[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50866-50867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20713]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLMTL07000 L12320000.AL0000.LVRDMT010000.13X MO #4500076731]


Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on the Upper Missouri National 
Wild and Scenic River in Blaine, Chouteau, Fergus, and Phillips 
Counties, MT

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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Central 
Montana District, Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument 
(UMRBNM), Lewistown Field Office is proposing to begin collecting fees 
for overnight camping at Coal Banks Landing Recreation Area, Judith 
Landing Recreation Area and for day and overnight trips (floats) on the 
Upper Missouri River from Coal Banks Landing Recreation Area (River 
Mile 41.5) to James Kipp Recreation Area (River Mile 149). The Upper 
Missouri River from Fort Benton, Montana (River Mile 0) to the James 
Kipp Recreation Area (River Mile 149) was designated as a National Wild 
and Scenic River on October 12, 1976, and subsequently included within 
the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument (UMRBNM) designation 
on January 17, 2001. The UMRBNM Record of Decision and Approved 
Resource Management Plan designated the Upper Missouri National Wild 
and Scenic River (UMNWSR) as a Special Area in December 2008.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the proposal to collect fees by September 21, 2015. 
Effective 6 months after publication of this notice, the BLM's Central 
Montana District, UMRBNM will initiate fee collection at Coal Banks 
Landing, Judith Landing, and on the Upper Missouri River between Coal 
Banks Landing and James Kipp Recreation Area 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]
     Fax: 406-622-4040
     Mail: 920 NE Main, Lewistown, MT 59457
    Copies of the fee proposal are available at the BLM Central Montana 
District Office, Fort Benton River Management Station, 701 7th St., 
P.O. Box 1389, Fort Benton, MT 59442 or on line at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/umrbnm.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Schaefer, Supervisory Outdoor 
Recreation Planner, telephone: 406-622-4015; address: 920 NE Main, 
Lewistown, MT 59457; email: [email protected]. 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 Mr. 
Schaefer during normal business hours. FIRS is available 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for Mr. Schaefer. 
You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Lands Recreation 
Enhancement Act (REA)(16 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.), the Secretary may 
establish, modify, charge and collect recreation fees at Federal 
recreation lands and waters. The Coal Banks Landing to James Kipp 
Recreation Area section of the Upper Missouri River offers outstanding 
opportunities for overnight and day-use floating in canoes, kayaks, 
rafts or motorized watercraft. The special area also provides access to 
high quality outdoor recreation opportunities (primarily camping, 
sightseeing, hiking, fishing, and hunting). Maintaining a natural-
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.
    The new fees include a $10 overnight camping fee at the Coal Banks 
Landing Recreation Area and a $5 overnight camping fee at the Judith 
Landing Recreation Area. A Special Area Permit fee of $5 per watercraft 
for day use and $4 per person per day for overnight use will also be 
implemented between Coal Banks Landing (River Mile 41.5) and James Kipp 
Recreation Area (River Mile 149).
    Fee amounts will be posted on the BLM Central Montana District, 
UMRBNM Web site, at the Central Montana District Office, and Fort 
Benton River Management Station. Copies of the Fee Business Plan are 
available at the Central Montana District, UMRBNM Headquarters, the 
Fort Benton River Management Station, and the Montana 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 UMRBNM Resource Management Plan 
(RMP). The special area qualifies as a site where 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 SRP to boat within the Coal Banks Landing (River Mile 41.5) 
to James Kipp Recreation Area (River Mile 149) section of the Upper 
Missouri River. All fees collected would be used for expenses within 
the river corridor.
    The BLM's goal for the Upper Missouri River Fee program is to 
ensure that funding is available to protect resources and outstanding 
remarkable recreation values, maintain the area in a natural-appearing 
condition consistent with the recreation setting established by the 
RMP, and enhance visitor services and safety, including construction of 
additional campground exclosures at remote developed boat camps to 
mitigate conflicts between recreational users and livestock. In 1997, 
the UMNWSR was established as a fee area under the Recreational Fee 
Demonstration Program with only one campground (James Kipp Recreation 
Area) designated as a fee site. The James Kipp Recreation Area Business 
Plan was developed and amended in 2007 when fees at this location were 
increased. In December 2008, the UMRBNM record of Decision and Resource 
Management Plan was published which outlines the operational goals of 
recreation services and the area. The plan emphasizes protection and 
restoration of the natural

[[Page 50867]]

resources while still providing for resource use and enjoyment. This 
2008 Decision allows for recreation opportunities, the issuing of use 
permits, and the charging of expanded amenity fees for overnight 
camping in Level 1 sites and an individual special recreation permit 
for boating the UMNWSR. The establishment of a permit process and the 
collection of user fees were also addressed in the UMNWSR Business 
Plan, prepared pursuant to the REA and BLM recreation fee program 
policy. The Business Plan establishes the rationale for charging 
recreation fees. In accordance with BLM recreation fee program policy, 
the Business Plan explains the fee collection process and outlines how 
the fees will be used on the UMNWSR. BLM has notified and involved the 
public at each stage of the planning process, including the proposal to 
collect fees. The business plan provides management direction for the 
UMRBNM to include public enjoyment of these public lands and 
specifically comments on commercial use, fee collection, camping, 
boating, hunting, fishing and myriad other outdoor recreational 
opportunities. The current business plan for the UMRBNM/UMNWSR River 
Fees was completed in 2014 and encompasses the James Kipp Recreation 
Area business plan. The business plan addresses recreation 
opportunities, the issuance of SRP's and the charging of fees on a per 
watercraft and per person, per launch basis. The UMRBNM/UMNWSR River 
Fees plan, prepared pursuant to the REA and BLM recreation fee policy, 
also addresses the establishment of a permit process and the collection 
of user fees. The business 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 UMRBNM/UMNWSR. The fee rates have been 
reviewed by the Central Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) and 
unanimously approved. Future adjustments in the fee amount would be 
made in accordance with the plan and through consultation with the 
Central Montana RAC and the public prior to a fee increase. Fee amounts 
will be posted onsite and online at the UMRBNM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/umrbnm.html. Copies of the plan will be 
available at the BLM Central Montana District Office and online at the 
UMRBNM Web 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.

Michael Kania,
Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument Manager.
[FR Doc. 2015-20713 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P