EPA raised concerns on border fence, environment

By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau, El Paso Times

AUSTIN -- The Environmental Protection Agency had serious concerns about how barrier fencing would affect habitat, animals and communities along the border near El Paso, according to recently released comments the agency prepared earlier this year.

The agency submitted comments in response to environmental assessments the Department of Homeland Security conducted of proposed fencing on the Texas border, including about 56 miles in the El Paso area.

The undated comments, which were obtained and released Wednesday by the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, show that federal environmental officials wanted the Department of Homeland Security to do more research and analysis on effects the border fence might have on wildlife, farming and water quality in the region.

That may be one reason why DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff in April signed a waiver that allowed the department to circumvent about 30 laws, including environmental regulations, in order to complete 670 miles of fencing this year, said Cyrus Reed, conservation director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club.

"From the EPA's comments, it was clear they weren't going to get any kind of go ahead anytime soon," Reed said.

(Continued here. The letter from the EPA is here.)