[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1839]


[Federal Register: January 28, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Engineering Circular Issued by the Corps of Engineers

AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to provide a copy of the 
Engineering Circular (EC) 1130-2-204 to all known interested parties. 
The EC provides Corps of Engineers agency policy and guidance regarding 
implementation of new recreation user fee authority conferred in the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Pub. L. 103-66). The 
legislation authorized the Corps to charge a fee of not more than $3.00 
per vehicle per day for the use of certain developed day use recreation 
facilities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Darrell Lewis, Natural Resources Management Branch, Office of the 
Chief of Engineers at (202) 272-0247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The five appendices to the EC are not 
included. Copies are available on request from HQUSACE, CECW-ON, 20 
Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20314-1000, or by calling the 
above telephone number.

    Dated: January 21, 1994.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of 
Civil Works.
Expires December 31, 1996

Project Operation Recreation User Fees for Day Use Facilities

February 1, 1994.
    1. Purpose. This circular provides information and guidance for the 
administration of a recreation user fee program for day use facilities 
at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works water resource development 
projects. The guidance in this circular must be used in conjunction 
with the guidance in ER 1130-2-404.
    2. Applicability. This circular applies to major subordinate 
commands, districts, laboratories and field operating activities having 
Civil Works responsibilities.
    3. References.
    a. Public Law 103-66, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
    b. 5 CFR Part 1320, Code of Federal Regulations. Appendix B.
    5. Policy. No fees will be charged for entrance to any Corps 
operated area. Fees will be charged for the use of developed day use 
recreation facilities provided by the Corps, as prescribed below and 
shown in Appendix C.
    a. General. Day user fees will be charged for the use of Corps 
operated day use facilities which meet the requirements described 
below.
    (1) Fees will be charged for the use of certain boat launching 
ramps and designated, developed swimming beaches in Corps operated day 
use recreation areas. Fees will not be charged for drinking water, 
wayside exhibits, roads, scenic drives, overlook sites, picnic tables, 
toilet facilities, surface water areas, undeveloped or lightly 
developed shoreland, or general visitor information. Day user fees will 
not be charged for the use of visitor centers.
    (2) Day user fees will be charged only where there is reasonable 
expectation that revenues will significantly exceed costs of 
collection, to include implementation costs. Estimates of annual 
revenue from a fee facility must exceed annual estimated cost to 
collect, including the cost of implementation amortized over the design 
life of the improvements, by 10% or $3,000, whichever is greater. The 
estimate should be reviewed periodically by Division Commanders to 
determine the justification for modifying the project fee collection 
program.
    b. Boat Launch User Fee. A day user fee of $2.00 will be charged to 
launch a boat at a ramp in a Corps operated day use recreation area, 
provided that the net revenue test in paragraph 5.a.(2) is met.
    (1) The fee will be charged at recreation areas having a boat ramp 
and one or more of the following facilities: restrooms, security 
lighting, picnicking facilities, swimming facilities, or other 
developed recreation facilities. The boat launch fee will not be 
charged at boat ramps located in recreation areas which are exclusively 
campgrounds and reserved exclusively for the use of campers, or in 
recreation areas which provide only a boat ramp and courtesy dock.
    (2) Payment of this fee entitles the user to launch a boat at any 
Corps operated recreation area at any Corps project on that day, except 
at boat ramps located within a fee campground and reserved exclusively 
for the use of campers.
    c. Swimming Beach User Fee. A day user fee of $1.00 per person, up 
to $3.00 per vehicle, will be charged for the use of a designated, 
developed swimming beach in a Corps operated day use recreation area, 
provided that the net revenue test in paragraph 5.a.(2) is met.
    (1) The swimming beach fee will be charged at Corps operated, 
designated, developed swimming beaches, with the exception of swimming 
beaches located in recreation areas which are exclusively campgrounds 
