AFTER HIS DIRECT ADVOCACY, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION HAS HEEDED HIS CALLS & WILL HOLD IN-PERSON PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED SITES OF NEW BORDER PATROL STATION; SENATOR SAYS IT IS VITAL NORTH COUNTRY COMMUNITIES HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD

Schumer Personally Wrote & Called CBP Acting Commissioner To Demand Agency Stop Making Decisions Behind Closed Doors – And Now Feds Have Heeded His Calls To Hold A Public Hearing To Facilitate Input On How The Facility Would Impact The Region

Blind Bay Is Home To One Of Upstate New York’s Most Prolific Muskellunge Spawning Areas; However, A New Facility In Region Could Devastate Fragile St. Lawrence River Ecosystem, A Major Hit To The Tourism Economy Which Is Opposed By Local Community

Schumer: Community’s Voices Must Be Heard – CBP Needs To Work With The Community To Find A Solution That Benefits Environment, Local Economy & Agency’s Essential Work

Following his relentless advocacy, and personally writing and calling CBP Acting Commissioner Miller to demand that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hold a public hearing on the potential siting of a new U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) facility, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced the feds have heeded his calls and agreed to Schumer’s request for a public in-person hearing in the coming weeks. Schumer said with CBP moving forward with the Supplemental Environmental Assessment process, it’s vital residents and stakeholders can make their voices heard and have a full say in determining the location of the proposed facility – especially given the site preferred by CBP at Blind Bay has been widely opposed in the community due to significant environmental impacts. Now, thanks to Schumer’s all-out effort, CBP has agreed to his requests for a public meeting and extend the public comment period to 45 days, with more details forthcoming in the next few weeks.

“CBP has wisely heeded my call and agreed to hold a public hearing on proposed sites for a new border patrol facility in the St. Lawrence River area so residents can have their voices heard – loud and clear. It is also a very good thing they have extended the public comment period to 45 days,” said Senator Schumer. “I have been involved in scores of NEPA environmental impact processes around the state for many proposed projects and understand the value of a public hearing. I thank CBP for heeding my calls and encourage them to take full consideration of the community’s needs as they advance this process, so we can find a mutually agreeable solution that benefits all parties.”

“For too long, CBP has kept North Country communities in the dark on plans for the new, proposed facility, but thanks to my all-out push they will now have more transparency, more information sharing and more opportunity to participate in the decision on the siting of a new facility,” added Senator Schumer, who has joined local leaders in opposition to the Blind Bay proposed location.

Schumer explained in January, CBP announced plans to conduct further environmental surveys of additional locations in the St. Lawrence River Basin, including a public scoping process. CBP, however, had revealed it only intended to gather public input for the scoping by mail or email. In response, Schumer wrote directly to Acting Commissioner Miller conveying that this is unacceptable, and could limit public participation for those without easy access to technology, which is why it is essential the full community be able to participate in person, so all perspectives are fully heard before any decision is made.  

In his letter to CBP, Schumer wrote: “In response to immediate and overwhelming local opposition, I wrote to your agency in March 2022 to support residents, community leaders, and local officials in their opposition to this plan. Since then, I have continued to work closely with local leaders and officials to engage with CBP on this issue and have spoken publicly in support of CBP working with the community to identify a site that is acceptable to locals. Local leaders and regional stakeholders have demonstrated a willingness to engage with CBP on identifying an alternative site, including but not limited to the former Bonnie Castle Stables site. Indisputably, Blind Bay is a vital habitat and thriving ecosystem of over 53 fish species, famously home to the most prolific muskellunge spawning area in the St. Lawrence River basin. It is an essential habitat for recovery and conservation efforts to restore fish populations damaged by habitat loss and protect local fish and their spawning grounds from invasive species—particularly the muskellunge, which is known as the St. Lawrence River’s “most important sportfish.” In addition to its ecological importance, the Thousand Islands area is a thriving community where visitors flock to enjoy the area’s natural beauty. Any site chosen must protect the ecosystem, tourism economy, and natural beauty of the St. Lawrence River Basin.”

