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[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 37 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 8810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4092]

[[Page 8810]]

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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO

United States Section; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement, Increased Flood Protection and Partial 
Realignment of the Presidio Flood Control Project Along Rio Grande on 
the Texas-Mexico Border

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States and Mexico.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that 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) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the proposed action to increase flood protection 
capability and partial levee realignment of the Presidio Flood Control 
Project (FCP) along the Texas-Mexico Border. This notice is being 
provided as required by the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) and the USIBWC's Operating Procedures for 
Implementing Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and 
the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. A public 
meeting will be held in the city of Presidio, Texas.

DATES: The USIBWC will conduct a public meeting at the following 
location and date: City of Presidio, Presidio Activities Center, 1200 
East O'Reilly Street, Presidio, Texas 79845 on March 10, 2009, at 5 
p.m. CST. Full public participation by interested federal, state, and 
local agencies, as well as other interested organizations and the 
general public, is encouraged during the scoping process. The USIBWC 
anticipates release of the Draft EIS for agency and public review in 
September 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Borunda, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Environmental Management Division, USIBWC, 4171 
North Mesa Street, C-100, El Paso, Texas 79932 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

    The USIBWC operates and maintains the Presidio Flood Control 
Project (FCP) located along the Rio Grande within the city of Presidio, 
Texas. The FCP extends approximately 15 miles, from Haciendita, 
upstream of the Rio Conchos confluence, and ending downstream of 
Presidio near Alamito Creek. In September and October 2008, the 
Presidio FCP levees sustained major flood damage from overtopping, 
seepage, and erosion. The USIBWC intends to prepare an EIS to assess 
impacts associated with rehabilitating the levee system; increasing 
flood control capability; and partial levee system realignment.

Alternatives

    The current Presidio FCP levee system would be rehabilitated for 
its current level of protection against a 25-year frequency flood, or 
raised to meet a 100-year flood containment design capacity. Levee 
height increases would expand the current levee footprint and require 
additional right-of-way acquisition. In-place rehabilitation is 
anticipated along approximately 9 miles in the upper reach of the 
Presidio FCP. Current alignment of the levee system in the upper reach 
would be retained for levee rehabilitation for raising levee height to 
reach the 100-year flood containment design capacity. Approximately 6 
miles of this segment overlap with an area where the U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) intends to construct border fencing. One option 
under consideration by DHS is to incorporate a border wall into the 
USIBWC levee. Along the 6 mile segment in the lower reach of the 
Presidio FCP, where flood damage was more extensive, a number of levee 
realignment options are under consideration. To reach the 100-year 
flood containment design capacity, the primary realignment under 
consideration is partial levee relocation, approximately 500 feet 
inland from its current alignment. Other options under consideration 
are the construction of a new spur levee beginning approximately 1.5 
miles downstream of the Railroad Bridge. The proposed spur levee would 
follow a northeastward alignment and intersect Highway 170.
    The NEPA analysis and documentation will identify and evaluate all 
relevant impacts, conditions, and issues associated with the proposed 
alternative actions. In considering a range of alternatives, including 
the no action alternative, the EIS will explain proposed flood 
protection improvements; identify, describe, and evaluate the existing 
environmental, cultural, sociological and economical resources; and 
evaluate the impacts associated with the alternatives under 
consideration. Significant issues which have been identified to be 
addressed in the EIS include but are not limited to impacts to water 
resources, water quality, cultural and biological resources, and 
threatened and endangered species. Close coordination will be 
maintained with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the 
Texas State Historic Preservation Officer to ensure compliance with 
applicable biological and cultural resources regulations. Other federal 
and state agencies will also be consulted, as required, to ensure 
compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

    Dated: February 20, 2009.
Robert McCarthy,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E9-4092 Filed 2-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7010-01-P
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