and reserved exclusively for the use of campers. A designated, 
developed swimming beach is properly signed, buoyed and delineated in 
accordance with established design and safety requirements contained in 
EM 1110-1-400.
    (2) Payment of this fee entitles the user to use any developed 
beach at any Corps operated recreation area at any Corps project on 
that day, with the exception of swimming beaches located within fee 
campgrounds and reserved exclusively for the use of campers.
    d. Daily User Fee Exclusivity. The daily boat launch ramp and 
swimming beach user fees are mutually exclusive. Payment of a daily 
boat launch ramp user fee does not permit swimming at a designated 
beach, and vice versa.
    e. Annual Day User Fee Pass. An annual pass may be purchased for 
$25.00, which permits the holder and all accompanying passengers in the 
vehicle to use any or all boat launch ramps and/or designated, 
developed swimming beaches at any Corps operated recreation area at any 
Corps project for that calendar year, except at facilities located 
within a fee campground and reserved exclusively for the use of 
campers. A sample annual pass is shown in Appendix D.
    f. Paid Camping Permits. A paid camping permit will entitle the 
holder to use any or all day use facilities without paying additional 
day user fees at the same project, on any day for which the permit is 
valid. In certain instances, some form of vehicle pass may be required 
for campers who have more than one vehicle or where the camping unit is 
also the mode of transportation. A separate pass, locally printed for 
this situation, is acceptable. Resource managers should consider local 
situations when determining applicability.
    g. Lessees. Lessees may not charge a fee for Corps operated 
facilities. They may charge, however, for Corps constructed facilities 
located on their leasehold in accordance with real estate policy, 
prescribed in CERE-MC memorandum, dated 15 Oct 1993, Subject: Fees 
Charged at Leased Recreation Sites.
    h. Native American Indian Tribes. The District Engineer may waive 
user fees under this circular for Native American Indian Tribal 
members, consistent with rights reserved to the Tribes under the law.
    i. Children. No day user fee charge will be made for children under 
12 years of age.
    6. Procedures.
    a. The district commander will provide the established schedule of 
day user fees to the major subordinate command NLT 30 December each 
year, beginning in 1994. The major subordinate command commander will 
periodically review/audit the district's establishment of fee 
schedules.
    b. Information on approved user fee areas and charges will be 
submitted through the National Resource Management System (NRMS), as 
outlined in ER 1130-2-414.
    7. Cost of Collection. Since day user fees will be collected only 
at facilities where revenue significantly exceeds cost of collection, 
strict attention must be given to tracking costs associated with the 
collection of day user fees at designated facilities. An annual 
analysis of revenues versus cost of collection, including amortized 
implementation costs, must be available for review by Major Subordinate 
Commands and by HQUSACE by 30 December of each year.
    8. Effective Dates for Fee Collection. District commanders will 
assess seasonal visitation patterns of individual fee areas to 
determine the period during which a fee program will be in effect.
    9. Signs. All areas designated as recreation user fee areas will be 
marked with appropriate signs that provide necessary instructions to 
users of the area with regard to collection of fees. The official U.S. 
fee area symbol will be displayed at the entrance to designated user 
fee areas. The U.S. fee area symbol will be installed prior to 
collection of fees in the area. All signs and symbols will conform to 
the guidance provided in EP 610-1-6a and b and ER 1130-2-431.
    10. Fee Collection.
    a. Methods of Collection. Fees may be collected by one or more of 
the following methods:
    (1) Control stations. Fees may be collected by either contract or 
Corps personnel. Contractors will be properly identified to prevent 
unauthorized personnel from collecting fees.
    (a) A cash register may be used in the fee collection process to 
issue receipts to users. Visitors will be instructed to display the 
cash register receipt on the left side of the vehicle dashboard. 
Specifications for cash registers are included in Appendix E.
    (b) The Automated User Permit System (AUPS) may be used to collect 
day user fees.
    (2) Self-deposit vault system. Where and when appropriate, the 
self-deposit vault system may be used to reduce the cost of collection.
    (a) A registration point will be provided which has:

