Interior Department asks for public comments on draft uses of the land
By Will Collette
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| Photo by Will Collette |
As I see the new draft released for comment, it appears that the US Fish and Wildlife Service is going through a process of justifying its existence. That includes making the case that the current uses of the land for visitors to walk the land and see the forest and sea creatures is worthy of federal support.
Huge staff and funding cuts are already under way, some blocked by the courts while others have been done by King Donald's fiat. Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" makes even more cuts to raise the money to pay for tax cuts for the rich.
Birds and bunnies, wild open spaces and coastal waters are not a priority for Trump or his toadies in Congress.
Maybe I'm reading this wrong, and this is a perfectly normal activity with no malign intent. Read for yourself, starting HERE where you will find links to the FWS's determinations for the uses of each Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.
If I am wrong - and I hope I am - this is an opportunity to show your support for Ninigret NWR and the others in the "complex" and to tell the Interior Department about your ideas for uses of the land.
Continue below to read the Interior Department's request for comments.
Rhode Island NWR Complex seeks public comment on draft compatibility determinations
The Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex is seeking
public review and comment on Draft Compatibility Determinations for
environmental education and interpretation, wildlife observation and
photography, and research activities on Block Island, John H. Chafee, Ninigret,
Sachuest Point, and Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuges (NWR).
The Complex proposes to allow these activities to occur
where they do not compromise the mission and operations of the national
wildlife refuge.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will accept
comments received or postmarked on or before June 18, 2025.
The Service prepares Compatibility Determinations to ensure
that public and economic uses of national wildlife refuges do not interfere
with or detract from the purposes for which each refuge was established.
Compatibility Determinations also describe how these uses would contribute
towards achieving refuge purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife
Refuge System.
Comments or requests for additional information may be made
by email to rhodeislandcomplex@fws.gov or
U.S. Mail to 50 Bend Road, Charlestown RI 02813, Attn: Refuge Manager.
All comments received from individuals become part of the
official public record. The Service’s practice is to make comments, including
names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during
regular business hours. Individual respondents can request that we withhold
their home address from the record, which we will honor to the ex- tent
allowable by law. If you wish to have your name and/or address withheld, you
must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments.
Copies of the Draft Compatibility Determinations can be
found at the refuge website https://www.fws.gov/media/rhode-island-national-wildlife-refuge-complex-draft-compatibility-determinations in
addition to the Visitor Center and Headquarters at 50 Bend Road, Charlestown,
RI 02813.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to
conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the
continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of
these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Flickr.
