Project Links
Montezuma Ranch Development
Coronado National Memorial » Montezuma Ranch Development » Document List
The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to construct a law enforcement operations building and develop a handicapped accessible trail at Coronado National Memorial, a unit of the National Park Service. Congress has made security along our International borders a priority and is considering legislation to increase law enforcement staff in border areas. In 2009, funding increases are anticipated that would enable the law enforcement staff at the Memorial to nearly triple in size. The law enforcement rangers at the Memorial currently operate out of two small offices (approximately 200 sq. ft.) in the Headquarters building. The Headquarters building is a remodeled 1966 era 3 bedroom house that holds offices for the Superintendent, Law Enforcement, Maintenance, Administration and Resource Management Divisions. The memorial does not currently provide a handicapped accessible trail for visitors. The NPS proposes to construct a 1.5 mile handicapped accessible trail in the Montezuma Ranch area in the vicinity of the law enforcement operation building.
The purpose of the project is to provide a safe healthy work environment for employees and cooperating agencies that will be functional and efficient for Memorial law enforcement staff. The project is needed to accomplish the following objectives:
• Meet federal and state requirements for a safe healthy work environment for employees and cooperating agencies. This could increase the ability of the memorial to retain law enforcement employees for a greater length of time, leading to a reduction in recruitment and hiring expenses.
• Consolidate divisional emergency response equipment and storage into a secure accessible location within the park.
• Decrease response time to border related incidents and increases visibility of law enforcement in the area. The proposed construction site is located less than a mile to the international border.
• Place law enforcement in an area of the park that has historically experienced a high level of illegal activity associated with the international border including illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
• The proposed construction site is in a disturbed area that requires rehabilitation. Historically used as a cattle ranch the land is disturbed and is largely composed of exotic vegetation. The abandoned ranch buildings were recently demolished. The site has been cleared for use as a staging area for the international border fence construction. Existing development currently in the ranch area includes a camera tower that is monitored by the Border Patrol.
• The preferred alternative would make the grassland area considerably safer for visitors and employees. The grasslands of the park are underutilized by visitors because there are no trails, parking or facilities in that area. Making the area safer through increased law enforcement presence would enable staff to develop an interpretive trail through the grasslands. The park plans to move forward on a 1.5 mile handicapped accessible trail identified in the 2004 General Management Plan.
• Ensure the site for the new law enforcement building minimizes impacts to park resources and would not result in impairment or unacceptable impacts to these resources.
• Allow the NPS to design an office facility that will follow NPS guidelines for energy sustainability and efficiency.
This Environmental Assessment evaluates two alternatives; a No Action Alternative and an Action Alternative. The No Action alternative describes the current condition if no Law Enforcement Operation Center were constructed, while the action alternative addresses the construction of a law enforcement center in the Montezuma Ranch area.
CORONADO NATIONAL MEMORIAL
4101 E. Montezuma Canyon Road
Hereford, Arizona 85615
The purpose of the project is to provide a safe healthy work environment for employees and cooperating agencies that will be functional and efficient for Memorial law enforcement staff. The project is needed to accomplish the following objectives:
• Meet federal and state requirements for a safe healthy work environment for employees and cooperating agencies. This could increase the ability of the memorial to retain law enforcement employees for a greater length of time, leading to a reduction in recruitment and hiring expenses.
• Consolidate divisional emergency response equipment and storage into a secure accessible location within the park.
• Decrease response time to border related incidents and increases visibility of law enforcement in the area. The proposed construction site is located less than a mile to the international border.
• Place law enforcement in an area of the park that has historically experienced a high level of illegal activity associated with the international border including illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
• The proposed construction site is in a disturbed area that requires rehabilitation. Historically used as a cattle ranch the land is disturbed and is largely composed of exotic vegetation. The abandoned ranch buildings were recently demolished. The site has been cleared for use as a staging area for the international border fence construction. Existing development currently in the ranch area includes a camera tower that is monitored by the Border Patrol.
• The preferred alternative would make the grassland area considerably safer for visitors and employees. The grasslands of the park are underutilized by visitors because there are no trails, parking or facilities in that area. Making the area safer through increased law enforcement presence would enable staff to develop an interpretive trail through the grasslands. The park plans to move forward on a 1.5 mile handicapped accessible trail identified in the 2004 General Management Plan.
• Ensure the site for the new law enforcement building minimizes impacts to park resources and would not result in impairment or unacceptable impacts to these resources.
• Allow the NPS to design an office facility that will follow NPS guidelines for energy sustainability and efficiency.
This Environmental Assessment evaluates two alternatives; a No Action Alternative and an Action Alternative. The No Action alternative describes the current condition if no Law Enforcement Operation Center were constructed, while the action alternative addresses the construction of a law enforcement center in the Montezuma Ranch area.
Contact Information
Kym A. Hall, SuperintendentCORONADO NATIONAL MEMORIAL
4101 E. Montezuma Canyon Road
Hereford, Arizona 85615