Conservation groups are suing the Trump administration for waiving more than 24 federal laws that could speed construction of border wall infrastructure through Big Bend National Park in Texas.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Ruidosa Church and a Texas landowner have expanded an existing lawsuit challenging the border wall in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to target the waiver within the park.
The groups said in a press release Thursday that the waiver marked the first time the government set aside such a “broad slate of environmental laws” — which include the National Park Service Organic Act, Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act — in a national park.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in a Tuesday determination said the laws — which also include the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act and Clean Water Act — would be waived “in their entirety” for construction of physical barriers, roads, staging and excavation areas, as well as accompanying infrastructure like barriers, drainage, safety features, lighting, cameras and sensors.
