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NEWS:
Volume 2, Number 227
January 9, 2008
January 9, 2008
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Special weather information
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
| THE WEATHER BOX www.ke5wlm-eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com The combination of increased south/southwest winds, minimum relative humidity values between 15 and 25 percent and abundant dry vegetation will bring an elevated fire danger to southeastern New Mexico and West Texas today. Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. West wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. |
| The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow. The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines. |
Eastern Plains Council of Governments in Clovis Gets Grants
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici announced Monday that an
organization based in Clovis is among New Mexico groups receiving more
than $7.68 million in federal grant money to support housing and services
for the homeless.
Domenici serves on the Senate appropriations subcommittee that funds the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which is making
Supportive Housing Program Renewal (SHPR), Supportive Housing
Program (SPR) and Shelter + Care Renewal (SPCR) and Shelter Plus Care
(SPC) grants available to New Mexico.
“These grants are awarded on a competitive basis to local organizations
that serve the homeless and try to help them through dire straits,” Domenici
said.
“There are many reasons that families and individuals find themselves
homeless. These grants are intended to address those causes and help
these unfortunate people back on their feet, whether they are veterans or
victims of domestic abuse,” he said.
The Eastern Plains Council of Governments, based in Clovis, was awarded
$115,728 for its Shelter Plus Care program.
In all, 34 grants worth a total $7.68 million are being released to
organizations based in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Belen, Rio Rancho, Clovis,
Las Cruces, Farmington and Las Vegas. The awards were offered under
the HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance program to support
transitional housing, permanent housing and supportive services to the
homeless.
For more information about the grants and homelessness in New Mexico,
visit:
HUD – http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm
New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness – http://nmceh.org/index.html.
Municipal office candidates
ARTESIA - The Municipal Election will be held on March 4, 2008. The only
filing day for candidates wasJanuary 8, 2008, between the hours of 8 a.m.
and 5 p.m. Candidates filed a declaration of candidacy form and a certified
affidavit of the candidate's voter registration with the City Clerk. Candidates
will be certified by the City Clerk's office Wednesday and draw for ballot
position Thursday at City Hall at 5:01 p.m.
For the office of municipal judge, Kaye Kiper, incumbent, and Ricky Kelley
have filed.
In City Council District 1, incumbent Judy Stewart and former city councilor
Manuel Barragan have filed.
Councilor Luis Florez has filed and will be unopposed for District 2.
Two candidates for District 3, John Bernard Smith III and Jeffrey Youtsey
have filed. Glenn Kaiser, currently serving as councilor for District 3, is not
running for another term.
George Holmes filed early this morning and is unopposed in District 4.
Artesia360 photo
City Councilor George Holmes dots the I's and crosses the T's on his filing application.
Holmes is running for re-election to the Artesia City Council in District 4, and unless a
write-in candidate files, will be running unopposed. Assistant City Clerk Lisa C.
Johnston accepted paperwork from municipal hopefuls until 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Municipal Elections do allow for declared write-in candidates. The only filing
date to be a write-in candidate is January 22, 2008, between the hours of 8
a.m. and 5 p.m. Write-in candidates must also file a declaration of intent to
be a write-in candidate and a certified affidavit of their voter registration.
************************************************************************************************
Rig it up
Rare Wichita cable tool rig added to Permian Basin Petroleum Museum
collection
BY BILL MODISETT, Odessa American Online
MIDLAND - A rare Wichita cable tool rig dating to the early 1900s was
trucked to the Petroleum Museum Friday from Artesia, N.M., to become part
of the museum’s antique rig collection.
“We’re excited because it’s one of the first antique pieces added since the
1970s,” Kathy Shannon, executive director of The Petroleum Museum said.
“This was about a two-year project.”
Donated to the museum by Ruth Ann Calvert and Georgie Johnson, both of
Artesia, the rig was owned by Calvert’s father, William E. “Bill” Jeffers, an
early-day New Mexico driller, landman and oil operator.
Johnson worked with Jeffers in his oilfield activities, Petroleum Museum
archivist Amy Hooker said.
The Wichita rig was produced by the Wichita Falls Co. and is the rarest
type of cable tool rig that can be found today, Hooker said. She said this
particular rig was first used in Burkburnett by Jeffers, then used in Artesia.
She said this type of cable tool rig was used in the Permian Basin into the
1960s.
