[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37011-37012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15793]
[[Page 37011]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[15X L1109AF LLUTW01100 L12320000.FU0000 LVRDUT240000 24 1A]
Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on Public Land in Tooele and
Rich Counties, UT
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 (REA), the Salt Lake Field Office of the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to begin collecting fees
for overnight camping within two developed campgrounds.
DATES: Effective six months after the publication of this notice, the
BLM-Utah, Salt Lake Field Office would initiate fee collection at the
Simpson Springs Campground Group Site and at the Little Creek
Campground for both single occupancy campsites and group sites, unless
the BLM publishes a Federal Register notice to the contrary.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ray Kelsey, Outdoor Recreation
Planner, BLM-Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 South Decker Lake Blvd., West
Valley City, Utah 84119, Phone: 801-977-4333, Email: [email protected].
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave
a message or question for the above individual. The FIRS is available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Replies are provided during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC),
functioning as a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC), will
review the proposal to charge fees at the two campgrounds. Future
adjustments in the fee amount will be made in accordance with the Salt
Lake Field Office's publicly-reviewed recreation fee business plan
covering the campgrounds. Fee adjustments will be made after
consultation with the Utah RRAC and general public support for the
proposed fees are documented in conformance with section 6803(c) of the
REA.
The two developed camping areas discussed in this notice are:
Simpson Springs Campground (T. 9 S., R. 8 W, Sec. 18, SLM) and the
Little Creek Campground (T. 11 N., R. 6 E., Sec. 24, SLM). Under
section 6802(g)(2) of the REA, the campgrounds listed above qualify as
sites wherein visitors can be charged an ``Expanded Amenity Recreation
Fee.''
Visitors wishing to use the expanded amenities the BLM has
developed at Simpson Springs and Little Creek Campgrounds would
purchase a Recreation Use Permit as described at 43 CFR 2933. Pursuant
to REA and implementing regulations at 43 CFR 2933, fees may be charged
for overnight camping and group use reservations where specific
amenities and services are provided. Specific visitor fees will be
identified and posted at the developed campgrounds. Fees for individual
sites at Little Creek Campground must be paid at the self-service pay
station located at the camping areas. Fees for the Simpson Springs and
Little Creek group sites must be paid for in advance with the Salt Lake
Field Office. People holding the ``America the Beautiful--The National
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass'' or an Annual Access
Pass would be entitled to a 50 percent discount on all expanded amenity
fees except those associated with group reservations. Fees charged for
use of the group sites would include a non-refundable site reservation
fee.
The Simpson Springs Campground is located within the Pony Express
Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). Individual campsite fees
have been charged at Simpson Springs for several decades, but a group
camping site has not been established until now. Simpson Springs
Campground offers a public water system, a toilet, an access road,
regular patrols, fire rings, tent spaces, and picnic tables.
The Little Creek Campground has existed with individual sites and a
group picnic pavilion since the mid-1990s, but BLM has not proposed
fees at this location until now. Little Creek Campground offers a
public water system, a toilet, an access road, regular patrols, fire
rings, tent spaces, refuse containers, and picnic tables.
The BLM is committed to providing and receiving fair market value
for the use of developed recreation facilities and services in a manner
that meets public use demands, provides quality experiences and
protects important resources. The BLM's policy is to collect fees at
all specialized recreation sites, or where the BLM provides facilities,
equipment or services at Federal expense, in connection with outdoor
use as authorized by REA. In an effort to meet increasing demands for
services and increased maintenance of developed facilities, the BLM
would implement a fee program for the campgrounds. The BLM's mission
for the campgrounds is to ensure that funding is available to maintain
facilities and recreational opportunities, to provide for law
enforcement presence, and to protect public health and safety and
public land resources. This mission entails communication with those
who will be most directly affected by the campgrounds such as
recreationists, other recreation providers, partners, neighbors,
elected officials, and other agencies.
Camping and group use fees would be consistent with other
established fee sites in the area including other BLM-administered
sites and those managed by the United States Forest Service, National
Park Service, and Utah State Parks and Recreation. Future adjustments
in the fee amount will be made following the Salt Lake Field Office's
recreation fee business plan covering the sites, in consultation with
the Utah RRAC and other public stakeholders prior to a fee adjustment.
In December 2004, the REA was signed into law. The REA provides
authority for the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to
establish, modify, charge, and collect recreation fees for the use of
some Federal recreation lands and waters, and contains specific
provisions addressing public involvement in the establishment of
recreation fees, including a requirement that RRACs or Councils have
the opportunity to make recommendations regarding establishment of such
fees. The REA also directed the Secretaries of the Interior and
Agriculture to publish advance notice in the Federal Register whenever
new recreation fee areas are established under their respective
jurisdictions. In accordance with the BLM recreation fee program
policy, the Salt Lake Field Office's draft Business Plan for Salt Lake
Field Office Campgrounds explains the proposal to collect fees at the
two campgrounds, the fee collection process, and how the fees will be
used at the two campgrounds. The BLM provided the public an opportunity
to comment on the draft Business Plan for Salt Lake Field Office
Campgrounds from November 10, 2014 through January 12, 2015. The Utah
RRAC will review the fee proposals at its next meeting, following REA
guidelines. Fee amounts will be posted on-site, on the BLM-Salt Lake
Field Office Web site and at the Salt Lake Field Office.
Copies of the business plan will be available at Salt Lake Field
Office and the BLM-Utah State Office.
[[Page 37012]]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6803(b).
Jenna Whitlock,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-15793 Filed 6-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P