 | OTIA’s NEPA Documents for Public Review and Comment |
| U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition (OTIA) prepares Environmental Assessments (EAs) to identify and assess the potential for environmental impacts associated with proposed siting, construction, operation, and maintenance, of electronic surveillance systems for CBP, along the U.S./Mexico and U.S./Canada international borders (proposed actions). The electronic surveillance systems include multi-application tower surveillance and communications systems equipped with camera and radar sensors. These and other border security technologies and capabilities are typical of SBInet tower projects, among other OTIA projects that require NEPA documentation and public review. The purpose of the proposed actions is to provide the most efficient technologies to support CBP personnels’ mission of securing the nation's borders. These technologies provide 24-hour, year-round border surveillance capabilities that enable USBP agents to detect, identify and classify illegal entries into the United States. With information from these technologies, USBP agents have more options about how and when to respond to incursions. SBI and other OTIA border security project proposals include geographic areas that cover most of the U.S. Border Patrol’s northern and southern border operational sectors.The EAs for these projects are prepared in compliance with provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA implementing regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 1500 et seq., and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Directive 023-1, Environmental Planning Program.This web site facilitates public comment on official draft EAs, provides information on how and where to submit comments, and makes available copies of final determinations on the level of environmental impact of these proposed CBP/OTIA projects. |
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