Wilbanks Trucking Co. of Artesia donated the trucks to take the display
pieces to Midland. Workers left Artesia at 8 a.m. Friday morning bound for
Midland. At 2 p.m., they were at the Petroleum Museum preparing to unload.
In addition to the wood and metal cable tool rig, the trucks also transported
a dog house, engine, electric plant, casing mast, drilling mast, a tractor
used to haul the rig to the drilling site and an International gin pole truck,
Hooker said.
While no ceremony took place Friday, Shannon said a plaque dedication
will be scheduled at a later date.
The Petroleum Museum’s antique rig collection also includes a National No.
3 rig, Star rig, Fort Worth rig, Wictex rig and Keystone rig, Hooker said.
MARKING HISTORY
The plaque on the latest addition to the Petroleum Museum’s rig collection
will bear the following inscription:
“Dedicted to the memory of William ‘Bill’ E. Jeffers, November 10, 1917-July
19, 2004.
“In the oil business his entire life, Bill spent his childhood in Burkburnett,
Texas. At the age of nine, he began working with his family in the
Panhandle oil fields during the boom. In World War II, he served his country
as founder and instructor of the Petroleum Distribution School at Geiger
Field, near Spokane, Washington, teaching Army personnel how to supply
petroleum products to U.S. airfields. After an honorable discharge, he
relocated to Artesia, New Mexico, where he worked as a driller, landman
and oil operator for the remainder of his life. Exhibit donated to The
Petroleum Museum by the family of William E. Jeffers.”
************************************************************************************************
Check scammers on AG's hotlist
ALBUQUERQUE - Attorney General Gary King’s office has established an
online data base of reported counterfeit checks used in scam attempts.
Alert consumers and businesses have contacted the AGO and provided
copies of the bogus checks and we have made them available for
inspection at: http://www.nmag.gov/checkscams/default.aspx. The data
base is updated whenever we receive new reports of counterfeit check
scams from the public or financial institutions.
New Mexicans are encouraged to look at the counterfeit check data base if
they receive a check in any amount from an unknown source. A copy of the
check could be in the data base.
If any counterfeit check is cashed, the consumer may be responsible to
their financial institution for any fees and monies lost.
Counterfeit checks can be included in various fraud attempts, including
sweepstakes and lottery winnings scams. For more information on this and
other scams visit our website at: http://www.nmag.gov/.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici announced Monday that an
organization based in Clovis is among New Mexico groups receiving more
than $7.68 million in federal grant money to support housing and services
for the homeless.
Domenici serves on the Senate appropriations subcommittee that funds the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which is making
Supportive Housing Program Renewal (SHPR), Supportive Housing
Program (SPR) and Shelter + Care Renewal (SPCR) and Shelter Plus Care
(SPC) grants available to New Mexico.
“These grants are awarded on a competitive basis to local organizations
that serve the homeless and try to help them through dire straits,” Domenici
said.
“There are many reasons that families and individuals find themselves
homeless. These grants are intended to address those causes and help
these unfortunate people back on their feet, whether they are veterans or
victims of domestic abuse,” he said.
The Eastern Plains Council of Governments, based in Clovis, was awarded
$115,728 for its Shelter Plus Care program.
In all, 34 grants worth a total $7.68 million are being released to
organizations based in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Belen, Rio Rancho, Clovis,
Las Cruces, Farmington and Las Vegas. The awards were offered under
the HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance program to support
transitional housing, permanent housing and supportive services to the
homeless.
For more information about the grants and homelessness in New Mexico,
visit:
HUD – http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm
New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness – http://nmceh.org/index.html.
Municipal office candidates
ARTESIA - The Municipal Election will be held on March 4, 2008. The only
filing day for candidates wasJanuary 8, 2008, between the hours of 8 a.m.
and 5 p.m. Candidates filed a declaration of candidacy form and a certified
affidavit of the candidate's voter registration with the City Clerk. Candidates
will be certified by the City Clerk's office Wednesday and draw for ballot
position Thursday at City Hall at 5:01 p.m.
For the office of municipal judge, Kaye Kiper, incumbent, and Ricky Kelley
have filed.
In City Council District 1, incumbent Judy Stewart and former city councilor
Manuel Barragan have filed.
Councilor Luis Florez has filed and will be unopposed for District 2.
Two candidates for District 3, John Bernard Smith III and Jeffrey Youtsey
have filed. Glenn Kaiser, currently serving as councilor for District 3, is not
running for another term.
