RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS - CBP.gov

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Response to Public Comments August 2008
Comment Category Comment Category Description Commenter Draft Response
10. Comment requests that the location of
the levee system, the delineation of the
floodplain and the floodway be included
in the analysis so the public can have
the necessary information in order to
independently confirm the potential
impacts as stated in the document
11. Comment states that according to the
IBWCs ‘Hydraulic Model of Rio Grande
and Floodways within Lower Rio Grande
Flood Control Project.’ There are
portions of the border fence associated
with Section O-4 through O-21 that are
within the floodplain/floodway of the Rio
Grande River, contrary to the
statements saying otherwise in this
document. FEMA regulations prohibit
constructing any obstructions within the
floodway of a river or water source that
would cause any increase in the
computed 100-year water level
associated with the floodway analysis.
Comment asks that at the minimum the
EIS provide a figure showing the
floodplain/floodway of the Rio Grande
River and the border fence.
Lawrence
Dunbar
Lawrence
Dunbar
10. Many issues related to floodplains have been
changed since publishing the Draft EIS. In
Hidalgo County, the Project will proceed as a
levee improvement program designed to protect
Hidalgo County against future flooding of the Rio
Grande (Sections O-4 through O-10). In Sections
O-1 through O-3, CBP consulted with USIBWC to
minimize any impact of fence in the floodplain
through the use of a movable fence design. In
Sections O-11 through O-21, the fence will mostly
be constructed on the north toe of the levee where
no impacts to flood flows would occur.
11. FEMA FIRMS were used to determine the
locations of floodplains/floodways. Sections 0-4 to
O-21 would not be within the floodplains. Some
areas of the 100-year floodplain occur within the
impact corridor of sections O-7, O-10, O-11, O-15,
O-17. With the exceptions of Section O-1 and O-
3, the tactical infrastructure would be ‘north’ of the
levee and therefore outside of the floodplain.
Because there are no levees in Sections O-1
through O-3, the floodplains extends inland too far
for a route alternative outside the floodplain to be
operationally practical for the USBP. Floodplain
impacts are being minimized in Sections O-1
through O-3 through the use of a movable fence
design in coordination with USIBWC.
Rio Grande Valley Sector Tactical Infrastructure