environmental Policy Act Cover Sheet Draft Environmental Assessment Supporting the Mechanical Control of Carrizo Cane in the Rio Grande Basin in Texas Responsible Agencies: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol. Affected Location: Rio Grande Basin in Texas. Report Designation: Draft Environmental Assessment (EA). Abstract: Department of Homeland Security and CBP propose to conduct mechanical control of Carrizo cane (Arundo donax) in the Rio Grande basin in Texas. CBP would mechanically top (i.e., trim) the Carrizo cane to a height of approximately 3 feet (1 meter) using a mechanical cutter bar mounted on a four-wheel drive tractor. CBP may periodically determine that topping of Carrizo cane on the shoreline of the Rio Grande is necessary and conditions dictate that the activity would be conducted from a barge on the river. Carrizo cane is proposed to be topped in U.S. Border Patrol El Paso, Big Bend, Del Rio, Laredo, and Rio Grande Valley sectors. The EA analyzes and documents potential environmental consequences associated with the Proposed Action. The analyses presented in the EA indicate that implementation of the Proposed Action would not result in significant environmental impacts, and a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate. Status updates for the EA may be obtained via the CBP EA website at http://www.cbp.gov/ about/environmental-cultural-stewardship/cbp-environmental-documents or by emailing [email protected]. Comments on the EA or information requests may be submitted to Carrizo Cane Mechanical Control EA, c/o Mr. Joseph Zidron, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 24000 Avila Road Suite 5020, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677; or by email at [email protected]. Privacy Advisory Your comments on this document are requested. Letters or other written comments provided may be published in the EA. Comments will normally be addressed in the EA and made available to the public. Any personal information provided will be used only to identify your desire to make a statement during the public comment period or to fulfill requests for copies of the EA or associated documents. Private addresses will be compiled to develop a mailing list for those requesting copies of the EA. However, only the names of the private citizens making comments and specific comments will be disclosed; personal home addresses and telephone numbers will not be published in the EA. THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Draft ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SUPPORTING THE MECHANICAL CONTROL OF CARRIZO CANE IN THE RIO GRANDE BASIN IN TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION Border Patrol Facilities and Tactical Infrastructure 24000 Avila Road, Suite 5020 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 JULY 2016 Mechanical Cane Control Draft EA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive Summary Introduction The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) propose to conduct mechanical control of Carrizo cane (Arundo donax) (hereafter referred to as cane) in the Rio Grande basin in Texas (i.e., Proposed Action, also referred to as cane control). This Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes cane control within the cane control area, which is along the Rio Grande, and extends from 200 to 2,640 feet (0.5 mile) inland of the river. The cane control area is entirely within Texas and encompasses five U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) sectors: El Paso, Big Bend, Del Rio, Laredo, and Rio Grande Valley. The Big Bend, Del Rio, Laredo, and Rio Grande Valley sectors are entirely within Texas, while the majority of the El Paso Sector is in New Mexico. The cane control area included in this EA crosses privately owned land parcels, tribal lands, and public lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Tribal lands associated with the Kickapoo Tribe are present within the cane control area. CBP would secure permission from the relevant landowner or land manager prior to performing cane control. This EA addresses topping of all cane within the cane control area, including on tribal lands in Texas. However, cane control associated with maintenance and repair of tactical infrastructure assets that are already covered in previous National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents or are covered by a waiver issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) are not included in the scope of this EA. CBP prepared this EA through coordination with Federal, state, and local agencies and the public to identify and assess the potential impacts associated with the proposed cane control activities. This EA is being prepared to fulfill the requirements of the NEPA. Purpose and Need The purpose of the Proposed Action is to implement the mechanical cane control method to rapidly decrease cane height to ensure sufficient visibility of critical areas in the Rio Grande basin and provide access to these areas by USBP agents, when necessary. Large, dense stands of cane currently occupy the banks and floodplains of the Rio Grande, hindering law enforcement efforts along the U.S./Mexico international border, impeding and concealing the detection of criminal activity and illegal border crossers, and restricting USBP agents’ access to riverbanks. Because control of cane is difficult and complete eradication may be unrealistic, primary objectives for managing cane are often focused on suppression of existing infestations and reducing the spread of cane through control of healthy plant communities (USDA Forest Service 2014). CBP anticipates that mechanical cane topping would quickly improve visibility through height reduction, while also providing sufficient cover for the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi cacomitli). Likewise, cane control would reduce the need for post-control revegetation and restoration that complete cane removal may require. July 2016 | ES-1 Mechanical Cane Control Draft EA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Proposed Action is needed to maintain border security within the Rio Grande basin. Increased visibility resulting from cane control is needed to minimize hazards and gain effective control of the nation’s border, which would ensure USBP agent and public safety. Public Involvement CBP notified relevant Federal, state, and local agencies of the Proposed Action and requested input regarding any environmental concerns they might have. As part of the NEPA process, CBP coordinated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; USFWS; Texas Historical Commission; and other Federal, state, and local agencies. Input from agency responses has been incorporated into the analysis of potential environmental impacts. A Notice of Availability for this EA and draft Finding of No Significant Impact will be published in the following newspapers: El Paso Times (English and Spanish) El Diario de El Paso (Spanish) Hudspeth County Herald (English and Spanish) Van Horn Advocate (English and Spanish) Alpine Avalanche (English and Spanish) Big Bend Sentinel (English) The International (Spanish) Del Rio News Herald (English and Spanish) The News Gram (English and Spanish) La Prensa (Spanish) San Antonio Express News (English and Spanish) Laredo Morning Times (English and Spanish) Starr County Town Crier (English and Spanish) The Monitor (English) Valley Morning Star (English) El Extra (Spanish) Brownsville Herald (English) El Nuevo Heraldo (Spanish). The Notice of Availability publications are intended to solicit comments on the Proposed Action and involve the local community in the decisionmaking process. Substantive comments from the public and other Federal, state, and local agencies will be incorporated into the Final EA. During the 45-day public review and comment period for
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