Witnesses testified about U.S. border security and how border patrol operations on federal lands might be impacted by environmental laws. Utah Republican Rob Bishop introduced legislation that would waive some environmental rules for Border Patrol agents when operating on public lands. At issue was the impact of border patrol vehicles, observation towers, roads and fences on national park, U.S. Forest Service, or wilderness lands. They also examined cooperation between federal agencies in implementing environmental laws in border areas, particularly in some of the less secure areas along the U.S. Southern border.