International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations, and USIBWC Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, the USIBWC hereby gives notice that the amended Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Aquatic Habitat Restoration in the Rio Grande Canalization Project is available. The EA seeks to identify, develop, and design aquatic projects to implement aquatic habitat, wetland, and riparian habitat restoration for the Rio Grande Canalization Project (RGCP). An Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30 days from the date of this Notice.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the United States Section, Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the United States Section hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental Assessment for Rehabilitation of the Levee System in the Tijuana River Flood Control Project is available. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30-days from the date of this Notice.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the USIBWC is issuing public notice of its intent to modify an existing Privacy Act system of records notice, DOI-85, ``Payroll, Attendance, Retirement, and Leave Records.'' The revisions will update the categories of individuals covered by the system, categories of records in the system, routine uses of records maintained in the system, retrievability of records, records' safeguards, retention and disposition of records, and record source categories.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the United States Section, Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the United States Section hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental Assessment for Allowing Avian Hunting in Designated Areas along the Rio Grande Canalization Project, Sierra and Do[ntilde]a Ana Counties, New Mexico is available. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30-days from the date of this Notice.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the United States Section, Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the United States Section hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Non-native Plant Control and Re-establishment of Riparian Habitats Along the Rio Grande on U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission and Bureau of Land Management Lands are available. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30-days from the date of this Notice.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Improvements to the Mission Levee Protective System located in Hidalgo County, Texas. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30-days from the date of this notice.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section`s Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Arroyo Colorado South Levee Rehabilitation Project located in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties, Texas are available. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30 days from the date of this Notice.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for flood control improvements to the Presidio Flood Control Project, Presidio, Texas (Presidio FCP). The EIS analyzed potential impacts of the No Action Alternative and six action alternatives under consideration. Site- specific information was used to evaluate environmental consequences that may result from implementing improvements in the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Presidio FCP. The following environmental resources were assessed in the Final EIS: Biological resources, cultural resources, water resources, land use, socioeconomic resources and transportation, environmental health issues (air quality, noise, public health, and environmental hazards), and cumulative impacts.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Flood Control Improvements to the Arroyo Colorado Floodway, a component of the interior floodways system of the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft FONSI for Flood Control Improvements to the Arroyo Colorado Floodway, which is part of the interior floodways in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Improvements to the Rio Grande Rectification Project (RGRP) located in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, Texas are available.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Improvements to the Rio Grande Rectification Project (RGRP) located in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, Texas are available. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within 30 days from the date of this Notice.

On September 30, 2005, the USIBWC issued a Record of Decision (``ROD'') which selected Alternative 4, Treatment Option C, Discharge Option 1 (Operation of SBIWTP as Advance Primary Facility, Secondary Treatment in Mexico) as the means for achieving CWA compliance at the SBIWTP. Reevaluation of alternatives for achieving compliance was prompted by the inability to timely implement the selected alternative and by changes in financial considerations relevant to the decision of whether to provide secondary treatment in Mexico or in the United States. After reevaluation, the USIBWC has decided to upgrade the SBIWTP to secondary treatment in the United States (Secondary Treatment in the United States, Alternative 5, Option B-2, Activated Sludge with Expanded Capacity) to achieve compliance with the CWA and the NPDES permit. This Revised Record of Decision reflects the results of the revaluation and was prepared in compliance with 40 CFR 1505.2.

This notice is provided in accordance with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-1508 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and USIBWC procedures for implementing NEPA. The USIBWC anticipates the need to improve functionality of three flood control projects located in the Rio Grande along the Texas-Mexico border. Potential improvement measures are mainly associated with the project core mission of flood protection, boundary stabilization, and water delivery. Additional measures under consideration are intended to improve water use, quality, and conservation, as well as measures supporting local or regional initiatives for multipurpose use of the projects for wildlife habitat development, and improved environmental conditions. A Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) was prepared to evaluate potential consequences of three action alternatives under consideration for long-term improvement of the flood control projects. The USIBWC will apply the programmatic evaluation as an overall guidance for future evaluations of individual projects, including both those currently envisioned at a conceptual level and those whose implementation is not currently anticipated but would be possible within a 20-year timeframe. The Multipurpose Project Management Alternative was adopted among the three action alternatives as the preferred option for long-term improvements to the Rio Grande flood control projects. In implementing the preferred alternative, the USIBWC will continue to improve functionality of the flood control projects to meet its mandate for flood control, water delivery, and boundary stabilization, while supporting initiatives for improvement of environmental conditions and water resources utilization.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Flood Control Improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project located within El Paso County, Texas and Sierra and Dona Ana Counties, New Mexico.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Flood Control Improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project (RGCP) Levee System, located in El Paso County, Texas and Do[ntilde]a Ana and Sierra Counties, New Mexico.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice of availability of the Final EA and FONSI for Improvements to the Donna-Brownsville Levee System, in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, located in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, Texas. The Final EA addresses comments and recommendations provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas Historical Commission, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, during the Draft EA review period ending July 31, 2007.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has prepared a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Draft PEIS) for future improvements to three Rio Grande Flood Control Projects (FCP) operated by the USIBWC along the Texas-Mexico Border: the Rectification FCP, the Presidio FCP and Lower Rio Grande FCP. The PEIS, prepared in cooperation with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and United States Army Corps of Engineers, analyzes potential impacts of the No Action Alternative and three action alternatives for future FCP improvements under consideration. Because several measures under consideration are at a conceptual level of development, the USIBWC has taken a broad programmatic look at the potential environmental implications of measures identified for future implementation. The USIBWC will apply the programmatic evaluation as an overall guidance for future environmental evaluations of individual improvement projects whose implementation is anticipated or possible within a 20-year timeframe. Once any given improvement project is identified for future implementation, site-specific environmental documentation will be developed based on project specifications and PEIS findings. Public participation in the evaluation of potential effects is encouraged. Public hearings will be held at the Cities of El Paso, Presidio and McAllen, Texas, to receive oral comments on the Draft PEIS from interested organizations and individuals through transcription by a certified court reporter. Written comments may be submitted at the public hearings, or mailed to the USIBWC during the 45-day public review period to the contact and address below.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the United States Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the United States Section hereby gives notice that the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Flood Control Improvements: International Dam to Riverside Diversion Dam Levee Segment within the Rio Grande Rectification Project, in El Paso County, Texas are available.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the United States Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the United States Section hereby gives notice that the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Improvements to the Lateral A/Retamal Dike Levee System, in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, located in Hidalgo County, Texas are available. A notice of finding of no significant impact dated January 8, 2007 provided a thirty (30) day comment period before making the finding final. The Notice was published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2007 (Federal Register Notice, Vol. 72, No. 4, Pages 797-798).

