[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40261-40262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14471]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Proposed New Special Recreation Permit Fee

AGENCY: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, USDA Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of proposed new special recreation permit fee.

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SUMMARY: The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is proposing to implement 
a Special Recreation Permit Fee on the Wild and Scenic Snake River 
which flows between Oregon and Idaho. Implementing a Special Recreation 
Permit Fee would allow the Forest Service to manage the specialized 
recreation use associated with float and power boating on the Wild and 
Scenic Snake River, and result in improved services and experiences. 
Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services 
provided, cost of operation and maintenance of river-related 
facilities, market assessment, and public comments received.
    Boaters using the Wild and Scenic Snake River would be subject to a 
Special Recreation Permit Fee (boater-use permit fee) of $5.00 to 
$10.00 per person that would be collected from all private and 
commercial boaters and their occupants. The implementation of the fee 
on the Wild and Scenic Snake River is comparable to other federal day-
use fees within the current Four Rivers reservation system for the 
Selway, Middle Fork Salmon, Main Salmon and other sections of the Snake 
Rivers. The area subject to the fee is the Snake River beginning at 
Hells Canyon Dam to Cache Creek Ranch (approximately 70 miles).
    The exceptions to this boater-use permit fee are:
     Travel by private, noncommercial boat to any land in which 
the person has property rights.
     Any person who has right of access for hunting or fishing 
privileges under specific provisions of treaty or law.
     Individual outfitter/guides and their associated 
employees, while acting in an official capacity under the terms of 
their permit.
    At this time there is no boater-use permit fee on the Wild and 
Scenic Snake River for float or power boats. Boater-use for private 
float and power boats is currently managed though a national 
reservation system, which limits the amount of boats during the primary 
use season to meet management plan direction. A $6.00 transaction cost 
is associated with this reservation permit and is completely retained 
by the reservation contractor. In the future the reservation permit fee 
will be continued in conjunction with the application of this proposed 
boater-use permit fee for private boaters.
    At this time the listed boater-use permit fee is only a proposal 
and further analysis and public comment will occur before a decision is 
made. Funds from the proposed fee would be used for administrative and 
operational needs in the recreation area to enhance user experience and 
safety, sustain natural and cultural resources, and facility 
maintenance and improvements.

DATES: New fees would begin after, and contingent upon a review and 
recommendation by the John Day-Snake River Resource Advisory Council 
and approval by the Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest Region. 
All comments should be received no later than 60 days from publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register. The publication date of this 
Notice in the Federal Register is the exclusive means for calculating 
the comment period for this proposal. Those wishing to comment should 
not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other 
source.
    Public Open House: A series of public open houses are scheduled to 
answer questions brought forth by the public.
    The open house dates are:
    1. July 5, 2016, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Boise, ID.
    2. July 6, 2016, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Riggins, ID.
    3. July 7, 2016, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Clarkston, WA.
    4. July 8, 2016, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Joseph, OR.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Jacob Lubera, Deputy District 
Ranger, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 201 East Second Street, P.O. 
Box 905, Joseph, Oregon 97846. Comments may also be faxed to 541-426-
4978. Comments may be hand-delivered to the above address Monday 
through Friday, from 8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., excluding legal holidays.
    Electronic Comments: Electronic comments must be submitted in a 
format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format 
(.rtf), or Word (.docx) to [email protected]. Emails submitted to email addresses other than the 
one listed above, in other formats than those listed, or containing 
viruses will be rejected. Comments can also be submitted at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/specialplaces/?cid=fseprd481691. 
It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to submit them 
by the close

[[Page 40262]]

of the comment period and ensure that their comments have been 
received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacob Lubera, Deputy District Ranger, 
541-426-5581, [email protected], or http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/specialplaces/?cid=stelprd3854363.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act 
(Title VII, Pub. L. 108-447) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to 
publish a six month advance notice in the Federal Register whenever new 
recreation fee areas are established.
    Once public involvement is complete, these new fees will be 
reviewed by a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee prior to a final 
decision and implementation.

    Dated: June 14, 2016.
Jacob S. Lubera,
Deputy District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2016-14471 Filed 6-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P