FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ADDRESSING PROPOSED TACTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR ALONG THE U.S./MEXICO INTERNATIONAL BORDER IN ARIZONA Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol DECEMBER 2012 BW1 FOIA CBP 003473 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS µg/m3 micrograms per cubic meter DOI U.S. Department of the Interior ACHP Advisory Council on Historic DVD digital video disc Preservation EA Environmental Assessment ACM asbestos-containing material EIS Environmental Impact ADEQ Arizona Department of Statement Environmental Quality EO Executive Order AIRFA American Indian Religious ESA Endangered Species Act Freedom Act ESCP erosion-and-sediment control- AMA Active Management Area plan AQCR air quality control region ESP Environmental Stewardship ARHA Archeological and Historic Plan Preservation Act FEMA Federal Emergency ARPA Archaeological Resources Management Agency Protection Act FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, AST aboveground storage tank and Rodenticide Act AZ Arizona highway FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map AZGFD Arizona Game and Fish FM&E Facilities Management and Department Engineering BLM Bureau of Land Management FONSI Finding of No Significant BMP Best Management Practice Impact BMTF Borderland Management Task FPPA Farmland Protection Policy Act Force FR Federal Register CAA Clean Air Act GHG greenhouse gas CBP U.S. Customs and Border HAP hazardous air pollutant Protection I Interstate CEQ Council on Environmental IIRIRA Illegal Immigration Reform Quality and Immigrant Responsibility CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Act Response, Compensation, and LBP lead-based paint Liability Act mg/m3 milligrams per cubic meter CFR Code of Federal Regulations mi2 square mile CO carbon monoxide mph miles per hour CO carbon dioxide 2 MYIAQCR Mojave-Yuma Interstate CWA Clean Water Act AQCR dBA a-weighted decibel NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality DHS Department of Homeland Standards Security continued on inside of back cover DOD U.S. Department of Defense BW1 FOIA CBP 003474 continued from inside of front cover PSD Prevention of Significant NAGPRA Native American Graves Deterioration Protection and Repatriation Act RCRA Resource Conservation and NEPA National Environmental Policy Recovery Act Act ROI region of influence NHPA National Historic Preservation RVSS Remote Video Surveillance Act System NO2 nitrogen dioxide SBInet Secure Border Initiative NOA Notice of Availability SEAIAQCR Southeast Arizona Intrastate AQCR NOx nitrogen oxides NPDES National Pollutant Discharge SHPO State Historic Preservation Elimination System Officer NPS National Park Service SIP State Implementation Plan NRCS Natural Resources SME Subject Matter Expert Conservation Service SOx sulfur oxides NRHP National Register of Historic SO2 sulfur dioxide Places SWPPP Storm Water Pollution NWR National Wildlife Refuge Prevention Plan O3 ozone tpy tons per year OPCNM Organ Pipe Cactus National TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act Monument U.S.C. United States Code OSHA Occupational Safety and US U.S. Highway Health Administration USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers PA Programmatic Agreement USBP U.S. Border Patrol Pb lead USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection PCB polychlorinated biphenyl Agency PCE primary constituent element USFS U.S. Forest Service percent g percentage of the force of USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gravity USGS U.S. Geological Survey PIAQCR Pima Intrastate AQCR USIBWC United States Section PM2.5 particulate matter equal to or International Boundary and less than 2.5 microns in Water Commission diameter UST underground storage tank PM particulate matter equal to or 10 VOC volatile organic compound less than 10 microns in diameter PMO Program Management Office POE Port of Entry ppb parts per billion ppm parts per million BW1 FOIA CBP 003475 BW1 FOIA CBP 003476 COVER SHEET FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ADDRESSING PROPOSED TACTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR ALONG THE U.S./MEXICO INTERNATIONAL BORDER IN ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, U.S. BORDER PATROL Responsible Agencies: Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP). Affected Location: U.S./Mexico international border in Arizona. Proposed Action: CBP proposes to maintain and repair existing tactical infrastructure along the U.S./Mexico international border in Arizona, which is maintained by two USBP sectors: Tucson and Yuma. The Tucson Sector is entirely within Arizona, and the western portion of the Yuma Sector is in Arizona. Report Designation: Final Environmental Assessment (EA). Abstract: CBP proposes to maintain and repair existing tactical infrastructure along the U.S./Mexico international border in Arizona. The existing tactical infrastructure includes fences and gates, roads and bridges/crossovers, drainage structures and grates, lighting and ancillary power systems, and communication and surveillance tower components (including, but not limited to, Remote Video Surveillance System [RVSS] or Secure Border Initiative [SBInet] towers [which are henceforth referred to as towers]). The existing tactical infrastructure occurs in the Yuma and Tucson USBP sectors in Arizona. 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 (FONSI) has been prepared. Throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, the public may obtain information concerning the status and progress of the Proposed Action and the EA via the project Web site at http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/ti/ti_docs/timr/; by emailing [email protected]; or by written request to Mr. Charles McGregor, Jr., Environmental Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, Engineering and Construction Support Office (ECSO), 819 Taylor Street, Room 3B10, Fort Worth, Texas 76102; or by Fax: 817-886-6404. BW1 FOIA CBP 003477 BW1 FOIA CBP 003478 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ADDRESSING PROPOSED TACTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR ALONG THE U.S./MEXICO INTERNATIONAL BORDER IN ARIZONA Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol DECEMBER 2012 This document printed on paper that contains at least 30 percent postconsumer fiber. BW1 FOIA CBP 003479 BW1 FOIA CBP 003480 Proposed TIMR Along the U.S/Mexico International Border in Arizona EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), propose to maintain and repair certain existing tactical infrastructure along the U.S./Mexico international border in the State of Arizona. The tactical infrastructure proposed to be maintained and repaired consists of fences and gates, roads and bridges/crossovers, drainage structures and grates, lighting and ancillary power systems, and communication and surveillance tower components (including, but not limited to, Remote Video Surveillance System [RVSS] or Secure Border Initiative [SBInet] towers [henceforth referred to as towers]). The existing tactical infrastructure occurs in two U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) sectors: Tucson and Yuma. The tactical infrastructure included in this analysis crosses multiple privately owned land parcels, and public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The CBP Facilities Management and Engineering (FM&E) Office is responsible for maintenance and repair of tactical infrastructure (e.g., fences, roads, lights, towers, and drainage structures) to support CBP border security requirements. This Environmental Assessment (EA) addresses the maintenance and repair of existing tactical infrastructure. Tactical infrastructure included in this EA is found in both USBP Sectors along the U.S./Mexico international border in Arizona. However, the maintenance and repair of tactical infrastructure assets that are already addressed in previous National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents will not be included within the scope of this EA. This EA also does not address maintenance and repair of any tactical infrastructure on tribal lands in Arizona. In addition, tactical infrastructure assets that are covered by a waiver issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) are also excluded from the scope of this EA. This EA has been prepared through coordination with Federal and state agencies to identify and assess the potential impacts associated with the proposed maintenance and repair of tactical infrastructure. This EA is also being prepared to fulfill the requirements of the NEPA. PURPOSE AND NEED The purpose of the Proposed Action is to ensure that the physical integrity of the existing tactical infrastructure and associated supporting elements continue to perform as intended and assist the USBP in securing the U.S./Mexico international border in Arizona. In many areas, tactical infrastructure is a critical element of border security, which contributes as a force multiplier for controlling and preventing illegal border intrusion. To achieve effective control of our nation’s borders, CBP is developing a combination of personnel, technology, and infrastructure; mobilizing and rapidly deploying highly trained USBP agents; placing tactical