A contract geologist prepares to examine a soil sample

A contract geologist prepares to examine a soil sample collected along the southern U.S. border near Lukeville, Ariz., Aug. 14, where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Task Force Barrier is overseeing the replacement of current barriers. Soil samples are taken at three, six and nine feet so engineers can learn about the underground compo-sition of the soils in the area and make predictions about the long-term effects the soil at the site might have on components of the proposed structure. USACE is providing contracting services for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, including design and construction oversight of Department of Defense-funded Southwest bor-der barrier projects in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. USACE is overseeing three 10 U.S.C. Section 284-funded contracts for border barrier work near El Centro, Calif., Yuma and Tucson, Ariz., and El Paso, Texas.