July 23, 2024

Jake Tibbles

Executive Director

Thousand Islands Land Trust

135 John St., PO Box 238

Clayton, New York 13624

Submitted via email to: [email protected]

RE: Next Steps in Planning for the Proposed New Border Patrol Station in the U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Sector, Wellesley Island Station Area of Responsibility, Jefferson County, New York

Dear Mr. Tibbles: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently held public open houses on June 25 and 26, 2024 regarding the proposed new Border Patrol Station (BPS) in the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Buffalo Sector, Wellesley Island Station Area of Responsibility, Jefferson County, New York. More than 600 individuals attended the open houses over the two nights. CBP provides this letter to thank you and other members of the local community for participating in the public open houses and sharing valuable feedback about the proposed project with CBP. CBP is carefully reviewing the comments provided at the open houses and other written comments submitted during the scoping period for incorporation into a draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA). CBP remains committed to transparency and collaboration throughout this process.

CBP also provides this letter to inform you of the next steps CBP is planning for the proposed project and development of the draft SEA. As CBP presented at the public open houses, additional natural and cultural resource surveys are still necessary on the property that is the preferred location of the proposed new BPS, which is currently owned by the Thousand Island Land Trust (TILT), to complete a thorough and accurate analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposed project at that location, and to compare it fairly to other potential locations as part of the SEA. Similar surveys were already conducted on an alternative location property (Dockside Cottages). CBP was not able to gain access to the TILT property to conduct the required surveys through negotiation with TILT. Therefore, in order to gain access to the TILT property and complete the additional environmental resource survey activities, CBP is working with the Department of Justice to file a Declaration of Taking (DT) for right of entry. This DT is not for fee ownership of the property. This DT is only for a temporary (12-month) right of entry to conduct environmental investigations and related work to evaluate the suitability of the property.

 Following review of comments and completion of the aforementioned surveys on the TILT property, CBP will develop the draft SEA, which is anticipated to be released to the public for review and comment in late 2024. CBP reiterates that a decision has not been made about the location of the new BPS at this time. Such a decision will not be made until after the completion of a final SEA. Furthermore, the current Wellesley Island station remains USBP’s sole operational facility in the area.

Sincerely,

Michelle Brown

Director

Energy and Environmental Program Management Office

Office of Facilities and Asset Management

U.S. Customs and Border Protection