Schumer has a long history of advocating for Blind Bay. In March 2022, citing environmental concerns and local opposition, Schumer wrote a letter to Acting Environmental Branch Chief John Petrilla and called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to immediately reverse course on its plans for construction of a new station in the Blind Bay area at Fishers Landing. Ever since, Schumer has continuously remained committed to standing with the local community opposed to the proposed station on Blind Bay.

A copy of Schumer’s letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can be found below:

Dear Acting Commissioner Miller,

I write to urge U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hold a well-publicized, widely accessible, and conveniently-located public hearing to allow for full community participation and input into the Supplemental Environmental Assessment public scoping process for a proposed new U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) facility in the Wellesley Island Border Patrol Station Area of Responsibility. Because any site chosen will have enormous impact on wildlife ecosystems, tourism, and the quality of life of those nearby, the local community must have a full opportunity to express their opinions on proposed sites and for those opinions to shape the decisions determining the facility’s location.

I support the mission of USBP, work hard to fund its operations at the national level every year, and recognize the general need to update and modernize facilities to ensure the agency has the resources to most effectively carry out its vital mission. However, this work must be done in fair and reasonable balance with the needs and vital interests of host communities. 

In February 2022, CBP announced that the agency was considering the possibility of constructing a new 49,000 square-foot USBP facility along the St. Lawrence River near the Blind Bay area at Fisher’s Landing in the Town of Orleans, NY. In response to immediate and overwhelming local opposition, I wrote to your agency in March 2022 to support residents, community leaders, and local officials in their opposition to this plan. Since then, I have continued to work closely with local leaders and officials to engage with CBP on this issue and have spoken publicly in support of CBP working with the community to identify a site that is acceptable to locals. Local leaders and regional stakeholders have demonstrated a willingness to engage with CBP on identifying an alternative site, including but not limited to the former Bonnie Castle Stables site. Indisputably, Blind Bay is a vital habitat and thriving ecosystem of over 53 fish species, famously home to the most prolific muskellunge spawning area in the St. Lawrence River basin. It is an essential habitat for recovery and conservation efforts to restore fish populations damaged by habitat loss and protect local fish and their spawning grounds from invasive species—particularly the muskellunge, which is known as the St. Lawrence River’s “most important sportfish.” In addition to its ecological importance, the Thousand Islands area is a thriving community where visitors flock to enjoy the area’s natural beauty. Any site chosen must protect the ecosystem, tourism economy, and natural beauty of the St. Lawrence River Basin. 

In January 2024, CBP officially announced plans to conduct further environmental surveys of additional locations in the St. Lawrence River Basin area in response to concerns of local residents and officials. This process includes a public scoping process that CBP officials have informed me is set to begin in April 2024 wherein state and local officials can suggest alternative locations for the new facility. CBP officials have also communicated that gathering public input for the public scoping, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which sets procedure for federal agencies to conduct environmental surveys, will be conducted by mail or email only. 

This is unwise and unacceptable. I have been involved in scores of NEPA processes around the state for many proposed projects, and public hearings are a normal, expected and beneficial part of the process. Not conducting a public hearing pursuant to the pending Supplemental Environmental Assessment is a mistake, when, in fact, doing so will only strengthen the final product. Failure to hold a public hearing would truncate full public participation in this critical siting decision, which has generated considerable concern and attention in the St. Lawrence River communities. Therefore, I strongly urge CBP to conduct an in-person public hearing to finally engage face-to-face with the community impacted by this decision, more effectively solicit and comprehend input and concerns from the community and to better educate stakeholders and the public at large of the proposed new facility, possible locations, and the process that is unfolding.

While I welcome that CBP is exploring alternative sites to the original Blind Bay location chosen, I strongly urge that the agency actively engage with the community throughout this process to ensure that a harmonious siting decision is ultimately made. Public hearings are vital for fulsome public participation and transparent dialogue between CBP officials and the community regarding potential benefits and drawbacks of proposed locations. A public hearing would increase accessibility for full-time and part-time residents, especially those with limited access to technology. All perspectives must be heard and considered before a final decision is made.

I look forward to your reply and am hopeful we can soon schedule a public hearing on this vital matter.

Sincerely,

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