--A deposit vault similar to the one shown in ER 1130-2-404, Appendix 
C.
--A sign instructing the user on the self-deposit system, stating the 
fee for the area and indicating a 50 percent reduction of fees for 
bearers of Golden Age or Golden Access Passports. It should also 
provide instructions for displaying the permit stub.
--ENG Form 4839A, Self-Deposit Day User Permit. This is a sealable 
envelope with detachable stub that will be used to pay fees. The user 
will be instructed to retain the stub as a receipt for display on the 
left side of the vehicle dashboard. These forms are available at the 
USACE Publication Depot.

    (b) Revenues will be collected from the deposit vault on a regular 
basis by authorized Corps or contractor personnel. Personnel will check 
to insure area users have appropriate permits.
    (3) Other methods. Fees may be collected by authorized Corps and 
contractor employees at project offices, visitor centers or on visits 
through a fee area. These collections may be made using a cash 
register, AUPS or ENG Form 4457.
    b. Types of payment. In order of preference, types of acceptable 
payment are in (1) U.S. currency, (2) traveler's checks or (3) personal 
checks for the amount of purchase only.
    c. Contractor collection. Whenever contractor employees are 
utilized for fee collection, the requirements in ER 1130-2-404 and ER 
37-2-10 will apply.
    11. Remittance. All user fee funds will be remitted in accordance 
with ER 37-2-10.
    12. Enforcement. Persons failing to pay established fees will be 
subject to enforcement action in accordance with 36 CFR 327.23, 
Recreation Use Fees.
    13. Accounting. All income derived from fee collection will be 
deposited into Special Receipt Account 965007 and reported in 
accordance with ER 37-2-10 and ER 1130-2-414.
    14. Credit Vouchers and Refunds. No credit vouchers or refunds will 
be given for day user fees.
    15. Golden Age and Golden Access Passports. Golden Age and Golden 
Access Passport discounts will apply to day user fees. The Passport 
will entitle the holder and all accompanying passengers in a single, 
private, non-commercial vehicle to a 50 percent discount of the daily 
or annual day user fee. Passport discounts will not apply to commercial 
vehicles, transporting visitors for hire. Golden Eagle Passports do not 
apply to user fees. The schedule of day user fees and Golden Age and 
Access Passport discounts is contained in Appendix C.
    16. Specialized Facility Reservations and Special Events. The 
charging of a day user fee at a recreation area does not preclude the 
charging of a fee for the reservation of a specialized facility or for 
a special event within the area. Neither does the charging of a fee for 
the reservation of a specialized facility or special event preclude the 
collecting of the established day user fee for the recreation area. 
Resource managers should consider local situations when determining fee 
applicability.
    17. Public Information. In the interest of informing the public of 
the fee collection program, public information activities will be 
conducted to disseminate information regarding this program at least 
two months before the collection of fees begins at newly designated 
user fee areas. District commanders will notify congressional 
delegations, as appropriate, of the fee collection program in their 
congressional districts. Public information meetings, convened to 
discuss the new program for a project or group of projects, as well as 
the philosophy and rational for the new fee program, are strongly 
encouraged. Various additional coordination activities should also 
occur with any other interested parties.
    18. Controlling Paperwork Burden on the Public. The guidance in 5 
CFR Part 1320 establishes the framework for the paperwork control 
process. Generally, this CFR provides that an agency shall not engage 
in a collection of information (from the public) without obtaining 
Office of Management and Budget approval. There are no procedures 
contained in this regulation that should be interpreted to require the 
public provide information other than general data.

    For the Commander.
John R. Brown,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Executive Director of Civil Works.
5 Appendices
App A--Pertinent
    Legislative Language
App B--Summary of the
    Corps User Fee Program
App C--Day User Fee Schedule
App D--Annual Day Use Pass
App E--Cash Register Specifications
[FR Doc. 94-1839 Filed 1-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-M