FME004200

PF225 K-2C Segment

El Paso Sector

November 26, 2008

SBI
SBI
For Official Use Only
FME004201

Current & Proposed New Scope of Work

•Current Approved Scope of Work

– ~7.6 miles of PV-2 post and rail with mesh fencing
– Pedestrian fence to be constructed north of the El Paso County Water
Improvements District (EPCWID) canal and parallel drainage ditch on the
south side of an access road
• Land to be acquired via adverse condemnation
– Numerous unknown conditions (b) (5)
will result in significant MATOC change
orders (Estimated ROM )
– EPCWID opposes the current location and has locked access gates limiting
Border Patrol’s ability to operate in some areas
•Proposed New Scope of Work
– ~7.5 miles of PV-2 post and rail with mesh fencing
– Pedestrian fence to be constructed along north toe of IBWC levee on IBWC
land
– Portion of EPCWID canal to be filled in adjacent to proposed fence alignment
(b) (5)
– Estimated ROM cost +
– EPCWID reportedly supports new proposed scope of work

For Official Use Only 2

FME004202

Background (1 of 2)

•The segment was originally planned (late 2007) to be built on the north toe of the IBWC levee
similar to the current proposed location (but w/o filling a portion of their canal)
– ELPWIC requested multi-million dollars in canal-related improvements in exchange for “their
support” relative to the project (e.g. concrete line their canal, replace & automate head gates)
– Geotechnical testing revealed that a cost prohibitive foundation system would be required to
(b) (5)
support the fence given it would be built on the shared levee/canal embankment;

•In the spring of 08, CBP leadership decided to move the fence alignment to the south side of an
existing access road north of the ELPWIC canal to reduce construction costs
– ELPWIC opposed the re-alignment because it would limit access to a drainage ditch they owned
and refused to grant us a right of entry (ROE) to conduct surveys and explorations
– Nonetheless, the alignment was reflected in the RFP and the basis of the MATOC contract award
(b) (5)

• Because ELPWIC refused to grant a ROE, the design was based on aerial photographs and without the benefit
of site reconnaissance
• A Notice to Proceed was issued to the MATOC to begin acquiring materials and assembling fence panels
– Subsequent site reconnaissance with representatives of the ELPWIC, CBP, Corps and MATOC
revealed significant constructability issues existed with the alignment and costly change orders
(b) (5)
”
• e.g. very narrow work areas; existing/functional private irrigation conveyance systems that would require
relocation

For Official Use Only 3

FME004203

Background (2 of 2)

• In October, CBP and the Corps met with ELPWID to discuss re-visiting the
original proposed alignment but with CBP filling in a portion of the District’s
existing canal adjacent to fence alignment
– Filling in a portion of the canal will:
• Provide stability and greatly reduce fence overturning (moment) concerns negating
the need for a costly foundation system that was required with the original design
• Provide level surface on the north side of the fence for purposes of constructing
and operating & maintaining (O&M) the fence (original design had no accessibility
from the north)
• Remove excess conveyance capacity currently present in the canal and reduce the
District’s O&M costs
•ELPWID has expressed support for this concept
•This concept is the basis of PF225 Change Request #141

For Official Use Only 4

FME004204

Scope of Work

Rio Grande River

Current approved
fence alignment

IBWC Levee District’s Primary Irrigation

Canal

New proposed
fence alignment

District’s Canal Access

Road

For Official Use Only 5

FME004205

Scope of Work
District’s
Irrigation Canal;
fence now
proposed to be
installed above
concrete
abutment and a
portion of the
canal to be filled-
in (canal is
currently and will
remain off-line
until Feb.)

For Official Use Only 6

FME004206

New Proposed Fence Alignment

For Official Use Only 7

FME004207

Proposed Fill in Canal

For Official Use Only 8