[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39612-39613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17623]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2016-N141; FF04RKCL00-167-FXRS12610400000]


Amenity Fees at Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, KY

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to implement fees.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 
intent to implement amenity fees at Clarks River National Wildlife 
Refuge (Refuge), located in Kentucky, as authorized by the Federal 
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA). We will implement annual 
hunting and fishing fees and special permit fees for commercial 
recreational activities. Under REA provisions, the Refuge will identify 
and post the specific fees.

DATES: Submit your written comments on this action no later than 
February 20, 2018. Please make your comments as specific as possible 
and explain the basis for them. In addition, please include sufficient 
information with your comments to allow us to authenticate any 
scientific or commercial data you reference or provide. Such 
information may lead to a final decision that differs from this 
proposal.
    Unless we publish a notice in the Federal Register withdrawing this 
action, we will implement the amenity fees on February 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by one of the following methods:
     U.S. mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn. Project 
Leader, P.O. Box 89, Benton, KY 42025.
     Fax: (270) 527-5052.
     Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Johnson, at (270) 527-5770.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 
intent to implement amenity fees at Clarks River National Wildlife 
Refuge (Refuge), located in Kentucky, as authorized by the Federal 
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801-6814; REA). Under REA 
provisions, the Refuge will identify and post the specific fees.

Planned Fees

    Under section 3 of the REA, we will implement the following fees at 
the Refuge:
     A $15 annual hunting and fishing permit for adults, and a 
$5.00 annual hunting and fishing permit for seniors. There is no fee 
for youth under the age of 16.

[[Page 39613]]

     A minimum of $50 annual recreational special use permit 
for commercial recreational activities.
    These permits will not only allow the Refuge to better track 
visitor numbers and usage of the Refuge and harvest data, but will also 
provide the Refuge with fees to be used to offset expenses for road and 
parking lot maintenance, boundary maintenance, brochures, public 
education programs, law enforcement salaries, and expansion/
improvements of visitor amenities. It is our policy to allow only 
activities that are appropriate and compatible with the Refuge's 
purposes.

Background

    In accordance with regulations governing the National Wildlife 
Refuge System (50 CFR part 25, subpart E) a Refuge may implement fees 
and other reasonable charges for public recreational use of lands 
administered by that Refuge. When considering fees, a Refuge is 
required by our regulations to evaluate the following:
     The direct and indirect cost to the Government;
     The benefits to a permit holder;
     The public interest served;
     Comparable fees charged by non-Federal public agencies; 
and
     The economic and administrative feasibility of fee 
collection.
    The National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 
668dd-668ee) (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the National 
Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, allows National Wildlife 
Refuges to provide wildlife-dependent recreation to visitors, but these 
laws require Refuges to manage for the conservation of fish, wildlife, 
and habitat for present as well as future generations of Americans. To 
fulfill the obligations, the Refuge plans to use collected fees to 
defray costs associated with visitor amenities.

Public Availability of Comments

    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.

Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act Authorities and Requirements

    In December 2004, the REA became law (16 U.S.C. 6801-6814). The REA 
provides authority for the Secretaries of the Department of the 
Interior and Agriculture to establish, modify, charge, and collect 
recreation fees for use of some Federal recreation lands and waters, 
and contains specific provisions addressing public involvement in the 
establishment of recreation fees. The REA also directs the Secretaries 
of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to publish advance 
notice in the Federal Register whenever bureaus establish new 
recreation fee areas under their respective jurisdictions.

Next Steps

    Should public comment provide substantive reasons why we should not 
implement the proposed fee program at the Refuge, we may reevaluate our 
plan and publish a subsequent notice in the Federal Register 
withdrawing this action. Otherwise, we will implement the proposed fee 
program at the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge on the date 
specified in the DATES section of this document, and the Refuge will 
post fee amounts and expenditures onsite.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6801-6814.

    Dated: May 3, 2017.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.

    Editor's Note:  This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on August 16, 2017.
[FR Doc. 2017-17623 Filed 8-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P