Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation & Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Urge Answers Before Action Jeopardizing Big Bend

Washington, D.C.-Today, Texas Congressmembers, joined by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman, urged Trump Administration officials to delay work on a proposed road across and over Big Bend National Park's Mariscal Mountain until specific details of the project are made fully available and questions answered about the potentially irreparable destruction the project poses.

"The potential destruction from road construction over the rugged terrain of Mariscal Mountain is extreme," Congressman Doggett said. "Tons of rock blasted away could end up impacting Mariscal Canyon, the Rio Grande, and Mexico. An incredible waste of both taxpayer money and an invaluable place of spectacular beauty!"

"Survey work has already begun in Big Bend National Park, with groundbreaking apparently imminent," Congressman Doggett continued. "It's urgent that there is broad public understanding of CBP's overall plans for the park, including Mariscal Mountain and its immediate surroundings - before irreversible damage is inflicted on one of the most significant places in all of Texas."

"It is hard to understand the added value of a patrol road across Mariscal Mountain. The existing road just north of the mountain is regularly patrolled and sufficient for Border Patrol operations," the Members wrote. "This new, proposed road would sit 1,700 feet above the border in one of the least trafficked stretches of the entire southern border, where anyone crossing would first climb 1,400-foot cliffs to approach the road. This poses no benefit to border security and would only cause irrevocable damage to the mountain."

A copy of the letter can be found here.

The letter is addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott, and W.C. "Chad" McIntosh, Commissioner of the

International Boundary and Water Commission, United States Section.

The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is the binational body charged with enforcing the boundary and water treaties between the United States and Mexico. The issue will be of acute interest to both the U.S. and Mexico Sections of the IBWC because of the potential damage to the Rio Grande and immediate environs on both sides of the river.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not released details regarding the proposed road aside from a small-scale map with the proposed alignment and that it would be 24 feet wide. The letter asks for road design and engineering details, spoil disposal plans, and line items for rock excavation, controlled blasting, drilling and shooting, vibration monitoring, or embankment placement.

In addition, it asks the IBWC U.S. Section if it has received any notice from the U.S. of the Mariscal Mountain alignment and whether the Mexican Section has been notified. Federal law authorizing waivers that set aside existing regulatory requirements for border wall construction do not apply to U.S.-Mexico Treaty obligations. The letter seeks confirmation that the U.S. acknowledges that fact.

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