Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the New Corpus Christi Marine Unit Facility, U.S. Border Patrol, Rio Grande Valley Sector, Texas (December 2020)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announces the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and associated Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) which analyzes the potential effects, beneficial and adverse, resulting from the proposed construction and operation of a new Air and Marine Operations (AMO) marine facility in Port Aransas, Texas. The proposed new facility would be constructed to allow for a more rapid response by the Corpus Christi Marine Unit, Rio Grande Valley Sector due to its improved proximity to the water. The existing facilities are located approximately two miles south of the proposed new facility. The new Marine Unit facility will allow for improved efficiency in support of the Border Patrol Strategic Plan to gain and maintain effective control of the borders of the United States and would result in the Marine Unit facility meeting USBP facilities guidelines and security standards.
CBP provided the Draft EA and FONSI for a 30-day public comment period between August 29 and September 28, 2020.  It was accessible through CBP.gov and by distribution to stakeholders and two local public libraries.  The notice of availability for the draft was published in the Corpus Christi Caller Times newspaper on August 29, 2020.

Based on the findings of the EA, and after careful review of the potential environmental impacts of implementing the proposed action, CBP finds there would be no significant impact on the quality of the human or natural environment, either individually or cumulatively. Therefore, preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required and a FONSI has been issued.

For further information, please contact John Petrilla at john.petrilla@cbp.dhs.gov.