Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Office of Border Patrol, Laredo Sector, Laredo North and South Station's Road Improvement and Non-Native Vegetation Removal Project

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for the construction and improvement of existing patrol roads and the removal of non-native (giant cane, Arundo donax) vegetation along 111 miles of the Rio Grande (Proposed Action) in Webb County, Texas. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the decision-making agency for this project. This EIS is being prepared in support of the proposal by the Office of Border Patrol's (OBP) Laredo North and Laredo South Stations for controlling and deterring the influx of illegal immigration and contraband into the United States. Due to the increased violent activity in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and increase in drug trafficking in Webb County, the Secretary of Homeland Security has mandated this effort as the top priority of the OBP's Laredo Sector. The Laredo Sector has a need to secure the border by obtaining an unobstructed line of sight to the Rio Grande and a continuous patrol road. These actions are intended to gain and maintain control of the border to further prevent the influx of il