[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 198 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58284-58285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20232]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Proposed New Recreation Fee Sites; Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act, (Title VIII, Pub. L. 108-447)

AGENCY: Shawnee National Forest, USDA Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed New Fee Sites and Recreation Facilities 
Modifications.

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SUMMARY: The Shawnee National Forest is proposing to begin charging 
fees at eight day-use recreation sites, as well as for equestrian use 
of the designated trail system. Additionally, the Forest proposes to 
increase fees at five campgrounds. The proposed fees are based on the 
level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and 
maintenance and market assessment. At this time, the fees described 
below are only proposed and may be modified upon further analysis and 
public comment. Funds from fees would be used for the continued 
operation and maintenance of recreation sites and the Forest's 
designated equestrian trail system. The establishment of fees at 
certain types of recreation sites on national forests is authorized by 
the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which was signed into law 
by President Bush in December 2004.
    In addition to the new fees and the fee increases, the Shawnee 
National Forest is proposing to increase the cost effectiveness of some 
recreation facilities by removing amenities at these sites.

Proposed Day-Use Fees

    Day-use fees of $5.00 per car are being considered for the Garden 
of the Gods interpretive and picnic sites, Pounds Hollow picnic and 
beach area, Bell Smith Springs interpretive and picnic areas, Lincoln 
Memorial at Jonesboro, Johnson Creek picnic and beach area, the Johnson 
Creek Boat Launch and the Little Grand Canyon Trailhead. An occupant of 
each car entering the parking areas of these sites would be expected to 
self-pay using a fee envelope provided at the site. Day-use fees of 
$5.00 per boat are being proposed for use of the Buttermilk Hill Picnic 
Site. At Buttermilk Hill an occupant of each boat would be expected to 
self-pay using a fee envelope provided at the site. Fees collected at 
these areas would be used for the maintenance and upkeep of the 
facilities.

Proposed Trail Use Permits for Equestrians

    The Shawnee National Forest also proposes to establish a trail 
permit fee of $5.00 per day ($50.00 per year) for equestrians to use 
designated national forest trails. In areas where cross country riding 
is authorized, and on national forest roads, riding would remain free. 
Permits would be available from Shawnee National Forest Offices and 
from cooperating vendors. Permits would be issued to individuals and 
would not be transferable. No permit would be required for persons 
under 16 years of age. Fees collected for equestrian use of trails 
would be used for the maintenance, construction or enhancement of 
equestrian trails and trailhead facilities.

Annual Passes for Day Use Facilities and Equestrian Trails

    An Annual Pass will be available for frequent visitors or those who 
wish to recreate for longer periods of time on the Shawnee. A Shawnee 
National Forest Annual Pass will be available at Shawnee National 
Forest offices for $50.00 and will admit one vehicle into day-use fee 
areas at the Pounds Hollow Recreation Area, Garden of the Gods 
Recreation Area, Bell Smith Springs, Johnson Creek Recreation Area, 
Lincoln Memorial and the Little Grand Canyon Trailhead for an unlimited 
number of visits for one year from the date of purchase. A Shawnee 
National Forest Annual Equestrian Trail Permit will be available for 
$50.00 at Shawnee National Forest offices or at participating vendors 
and would authorize use of one horse or mule on designated trails that 
are open to equestrian use for one year from the date of purchase.

Proposed Fee Increases for Shawnee National Forest Campgrounds

    The Shawnee National Forest proposes to increase fees at five 
campgrounds. A campsite at Pharaoh Campground at Garden of the Gods 
fees would increase from $5.00 to $12.00 per night with the fee also 
covering day-use of Pharaoh Picnic Area and the Garden of the Gods 
Interpretive Site. Fees at Camp Cadiz would be raised from $5.00 to 
$10.00 per night. Fees at Pine Ridge Campground at the Pounds Hollow 
Recreation Area would increase from $5.00 to $12.00 per night and would 
include use of the Pounds Hollow Picnic and Beach day-use sites. Fees 
at Pine Hills Campground would increase from $5.00 to $10.00 per night. 
Fees at the Johnson Creek Group Campground would increase from $5.00 to 
$12.00 for a single site, $9.00 to $15.00 for a double site and $15.00 
to $20.00 for a triple site. The fees at the Johnson Creek Group 
Campground would also include the use of the Johnson Creek boat launch, 
picnic and beach day-use sites.

Proposed Modification of Shawnee National Forest Recreation Facilities

    The Shawnee National Forest proposes to increase the cost 
effectiveness of developed recreation facilities management by reducing 
services at some locations where use continues to be light. The 
following actions are being considered: Removal of the tables, fire 
rings and toilets from the Johnson Creek Single Family Campground (the 
Group Campground will remain open), removal of one picnic shelter from 
the Johnson Creek Picnic Area, removal of tables, fire rings and 
toilets from two of four loops of Pine Ridge Campground at the Pounds 
Hollow Recreation Area, removal of the water system at Tower Rock 
Campground and removal of the tables and grills at the Tower Rock 
Picnic Site, and removal of tables, fire rings, toilets and water tanks 
from the Buck Ridge Campground at Lake of Egypt. Fees will no longer be 
required for the use of the Tower Rock Campground. The boat launches at 
Tower Rock and at Hickory Point on Lake of Egypt would remain open and 
free to the public. Additionally, the boardwalk and other facilities at 
the Oakwood Bottoms Green-Tree Reservoir site, and the picnic and 
interpretive shelters at Illinois Iron Furnace picnic site would not be 
replaced when they have reached the end of their serviceability. The 
toilet at Teal Pond would be removed without replacement.

DATES: New fees may begin as early as April 2008. Modifications to 
facilities may begin as soon as June of 2008.
    The Shawnee National Forest will host open-house meetings to 
explain the fee and facility proposals or to discuss other items of 
interest related to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 
2004. The meetings will be open to the public. Meetings will be held on 
Tuesday, November 6, 2007 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vienna High School, 
601 N. 1st Street, Vienna, Illinois; on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 
from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 100 Columbus Drive, 
Marion, Illinois;

[[Page 58285]]

and on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Davis-
McCann Center, 15 North 14th Street, Murphysboro, Illinois.

ADDRESSES: Comments and recommendations regarding the Shawnee National 
Forest's recreation fee and/or facilities proposals can be sent to 
Hurston A. Nicholas, Forest Supervisor, Shawnee National Forest, 50 
Highway 145 South, Harrisburg, IL 62946. Comments or recommendations 
concerning these recreation fee proposals should be submitted prior to 
mid April 2008 in order to be considered. You can e-mail your comments 
using the ``Contact Us'' link on the Shawnee National Forest Web site 
at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Pohlman, Recreation Program 
Manager, 618-253-7114. Information about proposed fee changes can also 
be found on the Shawnee National Forest Web site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee/passes/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act 
(Title VII, Pub. L. 108-447) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to 
publish a six month advance notice in the Federal Register whenever new 
recreation fee areas are established. Additionally, the Act stipulates 
that the establishment of new fees or the modification of existing fees 
must be reviewed by a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) 
prior to their implementation. Once public recommendations and comments 
have been gathered, these fee proposals, along with any modifications 
resulting from public comments, will be submitted for review by the 
RRAC.

    Dated: October 9, 2007.
Hurston A. Nicholas,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E7-20232 Filed 10-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P