Ottawa NWR NEPA
Service Invites Public Comments on
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Construction
of a Visitor Education Center at
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, OhioThe Service is seeking public comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for construction of a Visitor Education Center at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Ottawa County, Ohio. The draft EA considers three alternatives in its analysis to meet the visitor outreach and environmental education needs of a projected 250,000 annual visitors.
The proposed alternative is to construct a new Visitor Education Center (VEC) on a site with a new access road realigned with Lickert-Harder Road. A second action alternative would construct a similar facility on a different site with a shorter access road but with more acres of wetland impacted. A "No Action" Alternative is also considered, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that would not construct a new VEC nor would associated trails and demonstration facilities be constructed.
The EA is available below along with proposed project maps. A printed copy of the draft EA can also be obtained by contacting the Refuge headquarters at (419) 898-0014. Written comments on EA are welcome and will be accepted until July 14, 2004. The public may mail comments to Dan Frisk, Refuge Manager at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, 14000 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, OH 43449. Comments may also be submitted by electronic mail to: dan_frisk@fws.gov .
Draft Environmental Assessment
Figure 1. Location of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Figure 2. Visitor Education Center Planning Area
Figure 3. Alternatives A and C site locations
