[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 23857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11100]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CO-034-99-1220-00]


Designation Order; Notice of the Implementation of User Fees in 
the Gunnison Gorge in Montrose and Delta Counties, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Uncompahgre Field Office, Montrose, 
Colorado.

ACTION: Notice: Implementation of day and overnight user fees on public 
lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management within the Gunnison 
Gorge Wilderness Study Area and Recreation Area.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that day use and overnight user fees 
are being charged for all private and commercial users, 16 years of age 
and older, within the Gunnison Gorge river canyon from the downstream 
boundary of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument down to, 
but not including the Smith Fork confluence (10 miles downstream of the 
Chukar boater put-in). There is no charge for private walk-in fishing 
or camping in the river canyon below the Smith Fork. Visitors that use 
the jet boat, raft rental and/or guide services of the Gunnison River 
Pleasure Park in the four-mile section of the Gunnison River between 
the North Fork and Smith Fork confluences will also be charged user 
fees.
    Fees for day use are set at $3.00 per person and overnight use fees 
are set at $5.00 per person per day (i.e., $10 for one night camping; 
$15 for two nights, and $20 for three nights camping). An annual 
Gunnison Gorge pass for day use only is available for $15 per person. 
Golden Age, Golden Eagle, or Golden Access Passes or other similar 
entrance passes cannot be applied to user fees.

DATES: The implementation of user fees is effective immediately for the 
areas described above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fees will be collected on site via a self-
issuing 3-part permit form, at the Chukar, Duncan, Bobcat, and Ute 
Trailheads. Visitors are instructed to fill out use information on the 
form, deposit their fees in the fee tube located at the trailhead and 
carry a copy of the fee receipt with them while in the Gorge as proof 
of payment. An additional copy of the fee receipt is to be left on 
visitors' vehicles at the trailhead.
    All visitors to the Gunnison Gorge are also required to sign the 
visitor registration sheets located at the trailheads or the Chukar 
put-in. Visitors who intend on camping within the river corridor must 
also sign-in for a designated campsite on the registration sheet, 
following the directions for boater or walk-in sites provided at the 
trailhead or in the user brochure.
    Visitors under the age of 16 years are exempt from paying fees, but 
must be signed-in on the register. Commercial guides are exempt from 
paying user fees only when they are on official duty with their 
respective companies in the Gorge. Golden Eagle, Age, and Access 
Passports apply only to entrance fees at designated areas and cannot be 
used to cover user or impact fees such as those imposed in the Gorge. 
National passes or other similar recreation discount cards are also not 
accepted for payment of user fees. The Gunnison Gorge Annual Day Use 
Pass applies only to day use and cannot be applied towards overnight 
user fees. Noncompliance with fee regulations, registration 
requirements, and/or other user regulations of the Gunnison Gorge may 
result in fines up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment up to 12 months and 
possibly, additional civil action.
    Additional Information: In 1996, to address increasing visitor use 
and impacts on the public lands and declining federal budgets for 
recreation, Congress directed the U.S. Department of the Interior to 
implement the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program for three of its 
agencies, the BLM, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service. The intent of the program is to help spread some of 
the costs for managing these lands among those who use them. The 
Gunnison Gorge is one of the original BLM fee demonstration pilot 
sites. The site was specifically chosen to test BLM's ability to 
collect fees and user acceptance of fees in a remote, high intensity 
use area. All of the fees collected in the Gorge are returned to the 
Uncompahgre Field Office for use in managing the area. In 1997-98, the 
BLM conducted public meetings and formed a Fee Work Group composed of 
private and commercial interests and members of the BLM's Southwest 
Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The Work Group developed the schedule 
of fees that would be charged in the Gunnison Gorge and set funding 
priorities for spending the fees.

    Authorities: The Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and 
Appropriation Act of 1996 (PL 104-134, Sec. 315) provides the 
authority for BLM to carry out the Recreational Fee Demonstration 
Program by charging and collecting fees in Pilot Fee Sites. Under 
this authority, the agency ``may assess a fine of not more than $100 
for any violations of the authority to collect fees for admission to 
the area or for the use of outdoor recreation sites, facilities, 
visitor centers, equipment, and services.'' Additional authorities 
for collecting user fees, implementing special regulations for 
visitor conduct, and imposing fines for noncompliance with 
regulations include the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, P.L.-94-579 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund Act of 1965, P.L. 88-578 (16 U.S.C. 460 (1-6a) et 
seq.), and Title 43 CFR, Subpart 8372.

    Dated: April 28, 1999
Karen S. Tucker,
Acting Uncompahgre Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-11100 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-M