From: Subject: FR Doc E7-15363 Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:52:46 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-15363.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-15363 
[Federal Register: August 7, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 151)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 44172-44173]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07au07-80]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-062-07-1220-EB]

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Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on Public Land in Grand County,=20
Utah, Moab Field Office Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement=20
Act (REA)

AGENCY:  Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY:  Pursuant to applicable provisions of the Federal Lands=20
Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), 16 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., the Moab=20
Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to=20
begin collecting fees in 2008 for five camping areas: Lower Onion Creek=20
(T. 24 S., R. 23 E., Sec. 10, within, SLM), Rock Castle (T. 25 S., R.=20
24 E., Sec. 29, within, SLM), Ledge (T. 27 S., R. 21 E., Sections 3 and=20
10, within, SLM), Cowboy Camp (T. 26 S., R. 19 E., Sec. 11, within,=20
SLM), and Lone Mesa (T. 25 S., R. 19 E., Sec. 10, within, SLM). These=20
proposed sites are located in Grand County, Utah.

DATES: Effective Date: The public is encouraged to participate during=20
the public comment period that will expire 30 days after publication of=20
this notice. Effective six months after the publication of this notice,=20
the BLM, Moab Field Office will initiate fee collection at the Lower=20
Onion Creek, Rock Castle, Ledge, Cowboy Camp, and Lone Mesa camping=20
areas, as construction work is completed, unless the BLM publishes a=20
Federal Register notice to the contrary. The Utah Resource Advisory=20
Council (RAC), functioning as a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee=20
(RRAC) has reviewed the proposal to charge fees at the sites mentioned=20
above. The RAC unanimously approved the proposal at its May 2, 2007=20
meeting. Future adjustments in the fee amount will be made in=20
accordance with the Moab Field Office's recreation fee business plan=20
covering the sites. Fee increases will be made after consultation with=20
the RAC and other appropriate advance public notice.

ADDRESSES:  Mail: Field Manager, Moab Field Office, Bureau of Land=20
Management, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532 or momail@ut.blm.gov.

For Further Information, or to Provide Comment, Contact:  Russell von=20
Koch, Recreation Branch Chief, Moab Field Office, Bureau of Land=20
Management, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532 (435) 259-2100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Under Section 3(g) of the REA, the Lower=20
Onion Creek, Rock Castle, Ledge, Cowboy Camp, and Lone Mesa camping=20
areas the ``camping areas'' will qualify, upon completion, as sites=20
wherein visitors can be charged an ``Expanded Amenity Recreation Fee.''=20
Visitors wishing to use the expanded amenities the BLM is developing at=20
the five camping areas would purchase a recreation use permit as=20
described at 43 CFR part 2930. Pursuant to REA and implementing=20
regulations at 43 CFR subpart 2933, fees may be charged for overnight=20
camping and group use reservations. Specific visitor fees will be=20
identified and posted at the site. Fees must be paid at the self-
service pay station located at the site. People holding the America The=20
Beautiful--The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands--Senior=20
Pass (i.e., Interagency Senior Pass), a Golden Age Passport, the=20
America the Beautiful--The National Parks and Federal Recreational=20
Lands--Access Pass (i.e. Interagency Access Pass), or a Golden Access=20
Passport will be entitled to a 50 percent fee reduction on all fees=20
except those associated with group reservations. Fees charged for use=20
of the group sites would include a non-refundable site reservation fee=20
and a per person use fee.
    The Lower Onion Creek and Rock Castle camping areas are within and=20
adjacent to the Colorado Riverway Recreation Area which includes ten=20
existing similar fee sites. The Lower Onion Creek site would include=20
both group site facilities and individual campsites. The Rock Castle=20
site has individual camp sites only. The Ledge area, which would have=20
individual sites, is located in Kane Creek Canyon just upstream from=20
the Colorado Riverway Recreation area near the junction of the Kane=20
Creek and Hurrah Pass roads. The Lone Mesa site, located along the Dead=20
Horse Mesa Scenic Byway, would include both group sites and individual=20
campsites. The Cowboy Camp Camping Area is also located along the Dead=20
Horse Mesa Scenic Byway and would have individual sites only.
    The BLM is committed to provide, and receive fair value for the use=20
of developed recreation facilities and

[[Page 44173]]

services in a manner that meets public use demands, provides quality=20
experiences and protects important resources. The BLM's policy is to=20
collect fees at all specialized recreation sites, or where the BLM=20
provides facilities, equipment or services, at Federal expense, in=20
connection with outdoor use as authorized by the REA. In an effort to=20
meet increasing demands for services and maintenance of developed=20
facilities, the BLM would implement a fee program for the camping=20
areas. Implementing a fee program for the camping areas will help=20
ensure that funding is available to maintain facilities and=20
recreational opportunities, to provide for law enforcement presence, to=20
develop additional services, and to protect resources. This entails=20
communication with those who will be most directly affected by the=20
camping areas, for example recreationists, other recreation providers,=20
partners, neighbors, and those who will have a stake in solving=20
concerns that may arise throughout the life of the camping areas,=20
including elected officials, and other agencies.
    Development of the camping areas is consistent with the 1985 Grand=20
Resource Management Plan and was analyzed in the following=20
environmental documents: Kokopelli's Trail Improvements, UT-068-90-55,=20
DR/FONSI signed 2/15/1990; Colorado Riverway Recreation Area Management=20
Plan, UT-062-151, DR/FONSI signed 7/9/2001; Big Mesa and Cowboy Camp=20
Camping Areas, UT-060-2006-115, DR/FONSI signed 7/10/2006, and Kane=20
Creek Camping Areas, UT-060-2007-026, DR/FONSI forthcoming in June=20
2007. Fees would be consistent with other established fee sites in the=20
area including other BLM administered sites in the area and those=20
managed by the USDA Forest Service, USDI National Park Service, and=20
Utah State Parks and Recreation. Future adjustments in the fee amount=20
will be made following the Moab Field Office's recreation fee business=20
plan covering the sites, consultation with the RAC and other public=20
notice prior to a fee increase.
    In December 2004, the REA was signed into law. The REA provides=20
authority for 10 years for the Secretaries of the Interior and=20
Agriculture to establish, modify, charge, and collect recreation fees=20
for use of some Federal recreation lands and waters, and contains=20
specific provisions addressing public involvement in the establishment=20
of recreation fees, including a requirement that Recreation Resource=20
Advisory Committees or Councils have the opportunity to make=20
recommendations regarding establishment of such fees. REA also directed=20
the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to publish advance=20
notice in the Federal Register whenever new recreation fee areas are=20
established under their respective jurisdictions. In accordance with=20
the BLM recreation fee program policy, the Moab Field Office's=20
recreation fee business plan both explains the fee collection process=20
and how the fees will be used at the camping areas. BLM will notify and=20
involve the public at each stage of the planning process, including the=20
proposal to collect fees. The RAC has reviewed the fee proposal as=20
well. Fee amounts will be posted on-site, and at the Moab Field Office,=20
and copies of the business plan will be available at the Moab Field=20
Office and the BLM Utah State Office.
    The BLM welcomes public comments on this proposal. Before including=20
your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal=20
identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire=20
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made=20
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to=20
withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we=20
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6803(b).

Maggie Wyatt,
Field Manager, Moab Field Office.
[FR Doc. E7-15363 Filed 8-6-07; 8:45 am]