Public comment deadline on (Rio Grande Valley) border wall construction extended (till 25 Sep)

KVEO (NBC) ^ | August 28, 2019 | Joanna Guzman

[BeauBo]

The deadline for public comments regarding a proposed border wall project in Starr County has been extended. The original deadline was Monday, August 26, but Customs and Border Protection say... “Due to the FY 19 appropriations language, CBP must consult with Starr County municipalities for border wall alignment as well as specific area requirements. For this reason, the open comment period has been extended."...

The proposed project would consist of 30 foot tall posts, detection and surveillance technology, automated vehicle and pedestrian gates, and all weather roads for patrol units to run parallel to the Rio Grande. If approved, construction would happen along Roma, Escobares, La Grullla, and Rio Grande City (the municipalities that must be consulted).

[BeauBo]

Although the FY 2019 Appropriations language requires the Government to consult with the local municipalities, there is no obligation to gain their agreement - so they hold no veto.

This extension of the public comment period takes it to two months total, which is more the norm.

It also takes it very close to the end of the Fiscal Year (30 September), although most of the funds they plan to use are good for five years.

[Sequoyah101]

I wonder how many negative comments they have gotten?

I worked in Star County in 2006. It is Texas in name only. As far as I am concerned they can wall it off and leave it in mesico. The whole area is a net loss to the treasury.

[gibsonguy]

Stall stall stall

[donozark]

I read this late last night. Disappointing. Hopefully this is just another stalling technique and we can get going on this portion of the Wall. We have had to fight for every inch of territory gained. The Left has put ups many legal obstacles it is sickening.

[BeauBo]

“I wonder how many negative comments they have gotten?”

Reportedly, they got a total of 700 comments in the first month. Most of them are probably just cranks.

When they put barrier in San Diego, crime went down and property values went way up.

We will likely see the Texas border areas improve noticeably in the years after effective barrier gets built as well.

[BeauBo]

“Hopefully this is just another stalling technique and we can get going on this portion of the Wall.”

That is what I anticipate. I don’t see any showstoppers.

I did see elsewhere, that the Government plans to spend the some or all of the money from the Treasury Department Asset Forfeiture account ($600 million) to build some of the miles in the Rio Grande Valley, so a lawsuit will likely be filed on that contract.