butterbean
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 2269
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 Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject: Homeland Security chief waives border fence restrictions |
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TUCSON - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Friday waived environmental regulations and laws restricting immediate construction of border fencing along southwestern Arizona's Barry M. Goldwater Range.
The action was taken to circumvent a series of laws, from the Endangered Species Act to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.
Doing so - under authority that Congress gave the Homeland Security secretary in 2005 - will clear the way for construction in southwestern Arizona of 37 miles of traditional and virtual fencing, radar and other infrastructure, lighting, all-weather and drag roads, expected to cost in the neighborhood of $64 million.
Chertoff voided "environmental requirements and other legalities that have impeded the department's ability to construct fencing and deploy detection technology on the range," spokesman Russell Knocke said in Washington.
The construction will be part of the Bush administration's overall Secure Border Initiative that calls for adding a mix of fencing, cameras and high-tech surveillance and communications, vehicle barriers and other features to diminish and deter illegal crossings along the Mexican border.
continued:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/38554.php |
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