/ Modified sep 12, 2017 3:53 p.m.

Feds Waive Environmental Laws Again for Section of Border Wall

The agency lifted 28 laws for border-wall construction near Calexico, Calif.

Border wall patrol mountains immigration hero The U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona.
Nancy Montoya, AZPM

For the second time this summer, the Trump administration has lifted environmental restrictions so it can replace existing border fence in California.

The Department of Homeland Security announced it is lifting environmental restrictions on a section of U.S.-Mexico border near Calexico, California.

The construction project will replace three miles of pedestrian fencing west of the port of entry with new bollard-style walls like those in Nogales. To do so, acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke personally waived 28 environmental laws in the area. Those laws range from the National Environmental Policy Act to the Clean Water Act to the Archeological Resources Protection Act.

Congress funded the border-wall replacement earlier this year.

Fronteras Desk
This story is from the Fronteras Desk, a collaboration of Southwestern public radio stations, including NPR 89.1. Read more from the Fronteras Desk.
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