U.S. General Services Administration
GSA releases draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Bridge of the Americas port project in El Paso
Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the announcement is part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda
EL PASO, Texas – In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announces the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) [PDF - 19 MB] for the modernization project at the Bridge of the Americas Land Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas.
The draft EIS examines the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of the proposed project. With the issuance of this document a 45-day public comment period begins which will end on Nov. 4, 2024, at 11.59 p.m. CST.
The draft EIS analyzes in detail the three remaining alternatives:
- Alternative 1A - Multilevel modernization accommodating pedestrian, non-commercial vehicle and commercial cargo traffic. The majority of the work would be conducted within existing port boundaries with minor land acquisition adjacent to the port and to the east. This alternative includes the flexibility to eliminate northbound and southbound commercial cargo traffic in the future.
- Alternative 4 - Multilevel modernization accommodating pedestrian and non-commercial vehicle traffic with the elimination of northbound and southbound commercial cargo traffic. The majority of the work would be conducted within existing port boundaries with minor land acquisition adjacent to the port.
- No Action - No modernization would be made to the port.
GSA currently identifies Alternative 4 as the preferred alternative as it would best meet the requirements of the federal government while addressing the social, economic and environmental impacts of the project.
Public input during the 45-day comment period is essential to ensure that all perspectives are considered before GSA issues the final EIS and Record of Decision. Comments can be submitted through the following methods:
Email: BOTA.nepacomments@gsa.gov. Must include “BOTA LPOE Draft EIS” in the subject line.
Mail:
Comments must be received by Nov. 4, 2024, at 11.59 p.m. CST to be considered by GSA.
This project is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that includes a total of $3.4 billion for GSA to build and modernize land ports of entry on the country’s northern and southern borders. The investments will improve commerce and trade, enhance security, create good-paying jobs, and incorporate innovative sustainability features. GSA is estimated to support an annual average of nearly 6,000 jobs over the next eight years; add $3.23 billion in total labor income across the United States; contribute an additional $4.5 billion to the National Gross Domestic Product; and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for federal, state and municipal governments.
This project provides the opportunity to incorporate sustainability features that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the impact of buildings on the environment, and simultaneously increase the mission readiness of the federal government by increasing resilience to climate change.
If an action alternative is selected, construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026, with substantial completion by late 2029.
Additional project information and all documents related to the draft EIS are available at: gsa.gov/bota.
###
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA