[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18577-18578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7438]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2011-N032; 40130-8081-0000-5B]


Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Volusia and Brevard 
Counties, FL; Collection of Entrance Fees

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 
intent to modify the existing fee collection program at Merritt Island 
National Wildlife Refuge by adding entrance fees. The proposed entrance 
fees are $1.00 a day for one person, $5.00 a day for one vehicle, and 
$15.00 a year for one person. Under the Federal Lands Recreation 
Enhancement Act (REA), we will identify and post specific visitor fees 
and begin collecting them. The proposed fees only affect Black Point 
Wildlife Drive and three improved refuge boat ramps (Bairs Cove, Beacon 
42, and Bio Lab). Fees are not required to enter any other portion of 
the refuge.

DATES: Submit your comments on this action by August 1, 2011. Unless we 
publish a notice in the Federal Register withdrawing this action, we 
will begin collecting entrance fees on September 1, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by one of the following methods:
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Merritt Island National 
Wildlife Refuge (Attention: Dorn Whitmore), P.O. Box 2683, Titusville, 
FL 32781;
     Fax: 321-861-1276, attn: ``Merritt Island Fee''; or
     E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorn Whitmore, 321-861-2384.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In an effort to meet increasing demands for 
services, and to maintain developed facilities, we announce our intent 
to add a new class of fees to the existing fee program at Merritt 
Island National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) under section 3(e) of the REA 
(16 U.S.C. 6801-6814). The Refuge will add the following type of 
entrance fees.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Entrance Fees

    1. Free--Youth Ages 15 and Under.
    2. $1.00--Daily Individual Entrance Fee (fee is per person/per day, 
when arriving on foot, bicycle, as part of a tour group, or on a bus).
    3. $5.00--Daily Noncommercial Vehicle Entrance Fee (fee is per 
single, private noncommercial vehicle).
    4. $5.00--Family Group Entrance Fee (fee is the maximum per day, 
per family, when arriving on foot, bicycle, as part of a tour group, or 
on a bus). A family group is defined as up to four adults (16 years and 
older) and any number of children (15 years and under).
    5. $15.00--Annual Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Pass (per 
single private noncommercial vehicle) valid for 1 year.

Special Provisions and Exceptions to the Entrance Fee Structure

    National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is a ``fee-free'' day for all 
visitors to the Refuge. The National Environmental Education Foundation 
determines the date of NPLD. The Refuge may establish other ``fee-
free'' days in conjunction with special events such as Veterans Day and 
National Wildlife Refuge Week. The Refuge will not collect entrance 
fees from volunteers who are actively working on or for the Refuge 
during their scheduled duty times. Volunteers who contribute and record 
80 hours of volunteer service or more during a fiscal year will receive 
an Annual Refuge Pass at no charge. The Refuge will waive entrance fees 
for school groups.

Passes in Lieu of Entrance Fees

    The Refuge participates in two pass programs, the Federal Duck 
Stamp and the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal 
Recreational Lands Pass programs. The Refuge honors and offers for 
purchase passes associated with these programs. Information on the 
programs is available at http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/ and http://www.fws.gov/refuges/visitors/passes.html.
    The Refuge will also honor Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden 
Access passes. A list of passes the Refuge will honor and/or sell 
follows. If your pass is not listed, we encourage you to contact the 
Refuge and inquire about pass acceptance prior to your visit.
    1. Federal Duck Stamp (valid for 1 year beginning July 1: $15.00 
annually.
    2. America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational 
Lands.
    Annual Pass: $80.00 annually.
    Senior Pass (lifetime pass for those who qualify): One time fee of 
$10.00.
    Access Pass (lifetime pass for those who qualify): Free.
    3. Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access Pass: The Refuge 
will honor these passes according to the provisions of each, but not 
available for purchase.
    4. Annual Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Pass: $15.00 
annually.
    5. Annual Canaveral National Seashore Pass.

[[Page 18578]]

    Daily Pass: $5.00 daily.
    Annual Pass: $35.00 annually.

Entrance Fees Support Refuge Visitor Facilities

    The Refuge plans to use additional collected fees to repair and 
maintain the following visitor facilities: Boat ramps at Bairs Cove, 
Beacon 42, and Bio Lab; Black Point Wildlife Drive; public access 
roads; parking lots; overlooks; and interpretive signs. Under the REA, 
in order to change fees, the site must have the staff and resources to 
manage a fee activity as well as to collect the deposit money. Under 
the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, we must allow only 
activities that are appropriate and compatible with the specific 
Refuge's purposes.

Authorities and Requirements of the REA

    In December 2004, the REA became law. The REA provides authority 
through December 2014 for the Secretaries of the Departments 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. The REA also directs the Secretaries 
of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to publish advance 
notice in the Federal Register whenever bureaus establish new 
recreation fee areas under their respective jurisdictions.
    In accordance with our recreating fee program guidance, we are 
offering the public advance notice of our intent to collect entrance 
fees and an opportunity to comment on this fee collection before it 
goes into effect. The fees will be collected on the Refuge at Black 
Point Wildlife Drive and at the boat ramps at Bairs Cove, Beacon 42, 
and Bio Lab. If public comments were to provide substantive reasons why 
we should not collect entrance fees on the Refuge, we would reevaluate 
our plan and publish a subsequent notice in the Federal Register 
withdrawing this action. Otherwise, fee collection at Merritt Island 
National Wildlife Refuge--at Black Point Wildlife Drive, and at the 
Bairs Cove, Beacon 42, and Bio Lab boat ramps--will begin September 1, 
2011, with fee types and amounts posted on site.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware 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 your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

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

    Dated: February 22, 2011.
Mark J. Musaus,
Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-7438 Filed 4-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M