A new $15 million U.S. Customs and Border Patrol outpost in southern New Mexico is a year behind schedule because federal planners failed to make sure the local power co-op could provide enough electricity.
Customs agents assigned to the border crossing in Antelope Wells are instead operating out of trailers.
KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reports the project kept growing and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn't foresee the power needs until final construction plans were in place. Then the federal bureaucracy kicked in, keeping the Corps from getting needed approvals for an agreement with Columbus Electric Co-Op to run a new power line.
The line is now being built after a year delay and the outpost is expected to open early next year.
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Information from: KRQE-TV, http://www.krqe.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.