FME004253

MEMORANDUM FOR: Eugene H. Schied Deleted:

Assistant Commissioner Formatted: Indent: Hanging: 2"
Office of Finance
Deleted: (b)
Deleted: Pedestrian and Vehicle ¶
FROM: Gregory L. Giddens Fence Projects Located in the El Paso,
Executive Director Rio Grande, and South Texas Regions
Facilities Management and Engineering Deleted: February
Deleted: 7
SUBJECT: Response to Citizen (b) (6) Regarding the Construction of Border Deleted: r
Infrastructure Along the U.S. - Mexico Border and its Potential Deleted: (b) (6)
Effects on the Environment Deleted: the pedestrian and vehicle
fence projects located in the El Paso, Rio
Grande, and South Texas border regions

Attached for your review is a response to a March 11, 2009, letter from(b) (6) of Deleted: r
Ashland, Oregon to Secretary Napolitano regarding construction of border infrastructure along Deleted: (b)
the U.S. - Mexico border and its potential effects on the environment (b) (6) requests that Deleted: stop all construction in these
the Secretary provide proper environmental mitigation and consultation with local communities areas Arguments provided are: 1) that it
will cause ecological impacts including
and Native American tribes, as well as conduct alternatives analyses. the potential to deplete the American
population of jaguars and ocelots;

Our response explains that before any decisions were made regarding fence locations, CBP Deleted: 1

undertook an extensive analysis of alternatives to determine the most effective means to gain Deleted: 2) local citizens objected to its
construction; 3) it is a fiscal drain on the
control of the borders. We also provide examples of design changes were implemented in order Federal budget; 4) economic pressures
to mitigate for pthat fence along the border is not contiguous, that vehicle fence does not restrict supersede physical deterrents; and 5) that
apprehensions have not, in fact, declined
large animal movement, and that the fence has already had a significant effect in reducing illicit in locations where the fence exists
cross border activity. Deleted: While we
Deleted: appreciate the
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact me at
Deleted: understand the controversial
((b) (6) nature of this large construction effort to
help secure the Nation’s borders
Deleted: concerns expressed by Mr
(b)
Deleted: , o

Gregory L. Giddens Deleted: assessment

Deleted: CBP made numerous changes
to the fence style and alignment (for
Attachment(s) example, modifying several miles of
fence design east of El Paso to allow for
openings for small animal passage) and
designed and incorporated special ... [1]
Deleted: USFWS
Deleted: U S Fish and Wildlife S ... [2]
Deleted: explained
Deleted: traffic across the border
Deleted: CBP undertook an exte ... [3]
FME004254

Page 1: [1] Deleted Authorized User 4/1/2009 4:50:00 PM

CBP made numerous changes to the fence style and alignment (for example, modifying
several miles of fence design east of El Paso to allow for openings for small animal
passage) and designed and incorporated special animal passages in the fence within the
lower Rio Grande Valley – as recommended by the
Page 1: [2] Deleted Authorized User 4/1/2009 4:50:00 PM
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service – to allow passage of endangered ocelot and jaguarondi.
Page 1: [3] Deleted (b) (6) 4/1/2009 12:40:00 PM
CBP undertook an extensive assessment of alternatives to determine the most effective
means to gain control of the borders and continues to reassess border security needs as
conditions change, considered and used the public opinion, and determined that the value
of striving to achieve national security supersedes the economic expense. In addition, we
document our extensive environmental stewardship and public outreach efforts. We also
point out that the need for fence in Texas is related not only to the current high illicit
traffic volume, but also to recognized vulnerabilities. As CBP addresses illegal traffic on
the Southwest Border, it takes a programmatic, holistic approach by recognizing that
resolving issues in one area does not preclude their re-emergence in another.