Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southwest Regional Office Complex Draft Environmental Assessment

The Region 6 Office of Conservation Investment (CI) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the proposed construction of a new Southwest Regional Office for Colorado Park’s and Wildlife (CPW) in Durango, Colorado. Proposed funding for the project administered by the CI Program would constitute a Federal action subject to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is proposing to construct a new office building on the existing parcel of approximately 9 acres at CPW’s current Southwest Region Durango Office and co-located fish hatchery at 151 East 16th Street in Durango, La Plata County, Colorado. The state of Colorado owns the parcel, and CPW operates and maintains the property.

The Draft EA prepared by the Service and CPW analyzes the environmental effects of the construction of this 9,950-square-foot Southwest Regional Office Complex, with associated parking and drainage facilities, associated utility services (as well as relocating existing utilities), and improvements to the 16th Street access drive.  In the Draft EA, the Service concluded that the proposed disposal would not have impacts to wetlands, floodplains, or farmland, would not have any effect on threatened, endangered or candidate species, and would not have any effect on the vegetation in the area or on local fish and wildlife or their habitats. The Draft EA analyzes the effects to the historic district and the USFWS has recommended “adverse effect to historic properties” pursuant to 36 CFR 800.5 of the NHPA for the proposed undertaking. 

Public comments will be accepted for a 30-day period which ends July 5, 2025 and can be sent by email to: fw6_fagrants@fws.gov or by mail to: Office of Conservation Investment, Attn: Amanda Horvath P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225