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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing a 30-day public review and comment period on a draft environmental assessment for a new headquarters and visitor center facility at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in New York. The public review and comment period is open from September 2, 2025, through October 1, 2025.
An environmental assessment (EA) is a review that looks at how a proposed project might affect the land, water, wildlife, and people. It helps decision-makers and the public understand possible impacts and ways to reduce them before moving forward. Service policy requires that EAs be provided to the public for review and comment.
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge has drafted an EA that evaluates the action - and no-action alternatives for the construction of a multi-use facility that would replace the current administrative headquarters, visitor center and fur house buildings. The proposed action would be achieved by constructing a new facility and demolishing the old structures. The new facility would include co-location of the Ecological Services’ New York Field Office, which currently resides in leased space in Cortland, NY. The proposed action is important as the refuge staff reside in aging facilities where an updated facility is needed. Additionally, the benefits of co-location include better service and convenience for the public, improved outreach and partnership capabilities, more efficient delivery of habitat conservation, improved communication among staff, shared resources, and savings through reduced space costs.
The draft EA is available for public review here:
draft-env-assessment-new-multi-purpose-facility-mnwr-2025.pdf
Copies may also be obtained by visiting the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Office at 3395 U.S. 20, Seneca Falls, NY, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
How to provide comments
Comments can be made by mail, e-mail, or over the phone from September 2, 2025, through October 1, 2025.
Mail:
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, HQ/VC
3395 U.S. 20
Seneca Falls, NY 13148
E-mail: mnt_refuge_admin@fws.gov Phone: 315-568-5987
Comments received will be reviewed and addressed in the Final EA, which is expected later in 2025. Refuge staff will be available to provide information and answer questions Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. throughout the 30-day comment period from September 2, 2025, through October 1, 2025.