SENEY — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public review and comments regarding a draft compatibility determination for commercial guiding/transporting for wildlife and nature observation and photography at Seney National Wildlife Refuge and the Whitefish Point Unit.

Wildlife/nature observation and photography are priority public uses of National Wildlife Refuge System lands, but commercially guided trips and transportation are not. Commercially guided tours and transportation operations to support wildlife observation and photography are new uses on the refuge that have not been previously analyzed.

The USFWS is proposing this use because commercially guided tours might appeal to a sector of visitors who are less inclined to explore on their own or desire the added education included with guided services. Allowing this use may help meet a refuge goal of providing visitors and the community with opportunities to experience quality wildlife-dependent activities and to understand and appreciate the rich mosaic of wildlife and habitats found within the eastern Upper Peninsula, it said.

The documents and attachments are available through May 15 at the refuge website at https://bit.ly/3eRV6kZ. Individuals also may contact Refuge Manager Sara Siekierski at 906-630-2015 or sara_siekierski@fws.gov to request documents in alternative formats.

Due to office closures, the best way to submit your comments is by email to sara_siekierski@fws.gov. If email is not possible, people may submit comments by mail to Seney NWR Comments at 1674 Refuge Entrance Road, Seney MI 49883.