George Holmes filed early this morning and is unopposed in District 4.
Artesia360 photo
City Councilor George Holmes dots the I's and crosses the T's on his filing application.
Holmes is running for re-election to the Artesia City Council in District 4, and unless a
write-in candidate files, will be running unopposed. Assistant City Clerk Lisa C.
Johnston accepted paperwork from municipal hopefuls until 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Municipal Elections do allow for declared write-in candidates. The only filing
date to be a write-in candidate is January 22, 2008, between the hours of 8
a.m. and 5 p.m. Write-in candidates must also file a declaration of intent to
be a write-in candidate and a certified affidavit of their voter registration.
************************************************************************************************
Rig it up
Rare Wichita cable tool rig added to Permian Basin Petroleum Museum
collection
BY BILL MODISETT, Odessa American Online
MIDLAND - A rare Wichita cable tool rig dating to the early 1900s was
trucked to the Petroleum Museum Friday from Artesia, N.M., to become part
of the museum’s antique rig collection.
“We’re excited because it’s one of the first antique pieces added since the
1970s,” Kathy Shannon, executive director of The Petroleum Museum said.
“This was about a two-year project.”
Donated to the museum by Ruth Ann Calvert and Georgie Johnson, both of
Artesia, the rig was owned by Calvert’s father, William E. “Bill” Jeffers, an
early-day New Mexico driller, landman and oil operator.
Johnson worked with Jeffers in his oilfield activities, Petroleum Museum
archivist Amy Hooker said.
The Wichita rig was produced by the Wichita Falls Co. and is the rarest
type of cable tool rig that can be found today, Hooker said. She said this
particular rig was first used in Burkburnett by Jeffers, then used in Artesia.
She said this type of cable tool rig was used in the Permian Basin into the
1960s.
Wilbanks Trucking Co. of Artesia donated the trucks to take the display
pieces to Midland. Workers left Artesia at 8 a.m. Friday morning bound for
Midland. At 2 p.m., they were at the Petroleum Museum preparing to unload.
In addition to the wood and metal cable tool rig, the trucks also transported
a dog house, engine, electric plant, casing mast, drilling mast, a tractor
used to haul the rig to the drilling site and an International gin pole truck,
Hooker said.
While no ceremony took place Friday, Shannon said a plaque dedication
will be scheduled at a later date.
The Petroleum Museum’s antique rig collection also includes a National No.
3 rig, Star rig, Fort Worth rig, Wictex rig and Keystone rig, Hooker said.
MARKING HISTORY
The plaque on the latest addition to the Petroleum Museum’s rig collection
will bear the following inscription:
“Dedicted to the memory of William ‘Bill’ E. Jeffers, November 10, 1917-July
19, 2004.
“In the oil business his entire life, Bill spent his childhood in Burkburnett,
Texas. At the age of nine, he began working with his family in the
Panhandle oil fields during the boom. In World War II, he served his country
as founder and instructor of the Petroleum Distribution School at Geiger
Field, near Spokane, Washington, teaching Army personnel how to supply
petroleum products to U.S. airfields. After an honorable discharge, he
relocated to Artesia, New Mexico, where he worked as a driller, landman
and oil operator for the remainder of his life. Exhibit donated to The
Petroleum Museum by the family of William E. Jeffers.”
************************************************************************************************
Check scammers on AG's hotlist
ALBUQUERQUE - Attorney General Gary King’s office has established an
online data base of reported counterfeit checks used in scam attempts.
Alert consumers and businesses have contacted the AGO and provided
copies of the bogus checks and we have made them available for
inspection at: http://www.nmag.gov/checkscams/default.aspx. The data
base is updated whenever we receive new reports of counterfeit check
scams from the public or financial institutions.
New Mexicans are encouraged to look at the counterfeit check data base if
they receive a check in any amount from an unknown source. A copy of the
check could be in the data base.
If any counterfeit check is cashed, the consumer may be responsible to
their financial institution for any fees and monies lost.
Counterfeit checks can be included in various fraud attempts, including
sweepstakes and lottery winnings scams. For more information on this and
other scams visit our website at: http://www.nmag.gov/.
Precinct workers needed for election
ARTESIA - Precinct workers are needed for the
March 4th Municipal Election. The polls will be
open from 7:00 am to 7:00 p.m.
