CBP is committed to building, operating, and maintaining tactical infrastructure in an environmentally responsible manner. Environmental planning helps CBP carry out this commitment. As a part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, CBP works in a collaborative manner with local government, State, Tribal, and Federal land managers, as well as with the interested public, to identify, understand, and, to the extent possible, minimize impacts to the environment.

Given the importance of border infrastructure to securing the nation’s borders, as a part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), Congress gave the Secretary of DHS the authority to waive legal requirements that are an impediment to the expeditious construction. Even in those instances where the Secretary utilizes the waiver authority, however, DHS and CBP remain committed to responsible environmental planning and stewardship. For those projects that are the subject of the Secretary’s waiver authority, CBP prepares Environmental Stewardship Plans (ESPs), as appropriate, and works collaboratively with state and federal resources agencies, affected landowners, and other stakeholders to identify and minimize potential impacts.

CBP is also committed to consultation with the Department of the Interior; the Department of Agriculture; State, local and Tribal governments; and property owners in the United States to minimize the impact on the environment, culture, commerce, and quality of life for the communities and residents located near the sites at which such tactical infrastructure is to be constructed.

For the El Centro Sector projects, the completed ESP is provided, as well as archived Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) documents that preceded the ESP.