[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19482]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 10, 1994]


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Part III





Department of The Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service



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Commercial Use Fees on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Commercial Use Fees on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Implementation of Policy.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that special use permit fees for 
commercial uses on National Wildlife Refuges (refuges) in Alaska have 
been revised. The revised fee schedule became effective on January 1, 
1993. Fees equal to 50% of the fee schedule were charged during 1993, 
and full fees are being charged in 1994. The public was aware of this 
fee change through public meetings and other appropriate notice. 
However, as a policy matter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) desires to publish this Notice through the Federal Register.
    The revised fee schedule has been incorporated into the Service 
Policy Manual for Region 7 (Alaska). The fee revision was needed so 
that the Service could meet Federal mandates. These mandates require 
fee determinations to be based on fair market values, and that the 
Service attempt to recover costs of administering revenue producing 
commercial activities on refuge lands.

DATES: This revised fee schedule was effective on January 1, 1993.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daryle R. Lons, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska, 99503; telephone 
(907) 786-3354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service is implementing the following 
fee schedule for commercial guides, outfitters, and transporters that 
are issued special use permits to conduct commercial operations on 
refuges in Alaska. Fees for other non-recreational types of commercial 
activities that involve removing marketable resources or utilizing 
reserved sites will not be based on the following fee schedule. Fees 
for these types of commercial activities will be determined by the 
Service's Division of Realty and will be based on fair market analysis 
surveys. These surveys will be conducted periodically to assure that 
fees reflect current market values.
    The Service considered a number of methods for meeting the required 
mandates. Four alternatives were given serious consideration and were 
published in the May 31, 1991, Federal Register (56 FR 24827) to 
receive public comment. These alternatives were: (1) A single fixed fee 
of $350 for all commercial permittees, (2) a fee schedule based on type 
of commercial use activity and actual client numbers, (3) a fee 
schedule based on permittee calculations, made after the permit use 
period, of 3% of adjusted gross income derived from commercial 
activities that are authorized by special use permit on refuge lands, 
and (4) a fee schedule based on permittee estimates, made prior to the 
permit use period, of 3% of anticipated adjusted gross income derived 
from commercial activities that are authorized by special use permit on 
refuge lands.
    The Service had proposed to adopt alternative 4 because it appeared 
that it would be (1) equitable to all commercial use permittees, 
regardless of the scale of their operation; (2) charging a fair market 
value; (3) reasonably consistent with the fee schedule of other Federal 
agencies in Alaska; and (4) cost effective for the government to 
administer. Thirty-five comments were received from individuals, 
professional organizations, and state and Federal agencies in response 
to the published Federal Register notice. After review and 
consideration of the comments received, the Service decided not to 
implement this alternative. Public comments identified several 
potential inequities in the originally proposed alternative and 
strongly supported a flat fee or a client use-day system. A flat fee 
was reconsidered but was not selected because the Service believes it 
is not equitable to all commercial operators since the scale of 
operations is highly variable among users. As a result of public 
comment, the Service is implementing the following fee system which is 
based on the type of activity and number of client use-days. The 
specific fee for each type of client use-day is based on an adjusted 
three percent of gross receipts figure which returns approximately 1.5-
2.0 percent of the typical daily rate charged to clients by commercial 
guides, outfitters, and transporters in Alaska.
    The Service's fee schedule system requires a non-refundable $100.00 
administrative fee charged at the issuance of a permit and a 
predetermined fee for client use-days, based on the activity, charged 
following each session of use. Client use-day fees for all guiding, 
outfitting, and transporting commercial operations on Alaska refuges 
are:

Guiding-Outfitting

A. Brown Bear--$15.00 per client use-day ($100 minimum) on Alaska 
Peninsula, Becharof, Izembek and Kodiak refuges.
B. Brown/Grizzly Bear--$10.00 per client use-day on all other 
refuges.
C. Moose and Dall Sheep--$10.00 per client use-day.
D. All Other Hunted Species--$5.00 per client use-day.
E. Sport Fishing--$2.00 per client use-day.
F. River Floating--$2.00 per client use-day.
G. Photography/Birding/Wilderness Adventures/Other--$2.00 per client 
use-day.
H. All Transporters--$2.00 per client use-day.

    The Service will review and issue an adjustment to these fees every 
three years. Adjustments will be based on the Implicit Price Deflator 
Index (IPDI) which is compiled annually by the Department of Commerce 
and is published in February of each year as part of the ``Economic 
Report of the President'' for Congress.
    Permittees will be required to obtain a special use permit from 
each refuge that they operate on and full fees will be collected by 
each refuge. Client use-day fees will be based on actual client use 
days and be in addition to the $100 administrative fee. A ``client use-
day'' shall be defined as one calendar day, or any portion thereof, for 
each client using the refuge. If clients are concurrently participating 
in more than one activity during the same calendar day, the highest 
client use-day rate will be used for that day.
    The permittee is responsible for record keeping and reporting the 
actual number of client use-days to the refuge manager and shall be 
required to report actual use within 30 days of the end of the 
authorized use period, unless otherwise stated in the permit. The 
refuge manager is responsible for computing the actual fees owed the 
government and issuing a bill for collection within 30 days of receipt 
of the use report. Permittees are responsible to pay the fees within 30 
days of receipt of the bill for collection. A permittee will not be 
issued a new special use permit until all fees have been paid. Special 
use permits issued for several year terms may be revoked during the 
term of the permit if annual fees are not paid within the required 30 
day period.
    Fees for reserved land sites (e.g., cabins, tent platforms, caches, 
etc.) associated with commercial operations remained at the $100 flat 
fee during 1993. The Division of Realty conducted a fair market value 
analysis survey for reserved land sites on a refuge-by-refuge basis 
during 1993. Revised reserved land site fees will become effective in 
late 1994.

    Dated: July 20, 1994.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 94-19482 Filed 8-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P