DHS issues waiver to expedite border wall projects in Yuma and El Paso
The Department of Homeland Security issued two waivers which ensure expeditious construction of new bollard wall within the U.S. Border Patrol’s Yuma and El Paso sectors in Arizona and Texas.
According to DHS, the projects covered by the waivers include up to approximately 53 miles of new bollard wall in place of dilapidated and outdated designs, in addition to, road construction and improvement and lighting installation.
DHS said the waivers were published in the Federal Register on April 24.
The Department of Defense, in close coordination with DHS and Customs and Border Protection, will plan and execute these projects in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
DHS said the USACE awarded the contracts for these projects on April 9, 2019, and the Yuma projects were awarded to Barnard Construction Co. Inc. for approximately $187 million.
The El Paso project was awarded to SLSCO Ltd. in the amount of $789 million, according to DHS.
Congress provided the Secretary of Homeland Security with a number of authorities necessary to carry out DHS’s border security mission.
DHS said, the geographic scope of the Yuma waiver covers the areas defined below.
These projects will total approximately 7 miles of bollard wall within these areas.
Starting at the Morelos Dam and extending south and generally following the Colorado River for approximately five and one-half (5.5) miles. Starting two and one-half (2.5) miles east of Border Monument 198 and extending east to Border Monument 197. DHS said the geographic scope of the El Paso waiver covers the areas defined below.
These projects will total up to approximately 46 miles of bollard wall within these areas:
Starting at Border Monument 31 and extending east to Border Monument 23. Starting at approximately one (1) mile west of Border Monument 20 and extending east to Border Monument 9. While the waivers eliminate DHS’s obligation to comply with various laws with respect to covered projects, DHS remains committed to environmental stewardship.
DHS has been working and consulting to continue doing so, with other federal and state resource agencies to ensure that impacts to the environment, wildlife, and cultural and historic artifacts are analyzed and minimized, to the greatest extent possible.
The Yuma and El Paso sectors are areas of high illegal entry and are experiencing large numbers of individuals and narcotics being smuggled into the country illegally.
The construction of border infrastructure within these project areas will support DHS’s ability to deny illegal border crossings and the drug and human smuggling activities of transnational criminal organizations.