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice that the Draft Environmental Assessment and FONSI for Improvements to the Lateral A/Retamal Dike Levee System, in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, located in Hidalgo County, Texas, are available.

The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission is repealing its superseded old employee conduct regulations, which have been replaced by the executive branch Standards of Ethical Conduct, financial disclosure and financial interests regulations issued by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). In place of its old conduct regulations, the USIBWC is adding a section of residual cross-references to those new provisions as well as to certain executive branch conduct rules promulgated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508); and the USIBWC's Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the USIBWC hereby gives notice that the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Alternatives for Improved Flood Control of the Hidalgo Protective Levee System, in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, located in Hidalgo County, Texas are available. A notice of finding of no significant impact dated June 30, 2005, provided a thirty (30) day comment period before making the finding final. The Notice was published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2005 (70 FR 39527).

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the U.S. Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981 (46 FR 44083), the USIBWC hereby gives notice that the Draft EA and Draft FONSI are available for Alternatives for Improved Flood Control of the Hidalgo Protective Levee System located in Hidalgo County, Texas. The Hidalgo Protective Levee System was recently identified as a priority area for flood control improvement. The USIBWC is considering alternatives to raise the 4.5-mile levee system in two construction phases, each covering separate geographic reaches of the Hidalgo Protective Levee System. The phased construction approach responds to the likely availability of early funding for Phase 1, the upstream reach of the project. Alternatives under consideration to improve the Hidalgo Protective Levee System would expand the levee footprint by lateral extension of the structure. Levee footprint increases toward the riverside could potentially extend into floodplain areas designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge System. Footprint increases toward the levee landside could extend beyond the USIBWC right-of-way. Soil borrow easements would be used to secure levee material. The EA explains the purpose and need for the Proposed Action, and assesses its potential environmental impacts. The EA also analyzes the No Action Alternative and two alternatives to the Proposed Action: the Phase 2 Footprint Expansion Alternative and the No-Footprint Expansion Alternative. The Proposed Action for Phase 1 of the project is to increase existing levee height with the associated increase in footprint (Phase 1 Footprint Expansion Alternative). This alternative would increase flood containment capacity by raising the height of the existing compacted earthen levee from 3 to 8 feet to meet a 3-foot freeboard requirement indicated by results of hydraulic modeling. The Proposed Action for Phase 2 requires partial rerouting of the 1.2-mile downstream reach of the levee system (Partial Levee Rerouting Alternative). Levee rerouting would eliminate the need for construction of a floodwall in front of the Hidalgo Historic Pumphouse, a resource eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, and a future site of the World Birding Center, a project by the City of Hidalgo and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. A new levee segment, approximately 0.7 mile in length, would be built along the south margin of the pumphouse intake channel, and the channel would be crossed to tie the new structure to the existing levee system. Floodwall placement would be required along the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge. On the basis of the Draft EA, the USIBWC has determined that an environmental impact statement is not required to implement the Proposed Action, and hereby provides notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact. An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our attention within thirty (30) days of the date of this Notice of Availability. The Draft EA and Draft FONSI have been sent to various federal, state, and local agencies and interested parties. The Draft EA and Draft FONSI are available under ``What's New?'' on the USIBWC home page at /https://www.ibwc.state.gov; and at the USIBWC Mercedes Field Office at 325 Golf Course Road, Mercedes, TX 78570.