NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND  DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for the MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF PATROL AND ACCESS ROADS  ON BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LANDS IN CALIFORNIA San Diego and Imperial Counties, California

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, as Joint Lead Agencies

ACTION: Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are advising the public of the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed Maintenance and Repair of Patrol and Access Roads on BLM Lands in California (Proposed Action). CBP and BLM have prepared a Draft EA and Draft FONSI to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action, consisting of maintenance and repair activities of approximately 33.7 miles of existing roads on BLM administered public lands near the U.S./Mexico international border in California (Project Area).

Project Location

The Project Area is located near the U.S./Mexico international border in California within three USBP sectors: San Diego, El Centro, and Yuma. The USBP San Diego and El Centro sectors are entirely within California, and a portion of the Yuma sector is within California. The Project Area is located on BLM-administered public lands in California under the jurisdiction of the El Centro and Palm Springs-South Coast Field Offices.

CBP and BLM invite comments on the Draft EA and Draft FONSI during the 30-day comment period beginning on November 19, 2021 and ending on December 20, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The Draft EA and Draft FONSI are available at the following libraries:

•     El Centro Public Library, 140 N. Imperial Avenue, El Centro, CA

•     San Diego Main Library, 330 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA

The Draft EA and Draft FONSI are also available electronically at the CBP document review link: https://www.cbp.gov/about/environmental-management-sustainability/documents/docs-review

and the BLM public link (Reference NEPA number DOI-BLM-CA-D070-2022-0002-EA:https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2016309/510.

You may submit comments by using one of the following methods:

•     By e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

•     By U.S. mail to: Maintenance and Repair of Patrol and Access Roads on BLM Lands in California EA, c/o Michelle Barnes, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., 6.5E Mailstop 1039, Washington, D.C. 20229-1100

•     By U.S. mail to: BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243

When submitting comments, please include your name and address, and identify the comments as being for the Maintenance and Repair of Patrol and Access Roads on BLM Lands in California EA in the subject line. To ensure consideration, comments must be received by December 20, 2021. Once the final environmental and decision documents are complete, they will also be posted on the websites mentioned above.