Final ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE EAGLE PASS ROAD AND VARIOUS INFRASTRUCTURES PROJECT DEL RIO SECTOR, OFFICE OF BORDER PATROL MAVERICK COUNTY, TEXAS U.S. Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Washington, D.C. January 2007 Final ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE EAGLE PASS ROAD AND VARIOUS INFRASTRUCTURES PROJECT DEL RIO SECTOR, OFFICE OF BORDER PATROL MAVERICK COUNTY, TEXAS January 2007 Lead Agency: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Headquarters Facilities and Engineering Room 3-4-D 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20229 Point of Contact: Mr. Glenn Bixler Environmental Planner Fort Worth District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 819 Taylor Street, Room 3A14 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Fax (817) 886-6499 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PROPOSED ACTION: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Office of Border Patrol (OBP) propose improvements to 1.3 miles of existing patrol roads along the eastern bank of the Rio Grande and the construction and maintenance of 1.1 miles of a permanent ornamental security fence. In addition, the Proposed Action includes the installation of 15 permanent lights along the eastern boundary of the Eagle Pass Golf Course, and the removal of giant cane (Arundo donax) along the eastern bank of the Rio Grande. Revegetation with native species would occur where giant cane is removed. These proposed actions are located within the City of Eagle Pass, Texas. PURPOSE AND NEED The purpose of the proposed action is to provide enhanced FOR THE PROPOSED operational capabilities, a safer working environment for the OBP ACTION: agents, and to further facilitate the OBP’s mission to gain, maintain, and extend control of the U.S.-Mexico border. The need of the proposed project is to increase deterrence of illegal aliens (IAs), improve OBP agents’ line of sight to the Rio Grande, provide improved access and visibility along the Rio Grande for rescue operations, to enhance the safety of OBP agents and citizens of the U.S., reduce IA foot traffic through the Eagle Pass golf course and athletic fields, and increase the safety of the citizens of Eagle Pass. ALTERNATIVES: One other alternative was considered in the Environmental Assessment: the No Action Alternative, which would preclude the implementation of the Proposed Action. ENVIRONMENTAL The Proposed Action would impact approximately 15 acres of soil; IMPACTS OF THE however, 2.4 acres have already been disturbed from the existing PROPOSED ACTION: patrol roads. Approximately 9 acres of vegetation would be affected primarily from the removal of giant cane along the eastern bank of the Rio Grande. The giant cane located between the new patrol road and the Rio Grande would be replaced with native Texas plant species typical of thorny-scrub habitat types. No direct impacts are expected to Federally protected species; however, approximately 9 acres of potential migration and foraging habitat for the Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Felis yaguarondi) and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) would be temporarily impacted from the removal of giant cane along the eastern bank of the Rio Grande. The impacts from the proposed action may affect, but not likely to adversely affect these species and would be compensated by replacing the giant cane with native Texas thorny-scrub plant species to provide travel corridors. Section 7 concurrence has been granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Appendix C). Eagle Pass Road EA iii Final No significant impacts are anticipated regarding water, air, and noise quality. Temporary impacts to water quality of the Rio Grande along the boundaries of the project area are anticipated to occur during construction; however, these impacts would be mitigated through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). Section 106 concurrence has been granted by the Texas Historical Commission (Appendix B). Concurrence included the condition that a qualified archeologist be present during construction within the vicinity of the one site that was observed near the northern boundary of the project area. CONCLUSIONS: Only minor, adverse impacts are anticipated to any resource analyzed within this document other than at the aforementioned cultural resource site. Therefore, no further analysis or documentation (i.e., Environmental Impact Statement) is warranted. The CBP, in implementing this decision, would employ all practical means to minimize the potential adverse impacts on the local environment. Eagle Pass Road EA iv Final TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. iii 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................1-1 1.1 BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................1-3 1.1.1 CBP Strategic Intent and Priorities .....................................................................1-3 1.1.2 OBP Strategic Intent and Priorities.....................................................................1-3 1.1.3 Joint Task Force - North .....................................................................................1-4 1.2 PROJECT AREA LOCATION........................................................................................1-4 1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED..................................................................................................1-4 1.4 APPLICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS..........................1-7 1.5 REGULATORY AUTHORITY ........................................................................................1-7 2.0 ALTERNATIVES............................................................................................................2-1 2.1 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE .........................................................................................2-1 2.2 PROPOSED ACTION ALTERNATIVE ..........................................................................2-2 2.2.1 Roads and Bridge...............................................................................................2-2 2.2.2 Low Water Crossings..........................................................................................2-9 2.2.3 Ornamental Security Fence................................................................................2-9 2.2.4 Permanent Lights................................................................................................2-9 2.2.5 Vegetation Removal .........................................................................................2-14 2.3 SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................2-14 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................3-1 3.1 LAND USE.....................................................................................................................3-1 3.2 SOILS ............................................................................................................................3-2 3.2.1 Prime Farmlands ................................................................................................3-2 3.3 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES .........................................................................................3-5 3.3.1 Vegetation ..........................................................................................................3-5 3.3.1.1 Riparian Community ...............................................................................3-5 3.3.1.2 Urban-Developed Area...........................................................................3-5 3.3.2 Fish and Wildlife Resources ...............................................................................3-9 3.3.2.1 Texas Wildlife .........................................................................................3-9 3.4 PROTECTED SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT ....................................................3-10 3.4.1 Federal .............................................................................................................3-11 3.4.1.1 Gulf Coast Jaguarundi..........................................................................3-11 3.4.1.2 Ocelot ...................................................................................................3-12 3.4.2 Critical Habitat ..................................................................................................3-12 3.4.3 State .................................................................................................................3-12 3.4.3.1 Interior Least Tern ................................................................................3-13 3.4.3.2 Indigo Snake.........................................................................................3-14 3.5 UNIQUE AND SENSITIVE AREAS .............................................................................3-14 3.5.1 Rio Grande .......................................................................................................3-14 3.5.2 Fort Duncan......................................................................................................3-14 3.5.3 Eagle Pass Army Air Field................................................................................3-17 3.6 WATER RESOURCES ................................................................................................3-17 3.6.1 Surface Water...................................................................................................3-17