[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51509-51510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21164]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Proposed New Recreation Fees: George Washington and Jefferson 
National Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of proposed new recreation fees.

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SUMMARY: The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests is 
proposing to charge new fees at three recreation sites. Recreation fees 
are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, 
cost of operation and maintenance, analysis of other providers, and 
public comment. The fees listed are only proposed and will be 
determined upon further analysis and public comment. Funds from fees 
would be used for the continued operations of these campgrounds, 
maintenance, and improvements.

DATES: Comments on the fee changes will be accepted through October 15, 
2019. The fees will become available pending a recommendation from the 
Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee. If approved by 
the Regional Forester, implementation of new fees will occur no sooner 
than 180 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed 
to the Supervisor's Office at: Joby P. Timm, Forest Supervisor, George 
Washington and Jefferson National Forests, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway, 
Roanoke, VA 24019, Attention Recreation Fee Coordinator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginny Williams, Recreation Fee 
Coordinator, 540-265-5166. Information about proposed fee changes can 
also be found on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests 
website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/gwj.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the proposed new fee structure, Little 
Fort, The Pines and Wolf Gap Campgrounds will be available for 
overnight camping for a fee. An analysis of campgrounds with similar 
amenities in the areas surrounding these recreation sites indicates 
that the proposed fees of $12

[[Page 51510]]

to $14 per night are comparable and reasonable.
    All three campgrounds offer designated campsites with a parking 
spur, tent pad, picnic table and fire ring with cooking grill. The 
campgrounds each have at least one information kiosk, vault toilet 
building, interior gravel or paved campground road, and informational 
signs. The Pines Campground has trash receptacles and trash removal 
service. Campers are responsible for removing their trash from Little 
Fort and Wolf Gap Campgrounds. Currently, none of the campgrounds offer 
drinking water.
    All three of these campgrounds offer direct access to several 
outdoor recreation opportunities. Little Fort is adjacent to a 
motorized trail system and near non-motorized trails and a mountaintop 
observation tower. Wolf Gap Campground on the Virginia/West Virginia 
border offers access to several highly popular non-motorized trails. 
The Pines Campground is located adjacent to a challenging four-wheel 
drive road on one side and the designated Barbour's Creek Wilderness on 
another. A stocked trout stream runs by The Pines as well. Recreation 
fees would be combined with other funds to support continued operations 
and maintenance of these campgrounds that support visitor enjoyment of 
national forest recreation opportunities.
    Currently all three campgrounds are fee free recreation sites. A 
camping fee of $12 to $14 per site per night would be required. 
Additional amenities are proposed for the facilities including 
establishing a host campsite at The Pines, repairing the water system 
and reintroducing drinking water at The Pines and at Wolf Gap, and 
rehabilitating campsites and the interior campground road at Little 
Fort. Site features such as picnic tables, signs, and information 
kiosks will be repaired or replaced as needed.
    The Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act (Title VII, Pub. L. 
108-447) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to publish a six-month 
notice in the Federal Register whenever new recreation fee areas are 
established.
    Once public involvement is complete, these new fees will be 
reviewed by the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee 
prior to a final decision and implementation. These sites have all the 
required features to allow a fee to be charged. Those features include 
designated parking area, interpretive information and signing, 
permanent toilets, increased patrols, picnic table, and trash services. 
These standard amenity fee sites will honor the full suite of 
Interagency Passes.
    Once public involvement is complete, these new fees will be 
reviewed by the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee 
prior to a final decision and implementation.

    Dated: August 29, 2019.
Richard A. Cooksey,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2019-21164 Filed 9-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P