[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58963-58964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20450]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOS06000-L12320000-DA0000-14X-LVRDCO050000]


Notice of Intent To Establish a Campground Fee on Public Land in 
Gunnison County, Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Gunnison Field Office, 
Gunnison, Colorado, intends to establish an overnight camping fee at 
the Oh Be Joyful Campground.

DATES: Comments on the proposed fee changes must be received or 
postmarked by November 25, 2016 and include a legible full name and 
address. Effective February 26, 2017, the BLM will initiate fee 
collection at the Oh Be Joyful Campground, unless the BLM publishes a 
Federal Register notice to the contrary. Comments received after the 
close of the comment period or delivered to an address other than the 
one listed in this notice may not be considered or included in the 
administrative record for the proposed fee.

ADDRESSES: Documents concerning this fee change may be reviewed at the 
Gunnison Field Office, 210 W. Spencer Avenue, Suite A, Gunnison, CO 
81230. Written comments may be mailed or delivered to the same address; 
faxed to 970-642-4990; or emailed to [email protected] 
with ``Oh Be Joyful Fee Proposal'' referenced in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stuart Schneider, Project Manager, at 
the address above, or phone (970) 642-4964. The Business Plan and 
information concerning the proposed fee schedule are available at 
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gfo.html. 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 Stuart 
Schneider during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, seven 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 Oh Be Joyful Campground is a destination 
campground for people visiting in the Gunnison Basin near Crested 
Butte, Colorado. The BLM's overall goal is to maintain the area's 
recreational experiences, quality social setting and overnight camping 
that require substantial Federal investment, while protecting natural 
resources. The BLM is committed to finding the proper balance between 
public use and the protection of public lands and resources. The 
campground qualifies as a site wherein visitors can be charged an 
expanded amenity fee for overnight use, authorized under Section 
803(g)(2)(h) of the Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), 16 U.S.C. 6801 et 
seq. In accordance with the REA and implementing regulations at 43 CFR 
2930, visitors would obtain an individual Recreation Use Permit to camp 
within the Oh Be Joyful Campground. Campers would be required to 
display a permit stub at each campsite. Permits would expire at the 
beginning of the subsequent calendar day. The suggested fees for 
campsites are $10 per night for sites with picnic tables and campfire 
containment devices (a limit of eight people and up to two tents); $5 
per night for overflow sites with campfire containment devices (a limit 
of eight people and up to two tents); and $30 per night for proposed 
group campsites (site designed for 9-25 people). A vault toilet is 
available for all designated campsites and portable toilets are set up 
for use by the overflow camping areas during the high-use summer 
months. If potable drinking water is provided, all site fees would 
increase by $5 per night. As infrastructure improvements are made at 
the Oh Be Joyful Campground, overnight fees will be charged accordingly 
for campsites. Free dispersed camping would no longer be available at 
the Oh Be Joyful Campground and the surrounding area (approximately 100 
acres). The BLM's goals for the Oh Be Joyful Campground fee program are 
to provide additional facilities through capital improvements; ensure 
that funding is available to maintain the campground; manage visitor 
use and provide a quality recreation experience under existing rules 
and regulations; provide for law enforcement presence; develop 
additional services (such as expanding interpretive and educational 
information); and protect resources. The

[[Page 58964]]

BLM will use fees collected to make infrastructure improvements and for 
expenses directly associated with managing the campground. Fees will be 
charged accordingly for any new campsites added to the Oh Be Joyful 
Campground and site amenities added to existing campsites. The BLM 
posted the Oh Be Joyful Campground Business Plan in October 2015, which 
outlines operational goals of the area and the purpose of the fee 
program. The Oh Be Joyful Campground Business Plan describes recreation 
opportunities and fees for camping. Prepared pursuant to the REA and 
the BLM recreation fee program policy, the Business Plan establishes 
the rationale for charging recreation fees, establishes a permit 
process, and establishes the collection of user fees. In accordance 
with the BLM recreation fee program policy, the Business Plan also 
outlines how the fees would be used at the campground area. The 
Business Plan also provides a market analysis of local recreation sites 
and sets the basis for the fee proposal. Through onsite notifications 
and local press releases, the BLM notified and involved the public at 
each stage of the planning process, including the proposal to collect 
fees. During a field office briefing in spring 2015, the Southwest 
Colorado Resource Advisory Council informally discussed and verbally 
expressed their support of charging a fee at the campground.
    The BLM welcomes public comments on this proposal. 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 and 43 CFR part 2932.

Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-20450 Filed 8-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P