[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75129-75130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30515]



[[Page 75129]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[14XL 5413AR LLUTY02000 L12320000.EB0000 LVRDUT040000 24 1A]


Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on Public Land in San Juan 
County, UT

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 Monticello Field Office of the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to begin collecting fees 
for overnight camping within four developed camping areas.

DATES: Effective six months after the publication of this notice, the 
BLM-Utah, Monticello Field Office would initiate fee collection at the 
Creek Pasture Campground, Creek Pasture Group Site, Superbowl 
Campground, and Indian Creek Falls Group Site for single occupancy 
campsites and group sites, unless the BLM publishes a Federal Register 
notice to the contrary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Hoffheins, Field Office Manager, 
BLM-Monticello Field Office, 365 N. Main, Monticello, UT 84535, (435) 
587-1500. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 to leave a message or question for the above individual. The 
FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Replies are provided 
during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC), 
functioning as a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC), will 
review the proposal to charge fees at the four developed camping areas. 
Future adjustments in the fee amount will be made in accordance with 
the Monticello Field Office's publicly-reviewed recreation fee business 
plan covering the developed camping areas. Fee adjustments will be made 
after consultation with the Utah RRAC and general public support for 
the proposed fees are documented in conformance with section 6803(c) of 
the REA.
    The four developed camping areas discussed in this notice are:

Salt Lake Meridian

Creek Pasture Campground

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah

T. 30 S., R. 21 E.,
    Secs. 20 and 21.

Creek Pasture Group Site

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah

T. 30 S., R. 21 E.,
    Sec. 17.

Superbowl Campground

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah

T. 30 S., R. 21 E.,
    Sec. 28.

Indian Creek Falls Group Site

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah

T. 30 S., R. 20 E.,
    Sec. 1.

    Under Section 6802(g)(2) of the REA, the camping areas listed above 
qualify as sites wherein visitors can be charged an ``Expanded Amenity 
Recreation Fee.'' Visitors wishing to use the expanded amenities the 
BLM has developed at the Creek Pasture Campground, Creek Pasture Group 
Site, Superbowl Campground, and Indian Creek Falls Group Site would 
purchase a Recreation Use Permit as described at 43 CFR part 2933. 
Pursuant to REA and implementing regulations at 43 CFR part 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 developed recreation sites. Fees 
for individual sites at Creek Pasture and Superbowl campgrounds must be 
paid at the self-service pay station located at the camping areas. Fees 
for the Creek Pasture and Indian Creek Falls group sites must be paid 
for in advance with the Monticello Field Office. People holding the 
``America the Beautiful--The National Parks and Federal Recreational 
Lands Senior Pass'' or ``Access Pass'' would be entitled to a 50 
percent discount on expanded amenity fees, except those associated with 
group reservations. Fees charged for use of the group sites would 
include a non-refundable site reservation fee.
    The Creek Pasture Campground is located in the heavily-used Utah 
Highway 211 corridor along Indian Creek and has proven to be very 
popular. Its sites are in use throughout the majority of the tourist 
season. BLM has added amenities for resource protection and visitor 
enjoyment. Creek Pasture is within the Indian Creek Special Recreation 
Management Area (SRMA). The Creek Pasture Campground offers 3 toilets, 
32 individual sites, an access road, regular patrols, fire rings, tent 
spaces, and picnic tables.
    The Creek Pasture Group Site is located at the north end of the 
Creek Pasture Campground, within the Indian Creek SRMA. The Creek 
Pasture Group Site offers a toilet, an access road, regular patrols, 
fire rings, tent spaces, a shade shelter, and picnic tables.
    The Superbowl Campground is located a quarter mile from Highway 211 
within the Indian Creek SRMA and offers two toilets, seventeen 
individual sites, an improved access road, regular patrols, fire rings, 
tent spaces, and picnic tables.
    The Indian Creek Falls Group Site is located approximately two 
miles from Highway 211 within the Indian Creek SRMA and offers a 
toilet, an access road, regular patrols, fire rings, tent spaces, and 
picnic tables.
    The BLM is committed to providing and receiving fair market 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 increased maintenance of developed facilities, the BLM 
would implement a fee program for the developed camping areas. The 
BLM's mission for the developed camping areas is to ensure that funding 
is available to maintain facilities and recreational opportunities, to 
provide for law enforcement presence, and to protect public health and 
safety and public land resources. This mission entails communication 
with those who will be most directly affected by the developed camping 
areas such as recreationists, other recreation providers, partners, 
neighbors, elected officials, and other agencies.
    Camping and group use fees would be consistent with other 
established fee sites in the area including other BLM-administered 
sites and those managed by the United States Forest Service, National 
Park Service, and Utah State Parks and Recreation. Future adjustments 
in the fee amount will be made following the Monticello Field Office's 
recreation fee business plan covering the sites, in consultation with 
the Utah RRAC and other public stakeholders prior to a fee adjustment.
    In December 2004, the REA was signed into law. The REA provides 
authority for the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to 
establish, modify, charge, and collect recreation fees for use of some 
Federal recreational lands and waters, and contains specific provisions 
addressing public involvement in the establishment of recreation fees, 
including a requirement that RRACs or Councils have the

[[Page 75130]]

opportunity to make recommendations regarding establishment of such 
fees. The 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 Monticello Field Office's draft Business Plan for BLM 
Monticello Field Office Campgrounds explains the proposal to collect 
fees at the four developed camping areas, the fee collection process, 
and how the fees will be used at the four developed camping areas. The 
BLM will provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment 
on the draft Business Plan for a minimum of 30 days prior to presenting 
the fee proposal for Utah RRAC review. The 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, on the BLM-Monticello Field Office Web site, and at the 
Monticello Field Office. Copies of the business plan will be available 
at the Monticello Field Office and the BLM-Utah State Office.

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

Jenna Whitlock,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-30515 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P