To be eligible to work as a precinct worker, you
must be a registered voter, living in the City of
Artesia, and you cannot be related to any of the
candidates running for office.
Anyone interested in applying as a precinct
worker should contact Lisa C. Johnston,
Assistant City Clerk, at City Hall, 748-8290 by
Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
Hay conference slated
NMSU news release by Darrell J. Pehr
RUIDOSO – The New Mexico Hay Association
has added corn and forage issues to its usual
lineup of hay topics at the Southwest Hay and
Forage Conference, slated for Jan. 17-18 at the
Ruidoso Convention Center.
The NMHA board of directors acknowledges the
increase in corn silage production and dairy
involvement in New Mexico.
“Typically, we have only addressed forages that
can be wrapped in twine, but realize there is not
an organized forage consortium in our state,”
said Doug Whitney, NMHA president. “We hope
to assist farmers with education on corn
production and related topics as well as hay
production, since in many parts of the state,
farmers focus on both in their cropping
rotations.”
Topics in next year’s agenda include the latest
in biotechnology of corn and alfalfa, maximizing
production, fertilization, organic alfalfa, irrigation
needs, alternative crops and nutrient and nitrate
management. In addition, the forage section will
feature water and fertilizer efficiency, maximizing
silage production, manure utilization and a
project in which biomass is converted to energy
and fertilizer is produced as a byproduct.
“This is a great opportunity for New Mexico hay
growers and others involved in forage
production systems to come together and learn
about the latest advances in several areas of
interest,” said Mark Marsalis, Extension
agronomist at New Mexico State University’s
Agricultural Science Center at Clovis.
“This year, NMSU Extension Dairy Specialist
Robert Hagevoort will give an update on the
latest feeding trends among New Mexico dairies,
and will bring a dairy perspective to the hay
conference that has been missing for several
years. This is a very important perspective for
hay growers to learn about as many of them
market their hay to dairies in the region.”
NMSU’s participation is an example of the
university’s continuing outreach efforts to help
educate and improve the lives of people around
New Mexico and the region.
The two-day conference will feature a large
machinery trade show, featuring the latest in
farm equipment, as well as booths with various
alfalfa/forage related products, two sponsored
meals, women’s interest sessions involving
crafts and entrepreneurships, a social hour and
entertainment by cowboy poet and storyteller
Justin Flowers.
“The conference is always a great opportunity
for farmers to improve their vocation, as well as
visit with their cross-state counterparts, and we
welcome out-of-state producers and end users
from all over the Southwest,” said Justin
Boswell, newly appointed NMHA executive
director. “The addition of other forage topics
hopefully will fill a void in the educational
pipeline for Southwest farmers.”
NM Pesticide Applicator and Certified Crop
Advisor continuing education units (CEUs) have
been applied for.
For more information on the Southwest Hay and
Forage Conference, visit www.nmhay.com, or
contact Gina Sterrett at nmhay@yahoo.com or
by phone at (575) 626-5677, or Justin Boswell
at (575) 840-9908 or juboswel@yahoo.com.
Booth space is still available.
Marsalis also may be contacted at (575) 985-
2292 or marsalis@nmsu.edu.
Four lanes to close at border crossing
EL PASO — Drivers who normally use the
crossing should plan to add additional time to
their trips if they elect to continue using the
downtown crossing because inspectional
capacity will be reduced. Border crossers may
also wish to consider using alternative crossing
points including the Santa Teresa port of entry,
advises a press release from U.S. Customs and
Border Protection.
“When five lanes at PDN were closed between
June and November last year, some travelers
appeared reluctant to use alternate area
crossings even though wait times were
considerably shorter at those locations,” said
acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection El
Paso Port Director Arthur Gonzales. “We
encourage the public to visit the CBP Web site
and check border crossing times to help them
decide which route would best meet their needs.
This information is updated hourly.” ( Wait
Times - Airport and Border )
CBP officers will initiate a variety of traffic
management strategies at the remaining five
vehicular lanes in an effort to maintain the flow
of traffic while still performing their anti-terror
mission. The goal is to maintain CBP’s balance
between enforcement and facilitation.
“Members of the traveling public can also help
keep wait times to a minimum by being prepared
for the inspection process. All vehicle occupants
should have documents in hand when they
arrive at the inspection booth,” said Gonzales.
“Being ready to declare all items acquired in
Mexico and ending cell phone conversations
before arriving at the inspection booth will also
help keep traffic moving.”
