Notice of Intent To Prepare Four Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements for the Northern Border Between the United States and Canada and To Conduct Public Scoping Meetings, 38822-38824 [2010-16392]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38822-38824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16392]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Notice of Intent To Prepare Four Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statements for the Northern Border Between the United States and 
Canada and To Conduct Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statements; Request for Comments; and Notice of Public Scoping 
Meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intends to prepare 
four Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) to identify 
and assess potential impacts upon the human environment of ongoing and 
potential future border security activities for the Northern Border 
between the United States and Canada. The anticipated area of study 
will extend approximately 100 miles south of the Northern Border. The 
four PEISs will address regions encompassing New England, the Great 
Lakes, states east of the Rocky Mountains, and states west of the Rocky 
Mountains.
    This notice initiates the public scoping process for preparation of 
the PEISs. The purpose of the scoping process is to solicit public 
comments regarding the potential environmental impacts that may be 
addressed. This notice announces that CBP is requesting written 
comments and conducting public scoping meetings.
    Additionally, the scoping process will allow CBP to gather 
information and allow the public to participate in consideration of 
historic preservation activities pursuant to Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act for activities along the Northern 
Border.

DATES: The scoping comment period will be 30 days beginning on the date 
this document is published in the Federal Register. To ensure 
consideration, comments must be received by August 5, 2010. Comments 
may be submitted as set forth in the ADDRESSES section of this 
document. Public scoping meetings will be held on various dates in 
July, 2010, as described in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

ADDRESSES: The following electronic and physical addressees are 
available for the public and other interested parties to provide 
written comments on the scope of the PEISs or to obtain additional 
information on the PEISs. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional 
instructions for submitting written comments. To avoid duplication, 
please use only one of the following methods for providing written 
comments:
    (a) Via the World Wide Web at: https://www.NorthernBorderPEIS.com; 
or
    (b) Via e-mail at: comments@NorthernBorderPEIS.com; or
    (c) Via mail: CBP Northern Border PEIS, P.O. Box 3625, McLean, 
Virginia 22102; or
    (d) Via fax: (703) 760-4899.
    CBP will hold public scoping meetings to obtain comments regarding 
the PEISs at the following locations:

 New England PEIS
    (1) Augusta, ME on July 12, 2010
    (2) Swanton, VT on July 13, 2010
 Great Lakes PEIS
    (1) Rochester, NY on July 12, 2010
    (2) Erie, PA on July 13, 2010
    (3) Massena, NY on July 14, 2010
    (4) Detroit, MI on July 21, 2010
 East of the Rocky Mountains PEIS
    (1) Duluth, MN on July 19, 2010
    (2) Minot, ND on July 21, 2010
    (3) Havre, MT on July 22, 2010
 West of the Rocky Mountains PEIS
    (1) Bellingham, WA on July 19, 2010
    (2) Bonners Ferry, ID on July 21, 2010

    CBP will announce notice of the exact locations and times of the 
public meetings as well as other information about PEIS process through 
local newspapers, media, and the project Web site: https://www.NorthernBorderPEIS.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hass, CBP, Office of 
Administration, telephone (202) 344-1929. You may also visit the 
Northern Border PEIS Web site at: https://www.NorthernBorderPEIS.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) protects the nation's 
borders from terrorism, human and drug smuggling, illegal migration, 
and agricultural pests while simultaneously facilitating the flow of 
legitimate travel and trade. CBP does so by integrating modern 
technology, deploying highly trained law enforcement personnel, and 
developing public and private sector partnerships that advance its 
overall mission.
    At 5,500 miles in length, the Northern Border of the United States 
stands as the longest common border in the world. The terrain ranges 
from densely forested lands on the west and east coasts to open plains 
in the middle of the country. To complement its efforts, CBP uses 
partnerships with other Federal,

[[Page 38823]]

state, and local law enforcement agencies to meet the challenges of 
ensuring security while facilitating legitimate trade and travel along 
this expansive and complex border area.
    CBP leverages technology and partnerships to detect cross border 
incursions between the Ports of Entry (POEs) and, when necessary due to 
distances or challenging terrain, CBP uses an array of tools in 
interdiction efforts. At the POEs, CBP uses state of the art technology 
to efficiently screen the heavy volume of passengers and cargo 
transiting the U.S./Canada border to ensure that no illicit goods or 
travelers cross into the United States.
    Throughout the next five to seven years, CBP anticipates that it 
will implement enhancements to its border security activities. These 
may include installing or enhancing sensing equipment networks; 
changing patrol levels and areas; improving relationships among partner 
law enforcement agencies; increasing manned and unmanned aerial and 
maritime surveillance activities; improving cargo scanning techniques; 
developing and using enhanced communication technologies; and enhancing 
comprehensive response, interdiction, and detention capabilities. CBP 
may use, maintain, upgrade, or deploy various physical facilities and 
infrastructure, including, POEs, checkpoints, stations, water and power 
utilities, roads, hangers and helipads, boat ramps and docks, kennels, 
and communication and surveillance systems towers. Vehicles used by CBP 
may include ATVs, snowmobiles, marine vessels, and aircraft. CBP plans 
to deploy the most appropriate mix of security enhancement measures for 
the Northern Border based on the threat and on the constraints of the 
operating environment.
    In support of CBP's mission and with an interest in understanding 
the array of environmental considerations along the border, CBP intends 
to prepare four Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) to 
analyze the environmental effects of current and potential future CBP 
border security activities along the Northern Border between the United 
States and Canada. CBP will prepare draft PEISs initially, to be 
followed, after a period of public comment, with final PEISs. Because 
this effort is ``programmatic'' in nature, the study will not seek to 
define effects for a specific or planned action. Instead, it will 
analyze the overall effects of activities supporting the homeland 
security mission of CBP.

