ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW
July 10, 2026
Submitted via email to: Bi*************@*****hs.gov
Subject: Brewster County Vehicle Barrier System Construction
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) is comprised of more than 5,000 members, all of whom are retired, former, or current National Park Service (NPS) employees or volunteers who collectively represent more than 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s National Pak System. Among our members are numerous former employees of Big Bend National Park.
We urge the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to protect the wilderness character of Big Bend NP and minimize any potential impacts. In 1978, the National Park Service completed a multi-year Big Bend wilderness study, which recommended to Congress that 538,250 acres of the park be designated as wilderness and 44,750 acres as potential wilderness. In accordance with National Park Service Management Policies, more than 80% of Big Bend National Park is managed to protect its wilderness qualities. These areas of wilderness quality have the highest protection of any public lands.
We want to emphasize that we have not seen any data indicating that the border within the national park is a high-risk area for illegal entry. There is no border security emergency at Big Bend. We urge CBP to make only the minimal changes that are absolutely mandatory in the park. To that end, we urge CBP, as promised, to “balance operational needs with responsible stewardship of the land and minimize harm to the greatest extent practicable.”
The following are some more specific concerns and comments.
There is no reason not to eliminate the vehicle barriers on either side of Mariscal Canyon, as there is no Mexican road across from these locations, therefore no risk of vehicles crossing the Rio Grande here. Restrict proposed vehicle barriers near Lajitas and downstream of Boquillas Canyon to areas outside the national park, and they will accomplish the same purpose without impacting NPS lands and resources.
We recommend, if necessary, that CBD only upgrade the existing unpaved River Road in the park, rather than building a new parallel road. This was the standard agreed to by the NPS and USBP years ago. Pavement is not necessary for any existing or new roads. Laying asphalt would have serious negative effects on plant communities, wildlife, and the scenic landscape.
Do not attempt to build a road across Mariscal Mountain or Ernst Ridge, or any other place in the park that would require blasting or construction of switchbacks. Road construction of this nature has significant negative impacts. We urge you not to build any new patrol roads within any existing NPS visitor or administrative facilities, including Santa Elena Canyon parking area and trail access; Castolon Historic District; Hot Springs Historic District; Rio Grande Village development (including Daniels Ranch, the RV park, the campground, or the NPS housing/administrative area); and the Boquillas Canyon parking lot or trail access.
Regarding the construction of any facilities, we urge you to keep staging areas on existing paved sites in the park. In addition, temporary major construction camps should be outside the Park’s boundaries. Long-term staging areas will have profound effects on wildlife and plant communities and may impair park resources and directly violate the enabling legislation that created Big Bend NP and guides the management of the National Park Service.
Big Bend National Park is one of the nation’s cherished treasures. Congress and the American public have decided this area should be preserved for future generations. Thus, border operations and facilities must be kept to a minimum and carefully planned to ensure the long-term health of the park, as required by our nation’s laws. The park’s long-term stewardship must be a top priority for CBP. We believe there can be a strong border, a thriving local economy, and the conservation of a significant part of America’s cherished national areas. We urge you to keep Big Bend NP wild.
Thank you for considering our input on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Cheryl A. Schreier
Chair of the Executive Council
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Email: Ed****@********ps.org
Mail: 2 Massachusetts Ave NE, Unit 77436, Washington, DC 20013
Web: www.protectnps.org
Phone: (202) 819-8622