U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service makes a Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed development of the South Dakota Shooting Sports Complex near Rapid City, South Dakota

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has determined that the proposed project entitled South Dakota Shooting Sports Complex near Rapid City, South Dakota, will not have a significant impact on the human environment and will not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended.

The Service previously released a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) entitled Rapid City Shooting Range Complex, Meade County, South Dakota, to satisfy NEPA requirements and allow public comment on the proposal. The DEA detailed the project and analyzed potential impacts and effects on affected resources.  It was released for a 30-day public commenting period which ended on March 24, 2022. Twenty-one individuals or conservation organizations provided one or more comments which were received and considered by the Service and addressed in the Final Environmental Assessment.

The project will be funded in part with a grant acquired through the Pittman-Roberson Wildlife Restoration Act, administered by the Service. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) is proposing to develop a shooting range complex on state-owned property that will accommodate the varied interest of both hunters and recreational shooters. The proposed project will be utilized for educational classes, hunter safety training, shooting sports activities, and other associated shooting range events, and will provide a safe and managed facility for the public to participate in shooting sports activities in an area  where such opportunities are limited. 

A copy of the “Finding of No Significant Impact” and the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) are available online at https://fws.gov/library/collections/mountain-prairie-wildlife-and-sport-fish-restoration-program-wsfr. Those without internet access may request copies by calling the Services’ Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program at 303-236-8165 or by sending an email to fw6_FAGrants@fws.gov.