Purpose and Area of Study

    CBP will use the PEISs to improve planning of future actions to 
meet its homeland security requirements. CBP plans to evaluate the 
potential environmental effects of its activities conducted along the 
Northern Border between the United States and Canada, including an 
anticipated area of study extending approximately 100 miles south of 
the Northern Border. Because of the diversity of conditions from east 
to west, CBP intends to prepare four regional PEISs, covering the 
border environment for the following areas:

(1) New England region (Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont)
(2) Great Lakes region (New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and 
Wisconsin)
(3) East of the Rocky Mountains region (Minnesota, North Dakota, and 
eastern Montana)
(4) West of the Rocky Mountains region (western Montana, Idaho and 
Washington)

    CBP plans to use the information derived from the analysis in the 
PEISs in management, planning, and decision-making for its mission and 
its environmental stewardship responsibilities, as well as to establish 
a foundation for future impact analyses.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice initiates the public scoping process in preparation of 
the PEISs. All interested parties are invited to participate in the 
scoping process. CBP invites agencies, organizations, and the general 
public to provide input to this process of scoping environmental issues 
for consideration in the PEISs. CBP welcomes input on potentially 
significant environmental issues associated with the uses of 
technologies, facilities, infrastructure, and personnel for border 
security described above in the Background section or other connected 
actions to be addressed in the PEISs. Comments may be in terms of broad 
areas or restricted to specific areas of concern. Written comments may 
be submitted as described in the ADDRESSES section of this document. 
When submitting comments, please identify the region or PEIS of concern 
to which your comments are related, as well as your name and address. 
Respondents may request to withhold names or street addresses, except 
for city or town, from public view or from disclosure under the Freedom 
of Information Act. Such a request must be stated prominently at the 
beginning of the comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. This request to withhold personal information does not 
apply to submissions from organizations or businesses, or from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses.
    As part of the scoping process, CBP will hold 11 public scoping 
meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to obtain input concerning 
the range of environmental considerations for inclusion within the 
PEISs. These meetings will be held at locations near the Northern 
Border in the early evening at the locations listed under ADDRESSES 
above. The public is encouraged to communicate information and comments 
on issues it believes CBP should address in the PEISs. CBP will 
announce notice of the exact locations and times of the public meetings 
as well as other information about its Northern Border security 
activities through local newspapers, media, and the project Web site: 
https://www.NorthernBorderPEIS.com.
    After the public scoping period is complete and CBP has reviewed 
the results, a compilation list of comments will be included in a 
scoping report, which will be made available on the project Web site: 
https://www.NorthernBorderPEIS.com. This report will not identify 
individual citizens' comments by name or address. The report will also 
be made available upon written request.

Public Involvement in Historic Preservation Activities Under Section 
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

    Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
470f) requires Federal agencies to review all actions which may affect 
resources listed on, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic 
Places in order to take into account the effects of their undertakings 
on historic properties and to afford the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation (ACHP) a reasonable opportunity to comment on such 
undertakings. During the scoping process, CBP plans to gather 
information and allow the public to express views regarding the effects 
of CBP programs on cultural resources. During the process of public 
scoping and preparation of the PEISs for the Northern Border, CBP seeks 
to identify interested parties and obtain public comments on historic 
preservation issues related to CBP activities along the Northern 
Border.

Next Steps

    This process is being conducted pursuant to NEPA, the Council on

[[Page 38824]]

Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the NEPA (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508), and Department of Homeland Security Directive 023-01 
(renumbered from 5100.1), Environmental Planning Program of April 19, 
2006. CBP will continue to announce information on exact locations and 
times of public meetings as well as project information through local 
newspapers and the project Web site: https://www.NorthernBorderPEIS.com. 
In accordance with NEPA, the draft PEISs will be made available to the 
public for review and comment through a Notice of Availability (NOA) in 
the Federal Register. The NOA will provide directions for obtaining 
copies of the draft PEISs as well as dates and locations for any 
associated public participation meetings. After a public comment period 
on the draft PEIS, CBP will complete a final PEIS.

    Dated: June 30, 2010.
Gregory Giddens,
Executive Director, Facilities Management and Engineering, Office of 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-16392 Filed 7-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P