[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42972-42973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17225]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLORP04000 L12320000.EA0000.LVRDOR090000.HAG12-0255]


Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on the John Day River, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to applicable provisions of the Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 
Prineville District Office is proposing to begin collecting fees for 
day and overnight trips (floats) on the Service Creek (River Mile 157) 
to Tumwater Falls (River Mile 10) stretch of the John Day River, 
between Service Creek, Oregon, and the confluence of the John Day River 
and the Columbia River, Oregon. The John Day River system was 
designated as a National Wild and Scenic River on October 28, 1988, and 
as a Special Area in the John Day Basin Resource Management Plan 
(February 2001).

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the proposal to collect fees by August 19, 2013. 
Effective 6 months after publication of this notice, the BLM's 
Prineville District Office will initiate fee collection between Service 
Creek and Tumwater Falls on the John Day River, unless the BLM 
publishes a Federal Register notice to the contrary.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this fee collection proposal by 
any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected] with ``fee 
proposal'' in the title.
     Fax: (541) 416-6798.
     Mail: Chip Faver, BLM Central Oregon Field Manager, 
Prineville District Office, 3050 Northeast 3rd Street, Prineville, 
Oregon 97754.
    Copies of the fee proposal are available at the BLM Prineville 
District Office at the above address and online at http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/johnday/boat-fee.php

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi Mottl, Recreation Planner, at 
the email or physical addresses above, or via phone at 541-416-6700. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1 (800) 877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service Creek to Tumwater Falls stretch 
of the John Day River offers outstanding opportunities for overnight 
and day-use floating in a raft, drift boat, kayak, or canoe. The 
special area also provides access to high-quality, outdoor recreation 
opportunities (primarily fishing, sightseeing, hunting, camping, 
hiking, and swimming). Maintaining a naturally appearing recreation 
setting, a quality social setting, and enhancing the visitor experience 
on the river while protecting natural resources, requires substantial 
Federal investment. The BLM is committed to finding the proper balance 
between public use and the protection of resources.
    Fee amounts will be posted on the BLM Prineville District Office 
Web site and at the Prineville District. Copies of the Fee Business 
Plan are available at the Prineville District Office, on the Prineville 
District Web site and the BLM Oregon State Office.
    The BLM may collect fees in conjunction with a Special Recreation 
Permit (SRP) as required to manage visitor use, protect natural 
resources, and achieve the goals of the John Day Basin Resource 
Management Plan. The special area qualifies as a site wherein visitors 
can be charged a fee in conjunction with an SRP authorized under 
Section 803(h) of the REA, 16 U.S.C. 6802(h). In accordance with the 
REA and implementing regulations at 43 CFR part 2930, visitors would 
obtain an individual or group SRP to float within the Service Creek to 
Tumwater Falls stretch of the John Day River. All fees collected would 
be used for expenses within the river corridor.
    The BLM's goal for the John Day River fee program is to ensure that 
funding is available to protect resources and outstanding remarkable 
recreation values, maintain the area in a naturally appearing condition 
consistent with the recreation setting established by the RMP, and 
enhance visitor services and safety, including expanding garbage 
services and improving the Clarno boat launch.
    In 1998, the John Day River System was established as a fee area 
under the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, and in 2010, the BLM 
completed the John Day River Study to establish boating use capacities 
on the river. In July 2012, the BLM published the John Day River Fee 
Business Plan (plan), which outlines the operational

[[Page 42973]]

goals of the area and the purpose of the fee program. The plan provides 
management direction for public enjoyment of these public lands through 
the recreational experience of floating the river, while minimizing the 
potential for resource damage from authorized uses. The plan also 
provides a market analysis of local and comparable recreational 
experiences and sets the basis for the fee proposal. The plan is online 
at: http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/johnday/boat-fee.php.
    The plan addresses recreation opportunities, the issuance of SRPs, 
and the charging of fees on a per-person per day or a per-person per 
launch basis. The John Day River Study and the plan, prepared pursuant 
to the REA and BLM recreation fee program policy, also address the 
establishment of a permit process and the collection of user fees. The 
plan articulates the rationale for charging recreation fees. In 
accordance with the BLM recreation fee program policy, the plan 
explains the fee-collection process and outlines how the fees would be 
used on the John Day River. The fee rates that would be charged have 
not yet been established, pending the mandatory review and 
recommendations of the John Day-Snake River Resource Advisory Committee 
(John Day-Snake RAC). Future adjustments in the fee amount would be 
made in accordance with the plan and through consultation with the John 
Day-Snake RAC and the public prior to a fee increase. Fee amounts will 
be posted onsite and online at the John Day River Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/johnday/. Copies of the plan will 
be available at the BLM Prineville District Office and online at the 
John Day River site.
    Before including your address, phone number, email 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) and 43 CFR 2932.13.

Carol Benkosky,
Prineville District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2013-17225 Filed 7-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P