[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39097-39098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18720]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLUTY0100-09-L12200000.EB0000-24-1A00]


Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on Public Land in Grand County, 
Utah, Moab Field Office Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement 
Act (REA)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to applicable provisions of the Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the Moab Field Office of the Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to begin collecting fees for one 
group site and three camping areas. These proposed sites are located in 
Grand County, Utah.

DATES: Effective Date: There will be a 30 day public comment period 
that will expire on September 4, 2009. The public is urged to 
participate in the public comment period. Effective six months after 
the publication of this notice, the Bureau of Land Management, Moab 
Field Office would initiate fee collection at the Moab Skyway Group 
Area, and the Entrada Bluffs, Bartlett Wash and Courthouse Rock camping 
areas, as construction work is completed, unless BLM publishes a 
Federal Register notice to the contrary. The Utah Resource Advisory 
Council (RAC), functioning as a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee 
(RRAC), will review the proposal to charge fees at the sites mentioned 
above. Future adjustments in the fee amount will be made in accordance 
with the Moab Field Office's recreation fee business plan covering the 
sites. Fee adjustments will be made after consultation with the Utah 
Recreation Resource Advisory Committee and other appropriate advance 
public notice.

ADDRESSES: Mail: Field Manager, Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, 
Moab, UT 84532 or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russell von Koch, Recreation Branch 
Chief, Moab Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 82 East Dogwood, 
Moab, UT 84532 (435) 259-2100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The group site and three camping areas are: 
Moab Skyway Group Site (T. 26 S., R. 21 E., Sec. 2, within, SLM), 
Entrada Bluffs camping area (T. 23 S., R. 24 E., Sec. 8, within, SLM), 
Bartlett Wash camping area (T. 24 S., R. 19 E., Section 14, within, 
SLM), and Courthouse Rock camping area (T. 24 S., R. 20 E., Sections 17 
and 20, within, SLM). Under Section 3(g) of the REA, the Moab Skyway 
Group Site, and the Entrada Bluffs, Bartlett and Courthouse Rock 
camping areas will qualify, upon completion, as sites wherein visitors 
can be charged an ``Expanded Amenity Recreation Fee.'' Visitors wishing 
to use the expanded amenities BLM is developing at the four sites would 
purchase a recreation use permit as described at 43 CFR Part 2930. 
Pursuant to REA and implementing regulations at 43 CFR Subpart 2933, 
fees may be charged for overnight camping and group use reservations 
where specific amenities and services are provided. Specific visitor 
fees will be identified and posted at the site. Fees must be paid at 
the self-service pay station located at the camping areas. Fees for the 
Moab Skyway Group Site must be paid for in advance with the Moab Field 
Office. People holding the America The Beautiful--The National Parks 
and Federal Recreational Lands--Senior Pass (i.e., Interagency Senior 
Pass), a Golden Age Passport, the America the Beautiful--The National 
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands--Access Pass (i.e. Interagency 
Access Pass), or a Golden Access Passport will be entitled to a 50 
percent fee reduction on all fees except those associated with group 
reservations. Fees charged for use of the group sites would include a 
non-refundable site reservation fee and a per person use fee.
    The Moab Skyway Group Site and the Entrada Bluffs camping area are 
within the Colorado Riverway Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). 
Within this SRMA, there are twelve similar camping fee sites. The Moab 
Skyway Group Site, which is within the Moab city limits, would include 
special developed facilities available for day use only. The Entrada 
Bluffs site has individual camp sites only. Bartlett Wash and 
Courthouse Rock would only have individual sites. These two areas are 
located within the Gemini Bridges/Labyrinth Rims Special Recreation 
Management Area, which has three similar camping fee sites.

[[Page 39098]]

    The BLM is committed to provide, and receive fair value for the use 
of developed recreation facilities and services in a manner that meets 
public use demands, provides quality experiences and protects important 
resources. The BLM's policy is to collect fees at all specialized 
recreation sites, or where the BLM provides facilities, equipment or 
services, at Federal expense, in connection with outdoor use as 
authorized by the REA. In an effort to meet increasing demands for 
services and maintenance of developed facilities, the BLM would 
implement a fee program for the camping areas. BLM's mission for the 
camping areas is to ensure that funding is available to maintain 
facilities and recreational opportunities, to provide for law 
enforcement presence, to develop additional services, and to protect 
resources. This mission entails communication with those who will be 
most directly affected by the camping areas, for example 
recreationists, other recreation providers, partners, neighbors, and 
those who will have a stake in solving concerns that may arise 
throughout the life of the camping areas, including elected officials, 
and other agencies.
    Development of the Moab Skyway Group Site and the Entrada Bluffs, 
Bartlett and Courthouse camping areas is consistent with the 2008 Moab 
Resource Management Plan and was analyzed in the Environmental Impact 
Statement accompanying the plan (EIS UT-060-2007-04). Camping and group 
use fees would be consistent with other established fee sites in the 
area including other BLM administered sites in the area and those 
managed by the USDA Forest Service, USDI National Park Service, and 
Utah State Parks and Recreation. Future adjustments in the fee amount 
will be made following the Moab Field Office's recreation fee business 
plan covering the sites, consultation with the Utah Recreation Resource 
Advisory Committee and other public notice prior to a fee adjustment.
    In December 2004, the REA was signed into law. The REA provides 
authority for 10 years for the Secretaries of the Interior and 
Agriculture to establish, modify, charge, and collect recreation fees 
for use of some Federal recreation lands and waters, and contains 
specific provisions addressing public involvement in the establishment 
of recreation fees, including a requirement that Recreation Resource 
Advisory Committees or Councils have the opportunity to make 
recommendations regarding establishment of such fees. REA also directed 
the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to publish advance 
notice in the Federal Register whenever new recreation fee areas are 
established under their respective jurisdictions. In accordance with 
the BLM recreation fee program policy, the Moab Field Office's 
recreation fee business plan both explains the fee collection process 
and how the fees will be used at the four sites. BLM will notify and 
involve the public at each stage of the planning process, including the 
proposal to collect fees. The Utah RRAC will review the fee proposals 
at its next meeting, following REA guidelines. Fee amounts will be 
posted on-site, and at the Moab Field Office, and copies of the 
business plan will be available at the Moab Field Office and the BLM 
Utah State Office.
    BLM welcomes public comments on this proposal. Before including 
your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire 
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to 
withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 6803(b).

Approved:
Selma Sierra,
State Director.
[FR Doc. E9-18720 Filed 8-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P