With construction of the Southwest border fence underway, there is much scrutiny over the effect it will have on the environment. Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), any federal public works project requires an environmental impact analysis to be conducted prior to the work commencing.  However, language in the REAL ID act passed by Congress granted the power to waive NEPA and other environmental requirements to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expedite the fence's construction.

Many-particularly the Mexican government-remain concerned the fence will have detrimental effects on the borderland, although the potential impact is unclear. This land is home to more than 4,000 plant species as well as animals such as Mexican gray wolves, black bears, jaguars and Sonoran desert pronghorn. Construction of the fence could cut through the ranges of these animals, inhibiting access to food, water, and mates.  

A report conducted by the Mexican government alleges that the border fence violates a 1983 conservation agreement signed by Presidents Ronald Reagan and Miguel de la Madrid, and accuses the U.S. Congress of "legalizing the abuses against the environment" by exempting DHS from environmental regulations. The report claims the fence will put 85 endangered species of plants and animals at additional risk.

"The irony of the situation..." said Mexican Environment Minister Rafael Elvira Quesada, "is that DHS could have cooperated with environmental regulations and built a structure cheaper and quicker."

But Secretary of DHS Michael Chertoff told the Associated Press that the fence should actually improve the environment by putting an end to the destruction caused by illegal immigrants crossing the border. "Illegal migrants really degrade the environment. I've seen pictures of human waste, garbage, discarded bottles, and other human artifacts in pristine areas...believe me that is the worst thing you can do to the environment."

Although the REAL ID act gave DHS the green light to waive environmental laws, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is preparing Environmental Assessments (EAs) to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts associated with proposed actions for electronic surveillance equipment along 74 miles of the U.S./Mexico border near El Paso, TX. The public can view a draft of the Texas Mobile Environmental EA here, which will be used to inform decisions about surveillance tower locations and electronic monitoring systems.

Of course, these high-tech security measures are no where near as invasive as a line of steel fencing, so it's interesting CBP would only choose to study the more environmentally benign aspects of the border security plan.  As development and execution of border security initiatives continue, the environmental community should keep a close eye to ensure minimal damage to the environment.