FINAL Environmental Assessment Addressing the Proposed Land Purchase, and Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of a Joint Processing Center in Yuma, Yuma County, Arizona

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) procedures for implementing NEPA (DHS Directive 023-01 Rev 01 and Instruction 023-01-001 Rev 01), and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), DHS prepared an Environmental Assessment to evaluate the potential impacts to the human and natural environment resulting from a proposed project to purchase approximately 40.00 acres of land in Yuma, Arizona, and to construct, operate, and maintain a Joint Processing Center (JPC) to support humanitarian efforts along the southwestern United States/Mexico international border.

The Draft Environmental Assessment was made available for a 30-day public review and comment period which concluded on September 22, 2023.  Four (4) substantive comments were received during the 30-day public comment period—three from Indian tribes and one from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. They are described in greater detail in the Final Environmental Assessment. After thorough review and consideration, DHS issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and concluded the NEPA review for this action.  The Final Environmental Assessment and signed FONSI are available for download.