A proposed bill would give the U.S. Border Patrol the authority to ignore 36 environmental laws on federal land. If the legislation is approved, the Border Patrol would not have to comply with the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and other environmental laws. The proposal covers a 100-mile zone along the Canadian and Mexican borders including Olympic National Park and Glacier Park.

The proposed legislation would allow the Border Patrol to build fences, roads and offices, set up surveillance equipment and use vehicles to patrol parks and federal land in the zone along the borders. Backers of the bill say the Border Patrol is encumbered with layers of environmental legislation. Environmental groups are alarmed by the proposal. The director of public lands for the Pew Environment Group tells The Olympian the bill is a sweeping waiver of environmental laws that would allow a single agency to destroy wildlife habitat and wetlands and hurt water quality.

The sponsor of the bill, Representative Rob Bishop, R-Utah says the Border Patrol does not have enough access to millions of acres of federal land which he says makes it easier for illegals to enter the United States. The Border Patrol currently has access to federal land but must follow procedures set up by other agencies including the U.S. Department of Interior and the USDA.

The bill based the House Natural Resources Committee and a full vote by the House is expected soon. The Obama administration opposes the legislation and calls it unnecessary.