Lake Andes, South Dakota – Since 1939, Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) has protected vital habitat along the Central Flyway while offering opportunities for the public to enjoy these unique resources. The Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex manages Lake Andes NWR, Karl E. Mundt NWR, and Lake Andes Wetland Management District. Refuge staff are responsible for over 150,000 acres of vital habitat protected through a combination of fee title ownership and conservation easements, spread across 6 counties. The refuge headquarters, located at Lake Andes NWR, was damaged beyond repair during the flooding which began in the spring of 2019 and persisted through 2020. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to build a new headquarters and visitor center which will serve as a new base of operations and provide space to offer environmental education programs on other community outreach events. The Service announces today a 45-day public comment period for the draft Environmental Assessment (EA). The draft EA is available for review on the Lake Andes NWR website (https:// www.fws.gov/refuge/lake_andes/). Members of the public are invited to submit comments from June 24, 2021 through August 8, 2021. Public comments concerning the draft EA can be submitted via email to: robin_donohue@fws.gov or by postal mail to:

Lake Andes NWR

PO Box 18

Pickstown, SD 57367

Following the public comment period, the Service will analyze comments received, and incorporate them into the final EA.