Frequent border crossers are also encouraged
to enroll in the SENTRI/Dedicated Commuter
Lane program in El Paso as an alternative.
Enrollees who pass a background check are
entitled to use DCL lanes at the Stanton and
Ysleta crossing where wait times are generally
five minutes or less. As an added benefit, the
CBP issued SENTRI card will also meet the
requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative passport rule at any border crossing.
Service hours at El Paso’s two SENTRI locations
were recently expanded as an added incentive.
( SENTRI )
When complete, the $26.6 million project will
add nine new pedestrian inspection lanes and
two additional vehicular inspection lanes to the
existing facility. The project will also remodel
and substantially increase the size of existing
structures at the port, add new office space,
and replace existing kennel facilities. The 900-
day construction project is slated to be
completed in June 2009.
The most visible past of the project for the
traveling public will the addition of numerous
inspection lanes. When the project is
completed, PDN will have 14 pedestrian
inspection lanes (up from 5) and 11 vehicular
inspection lanes (up from 9). Approximately
16,700 northbound pedestrians and 9,200
northbound cars are now processed at the
facility on a daily basis.
The space to add the new inspection lanes will
be created by relocating the existing CBP “head
house” administration building to the far
northern end of the secondary inspection
capacity. The existing head house currently
occupies space between lanes four and five at
the port, which will be converted to inspection
lanes.
In addition to the new lanes, the project will
upgrade and almost double in size the existing
30,309 square foot administration building by
providing 25,955 square feet of additions to the
building. Plans also call for a new 14,311
square foot dog kennel to house 60-canines at
the northeast end of the facility. The existing
dog kennel building will be renovated to create
office space for Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agents. Other changes include the
construction of a bus lane next to the
administration building, a new TABC kiosk and
booth, and enhanced parking and access. The
$26.6 million design-build contract was awarded
to TGS/SamCorp Joint Venture in September
2006. Congress funded the project in January
2007.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the
unified border agency within the Department of
Homeland Security charged with the
management, control and protection of our
nation's borders at and between the official
ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping
terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the
country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
ARTESIA - Precinct workers are needed for the
March 4th Municipal Election. The polls will be
open from 7:00 am to 7:00 p.m.
To be eligible to work as a precinct worker, you
must be a registered voter, living in the City of
Artesia, and you cannot be related to any of the
candidates running for office.
Anyone interested in applying as a precinct
worker should contact Lisa C. Johnston,
Assistant City Clerk, at City Hall, 748-8290 by
Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
Hay conference slated
NMSU news release by Darrell J. Pehr
RUIDOSO – The New Mexico Hay Association
has added corn and forage issues to its usual
lineup of hay topics at the Southwest Hay and
Forage Conference, slated for Jan. 17-18 at the
Ruidoso Convention Center.
The NMHA board of directors acknowledges the
increase in corn silage production and dairy
involvement in New Mexico.
“Typically, we have only addressed forages that
can be wrapped in twine, but realize there is not
an organized forage consortium in our state,”
said Doug Whitney, NMHA president. “We hope
to assist farmers with education on corn
production and related topics as well as hay
production, since in many parts of the state,
farmers focus on both in their cropping
rotations.”
Topics in next year’s agenda include the latest
in biotechnology of corn and alfalfa, maximizing
production, fertilization, organic alfalfa, irrigation
needs, alternative crops and nutrient and nitrate
management. In addition, the forage section will
feature water and fertilizer efficiency, maximizing
silage production, manure utilization and a
project in which biomass is converted to energy
and fertilizer is produced as a byproduct.
“This is a great opportunity for New Mexico hay
growers and others involved in forage
production systems to come together and learn
about the latest advances in several areas of
interest,” said Mark Marsalis, Extension
agronomist at New Mexico State University’s
Agricultural Science Center at Clovis.
“This year, NMSU Extension Dairy Specialist
Robert Hagevoort will give an update on the
latest feeding trends among New Mexico dairies,
and will bring a dairy perspective to the hay
conference that has been missing for several
years. This is a very important perspective for
hay growers to learn about as many of them
market their hay to dairies in the region.”
NMSU’s participation is an example of the
university’s continuing outreach efforts to help
educate and improve the lives of people around
New Mexico and the region.
