[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 25641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10039]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of New Fee Site; Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 
(Title VIII, Pub. L. 108-447)

AGENCY: Carson National Forest, USDA Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of new fee site.

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SUMMARY: The Carson National Forest is proposing to charge a $175 fee 
for the overnight rental of the Aldo Leopold House and a $50 fee for 
the overnight rental of the Lagunitas Guard Station. Neither facility 
has been available for recreation use prior to this date. Rentals of 
other cabins in the Southwestern Region have shown that people 
appreciate and enjoy the availability of historic rental cabins. Funds 
from both the rentals will be used for the continued operation and 
maintenance of each of the facilities. These fees are only proposed and 
will be determined upon further analysis and public comment.

DATES: Send any comments about these fee proposals by August 2016 so 
comments can be compiled, analyzed and shared with a Recreation 
Resource Advisory Committee. Should the fee proposal move forward, both 
rentals will likely be available May 2017.

ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor, Carson National Forest, 208 Cruz Alta 
Road, Taos, NM 87557.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Cuevas, Recreation Fee 
Coordinator, (505) 842-3235.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act 
(Title VII, Pub. L. 108-447) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to 
publish a six month advance notice in the Federal Register whenever new 
recreation fee areas are established.
    This new fee will be reviewed by a Recreation Resource Advisory 
Committee prior to a final decision and implementation.
    Currently no Federal or State agencies in the state of New Mexico 
offer over-night rentals of this type. Arizona, the neighboring state 
in Region 3, provides several historic properties for public rental and 
that program has become very successful.
    The house consists of a 4 bedroom Craftsman Style Bungalow home 
that was built by Aldo Leopold in 1912 when he was the new Forest 
Supervisor on the Carson National Forest for himself and his new wife 
Estella Luna Ortero Bergere. The Leopold House is located in the small 
village of Tres Piedras New Mexico and is a one and a half story home 
with a large front porch. The interior of the first floor has four 
rooms that include a dining room, kitchen, library and bedroom. A large 
stone fireplace is the focal point of the home. The upstairs of the 
home includes 3 bunk style bedrooms. The home was restored by 
volunteers and the Forest Service in 2005 and has running water, 
electricity, propane heat and is fully furnished.
    The Lagunitas Guard Station is a small single room cabin located in 
a remote setting approximately 20 miles west of Tres Piedras New 
Mexico. It is a simple facility, with no electricity, trash service or 
running water. The Guard Station is located adjacent to the small 
primitive Lagunitas Campground and the Lagunitas Lakes. For those 
visitors willing to make the long drive, the setting will not 
disappoint.
    A business analysis of the Aldo Leopold House and Lagunitas Guard 
Station has shown that people desire having this sort of recreation 
experience on the Carson National Forest. A market analysis indicates 
that the $175/per night fee for the Leopold House and $50/per night for 
the Lagunitas Guard Station is both reasonable and acceptable for this 
sort of unique recreation experience.
    People wanting to rent either facility will need to do so through 
the National Recreation Reservation Service, at www.recreation.gov or 
by calling 1-877-444-6777. The National Recreation Reservation Service 
charges a $9 fee for reservations.

    Dated: April 19, 2016.
James Duran,
Carson National Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2016-10039 Filed 4-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P