[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 24827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08528]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_AK_FRN_MO4500170070]


Notice of Intent To Establish Recreation Fees on Public Lands in 
the Anchorage District Office, Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to applicable provisions of the Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), Anchorage District Office, intends to establish recreation fees 
for expanded amenities at the Campbell Creek Science Center located in 
the Campbell Tract Facility in Anchorage, Alaska.

DATES: All new fees will take effect on October 23, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The business plan and information concerning the proposed 
fees may be reviewed at the Campbell Creek Science Center, 5600 Science 
Center Drive, Anchorage, AK 99507; or online at www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-fees/business-plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Patterson, manager, Campbell 
Creek Science Center, telephone: (907) 267-1255, email: 
[email protected].
    Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting 
Ms. Patterson. Individuals outside the United States should use the 
relay services offered within their country to make international calls 
to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FLREA directs the Secretary of the 
Interior to publish a six-month advance notice in the Federal Register 
whenever new recreation fee areas are established. The BLM is proposing 
to establish recreation fees for expanded amenities at the Campbell 
Creek Science Center. The Center serves as the primary education, 
interpretation, and outreach entity for the BLM in Alaska. Since the 
Center was established in November 1996, it has provided environmental 
education and interpretive programs to the public and local schools. 
Its programming has expanded statewide to include increased 
interpretive experiences for the public, both virtually and in person. 
The Center provides outdoor education experiences for more than 41,000 
annual visitors.
    These facilities qualify as sites where visitors can be charged an 
``Expanded Amenity Recreation Fee'' under 16 U.S.C. 6802(g) of FLREA. 
Section 6802 also authorizes the BLM to collect standard amenity and 
special recreation permit fees for specialized recreation uses of 
public lands. Pursuant to FLREA and implementing regulations at 43 CFR 
2933, fees may be charged for day use of highly developed recreation 
sites, enhanced interpretive programs, and rental of audio tour 
devices, portable sanitation devices, binoculars, or other equipment.
    Effective October 23, 2023, the Campbell Creek Science Center will 
initiate new fee collection at the facility unless the BLM publishes a 
Federal Register notice to the contrary. The BLM will begin collecting 
fees for distance learning (per individual per hour: $5; per group of 
maximum 30 persons per hour: $140) and the electric day-use site ($50 
per day, for use by groups who exceed size limits for inside the 
science center. This site allows large groups to operate while 
continuing to offer the science center for the public).
    In accordance with BLM recreation fee program policy, the Anchorage 
District Office has developed a recreational fee business plan that is 
available as listed in the ADDRESSES section. The business plan 
explains the fee collection process and outlines how fees will be used 
at the fee site. Any future adjustments in the fee amounts would be 
handled in accordance with the business plan, with public notice before 
any fee increase.
    The BLM notified and involved the public at each stage of the 
planning process for the new fees. The BLM posted written notices of 
proposed fees at the fee site on January 13, 2022. It announced a 30-
day public comment period on the draft business plan on January 13, 
2022, through a BLM news release and the BLM website. The draft 
business plan was publicly available for review and comment at the BLM 
Campbell Creek Science Center and on the BLM Alaska business plan 
website from January 13, 2022, to February 12, 2022.

(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6803(b) and 43 CFR 2933.)

Steven M. Cohn,
BLM Alaska State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-08528 Filed 4-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-10-P