Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Buffalo Bill Heritage Shooting Park Draft Environmental Assessment

The Region 6 Office of Conservation Investment (CI) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is requesting public comment on a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the proposed construction of a wild west themed outdoor education shooting park at the Buffalo Bill State Recreation Area (SRA), in North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska. The shooting park would offer shooting sports in a designated and safe location for education on marksmanship and general hunting classes. The proposed Buffalo Bill Heritage Shooting Park would occupy 20.8-acres in the southwestern portion of the existing 233-acres SRA owned and operated by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. 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.

The proposed Buffalo Bill Heritage Shooting Park would consist of an 25-meter outdoor small-bore rifle and pistol range with (12) 10-foot-wide lanes; a 60-yard outdoor archery range with (12) 10-foot-wide lanes and an elevated 5-lane tower; a 10-meter indoor air rifle range with (5) 4-foot-wide lanes; an indoor 20-foot by 60-foot multi-use classroom/activity/storage space; an outdoor 20-foot by 40-foot quick draw gallery; restroom facilities and; parking areas. The Draft EA prepared by the Service and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission analyzes the environmental effects of the proposed construction of the Heritage Shooting Park.

Public comments will be accepted for a 30-day period which ends October 5, 2025 and can be sent by email to: samantha_cooke@fws.gov or by mail to: Office of Conservation Investment, Attn: Samantha Cooke P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225. Thank you for your interest and feedback on this project proposal.