The two-day conference will feature a large
machinery trade show, featuring the latest in
farm equipment, as well as booths with various
alfalfa/forage related products, two sponsored
meals, women’s interest sessions involving
crafts and entrepreneurships, a social hour and
entertainment by cowboy poet and storyteller
Justin Flowers.
“The conference is always a great opportunity
for farmers to improve their vocation, as well as
visit with their cross-state counterparts, and we
welcome out-of-state producers and end users
from all over the Southwest,” said Justin
Boswell, newly appointed NMHA executive
director. “The addition of other forage topics
hopefully will fill a void in the educational
pipeline for Southwest farmers.”
NM Pesticide Applicator and Certified Crop
Advisor continuing education units (CEUs) have
been applied for.
For more information on the Southwest Hay and
Forage Conference, visit www.nmhay.com, or
contact Gina Sterrett at nmhay@yahoo.com or
by phone at (575) 626-5677, or Justin Boswell
at (575) 840-9908 or juboswel@yahoo.com.
Booth space is still available.
Marsalis also may be contacted at (575) 985-
2292 or marsalis@nmsu.edu.
Four lanes to close at border crossing
EL PASO — Drivers who normally use the
crossing should plan to add additional time to
their trips if they elect to continue using the
downtown crossing because inspectional
capacity will be reduced. Border crossers may
also wish to consider using alternative crossing
points including the Santa Teresa port of entry,
advises a press release from U.S. Customs and
Border Protection.
“When five lanes at PDN were closed between
June and November last year, some travelers
appeared reluctant to use alternate area
crossings even though wait times were
considerably shorter at those locations,” said
acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection El
Paso Port Director Arthur Gonzales. “We
encourage the public to visit the CBP Web site
and check border crossing times to help them
decide which route would best meet their needs.
This information is updated hourly.” ( Wait
Times - Airport and Border )
CBP officers will initiate a variety of traffic
management strategies at the remaining five
vehicular lanes in an effort to maintain the flow
of traffic while still performing their anti-terror
mission. The goal is to maintain CBP’s balance
between enforcement and facilitation.
“Members of the traveling public can also help
keep wait times to a minimum by being prepared
for the inspection process. All vehicle occupants
should have documents in hand when they
arrive at the inspection booth,” said Gonzales.
“Being ready to declare all items acquired in
Mexico and ending cell phone conversations
before arriving at the inspection booth will also
help keep traffic moving.”
Frequent border crossers are also encouraged
to enroll in the SENTRI/Dedicated Commuter
Lane program in El Paso as an alternative.
Enrollees who pass a background check are
entitled to use DCL lanes at the Stanton and
Ysleta crossing where wait times are generally
five minutes or less. As an added benefit, the
CBP issued SENTRI card will also meet the
requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative passport rule at any border crossing.
Service hours at El Paso’s two SENTRI locations
were recently expanded as an added incentive.
( SENTRI )
When complete, the $26.6 million project will
add nine new pedestrian inspection lanes and
two additional vehicular inspection lanes to the
existing facility. The project will also remodel
and substantially increase the size of existing
structures at the port, add new office space,
and replace existing kennel facilities. The 900-
day construction project is slated to be
completed in June 2009.
The most visible past of the project for the
traveling public will the addition of numerous
inspection lanes. When the project is
completed, PDN will have 14 pedestrian
inspection lanes (up from 5) and 11 vehicular
inspection lanes (up from 9). Approximately
16,700 northbound pedestrians and 9,200
northbound cars are now processed at the
facility on a daily basis.
The space to add the new inspection lanes will
be created by relocating the existing CBP “head
house” administration building to the far
northern end of the secondary inspection
capacity. The existing head house currently
occupies space between lanes four and five at
the port, which will be converted to inspection
lanes.
In addition to the new lanes, the project will
upgrade and almost double in size the existing
30,309 square foot administration building by
providing 25,955 square feet of additions to the
building. Plans also call for a new 14,311
square foot dog kennel to house 60-canines at
the northeast end of the facility. The existing
dog kennel building will be renovated to create
office space for Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agents. Other changes include the
construction of a bus lane next to the
administration building, a new TABC kiosk and
booth, and enhanced parking and access. The
$26.6 million design-build contract was awarded
to TGS/SamCorp Joint Venture in September
2006. Congress funded the project in January
2007.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the
unified border agency within the Department of
Homeland Security charged with the
management, control and protection of our
nation's borders at and between the official
ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping
terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the
country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
