[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79040-79041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30652]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


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

AGENCY: Northern Region, USDA Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of New Fee Sites.

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SUMMARY: Pending public comments and feedback received through the BLM 
Resource Advisory Council (BLM RAC) review and recommendation process, 
the following National Forests and National Grasslands in the Northern 
Region propose to begin charging new fees at the following recreation 
sites: The Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest will begin charging new 
fees for overnight camping at Pintler Campground ($5/night) with an 
additional vehicle fee of $3/vehicle; East Fork Campground ($8/night) 
with an additional vehicle fee of $3/vehicle; North Van Houten 
Campground ($9/night) with an additional vehicle fee of $3/vehicle; 
South Van Houten Campground ($9/night) with an additional vehicle fee 
of $3/vehicle Twin Lakes Campground ($9/night) with an additional 
vehicle fee of $3/vehicle; for day use at Canyon Creek Day Use Site 
($4/site), and for the overnight rental at Long Tom Cabin ($40/night); 
and at Springhill Cabin ($50/night). Bitterroot National Forest will 
begin charging new fees for overnight camping at Blodgett Campground 
($8/night); for day use at Willoughby Group Site ($50); for the 
overnight rental of Lost Horse Cabin ($50/night); and Boulder Point 
Lookout ($35/night). The Clearwater National Forest will begin charging 
new fees for the overnight rental of Wendover Cabin ($40/night). The 
Custer National Forest will begin charging new fees for overnight 
camping at Jimmy Joe Campground ($10/night) with an extra vehicle fee 
of $5/night; Palisades Campground ($10/night) with an extra vehicle fee 
of $5/night; M K Campground ($10/night) with an extra vehicle fee of 
$5/night; and Initial Creek Campground ($10/night) with an extra 
vehicle fee of $5/night. The Dakota Prairie Grasslands will begin 
charging new fees for overnight camping at Burning Coal Vein Campground 
($10/night). The Idaho Panhandle National Forest will begin charging 
new fees for overnight camping at Cedar Creek Campground ($8/night) 
with an extra vehicle fee of $2/night; Telichpah Campground ($8/night) 
with an additional vehicle fee of $2/night; Tripod Point Campground 
($5/night); Distillery Bay Campground ($5/night); Bottle Bay Campground 
($5/night); and Teacher Bay Campground ($5/night). The Idaho Panhandle 
National Forest will also begin charging a dump station fee of $3 at 
Upper Landing Dump Station for each tank downloaded. The Nez Perce 
National Forest will begin charging new fees for the overnight rental 
of Sourdough Lookout ($30/night); Moore's Station Cabin ($50/night); 
Elk Mountain Cabin ($35/night); Selway Falls Cabin ($50/night); Burnt 
Knob Lookout ($25/night); Square Mountain Lookout ($25/night); and 
Indian Hill Cabin ($35/night). Rentals of other cabins and lookouts 
throughout the Northern Region have shown that the public appreciates 
and enjoys the availability of historic rental cabins and lookouts as 
well as campgrounds and group camping sites. Funds from the cabin 
rentals, campgrounds, group camping site, day use site and dump station 
will be used for the continued operation and maintenance of recreation 
sites.

DATES: Pending additional public comment and BLM Resource Advisory 
Committee review and recommendation regarding charging new fees at 
these proposed sites, the cabins, lookouts, campgrounds, group camping 
site, group use day use site, day use site and RV dump station could 
become available as early as June 24, 2009. Additionally, fee pricing 
may be adjusted per the proposed Region One Regional Recreation Fee 
schedule, per public and BLM RAC comments on the framework and fee 
pricing schedule, which will also go through Federal Register notice, 
regional and local

[[Page 79041]]

public comment, and BLM RAC review and recommendation.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding these new proposed fee sites may be sent 
directly to the respective Forest or Grassland: Forest Supervisor, 
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 420 Barrett Street, Dillon, MT 
59725-3572; Forest Supervisor, Bitterroot National Forest, 1801 North 
First Street, Hamilton, MT 59840; Forest Supervisor, Clearwater 
National Forest, 12730 Highway 12, Orofino, ID 83544; Forest 
Supervisor, Custer National Forest, 1310 Main Street, Billings, MT 
59105; Grasslands Supervisor, Dakota Prairie Grasslands, 240 W. Century 
Avenue, Bismark, ND 58503; Forest Supervisor, Idaho Panhandle National 
Forest, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815; Forest Supervisor, 
Nez Perce National Forest, 104 Airport Road, Grangeville, ID 83530.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joni Packard, Northern Region 
Recreation Fee Program Coordinator, 406-329-3586.

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. The intent of this notice is to 
give the public an opportunity to comment if they have concerns or 
questions about new fees.
    The Northern Region currently offers over 150 other cabin rentals, 
including guard stations and fire lookouts, 208 fee campgrounds and 268 
non-fee (free) campgrounds. Many sites are often fully booked 
throughout their rental season. Local public comments have shown that 
people desire having these sorts of recreation experiences on these 
National Forests and Grasslands. The fees proposed are based on 
amenities offered and local comparable markets and are both reasonable 
and acceptable for these sorts of unique recreation experience.
    People wanting to rent these cabins, lookouts, campgrounds and 
group camping sites will need to do so through the National Recreation 
Reservation Service (NRRS), at http://www.recreation.gov or by calling 
1-877-444-6777. The National Recreation Reservation Service charges a 
$9 fee for reservations made on-line and a $10 fee for reservations 
made by phone.

    Dated: December 18, 2008.
Thomas Tidwell,
Regional Forester, Northern Region.
[FR Doc. E8-30652 Filed 12-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M