[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58963-58964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20450]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOS06000-L12320000-DA0000-14X-LVRDCO050000]
Notice of Intent To Establish a Campground Fee on Public Land in
Gunnison County, Colorado
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Gunnison Field Office,
Gunnison, Colorado, intends to establish an overnight camping fee at
the Oh Be Joyful Campground.
DATES: Comments on the proposed fee changes must be received or
postmarked by November 25, 2016 and include a legible full name and
address. Effective February 26, 2017, the BLM will initiate fee
collection at the Oh Be Joyful Campground, unless the BLM publishes a
Federal Register notice to the contrary. Comments received after the
close of the comment period or delivered to an address other than the
one listed in this notice may not be considered or included in the
administrative record for the proposed fee.
ADDRESSES: Documents concerning this fee change may be reviewed at the
Gunnison Field Office, 210 W. Spencer Avenue, Suite A, Gunnison, CO
81230. Written comments may be mailed or delivered to the same address;
faxed to 970-642-4990; or emailed to [email protected]
with ``Oh Be Joyful Fee Proposal'' referenced in the subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stuart Schneider, Project Manager, at
the address above, or phone (970) 642-4964. The Business Plan and
information concerning the proposed fee schedule are available at
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gfo.html. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Stuart
Schneider during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Oh Be Joyful Campground is a destination
campground for people visiting in the Gunnison Basin near Crested
Butte, Colorado. The BLM's overall goal is to maintain the area's
recreational experiences, quality social setting and overnight camping
that require substantial Federal investment, while protecting natural
resources. The BLM is committed to finding the proper balance between
public use and the protection of public lands and resources. The
campground qualifies as a site wherein visitors can be charged an
expanded amenity fee for overnight use, authorized under Section
803(g)(2)(h) of the Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), 16 U.S.C. 6801 et
seq. In accordance with the REA and implementing regulations at 43 CFR
2930, visitors would obtain an individual Recreation Use Permit to camp
within the Oh Be Joyful Campground. Campers would be required to
display a permit stub at each campsite. Permits would expire at the
beginning of the subsequent calendar day. The suggested fees for
campsites are $10 per night for sites with picnic tables and campfire
containment devices (a limit of eight people and up to two tents); $5
per night for overflow sites with campfire containment devices (a limit
of eight people and up to two tents); and $30 per night for proposed
group campsites (site designed for 9-25 people). A vault toilet is
available for all designated campsites and portable toilets are set up
for use by the overflow camping areas during the high-use summer
months. If potable drinking water is provided, all site fees would
increase by $5 per night. As infrastructure improvements are made at
the Oh Be Joyful Campground, overnight fees will be charged accordingly
for campsites. Free dispersed camping would no longer be available at
the Oh Be Joyful Campground and the surrounding area (approximately 100
acres). The BLM's goals for the Oh Be Joyful Campground fee program are
to provide additional facilities through capital improvements; ensure
that funding is available to maintain the campground; manage visitor
use and provide a quality recreation experience under existing rules
and regulations; provide for law enforcement presence; develop
additional services (such as expanding interpretive and educational
information); and protect resources. The
[[Page 58964]]
BLM will use fees collected to make infrastructure improvements and for
expenses directly associated with managing the campground. Fees will be
charged accordingly for any new campsites added to the Oh Be Joyful
Campground and site amenities added to existing campsites. The BLM
posted the Oh Be Joyful Campground Business Plan in October 2015, which
outlines operational goals of the area and the purpose of the fee
program. The Oh Be Joyful Campground Business Plan describes recreation
opportunities and fees for camping. Prepared pursuant to the REA and
the BLM recreation fee program policy, the Business Plan establishes
the rationale for charging recreation fees, establishes a permit
process, and establishes the collection of user fees. In accordance
with the BLM recreation fee program policy, the Business Plan also
outlines how the fees would be used at the campground area. The
Business Plan also provides a market analysis of local recreation sites
and sets the basis for the fee proposal. Through onsite notifications
and local press releases, the BLM notified and involved the public at
each stage of the planning process, including the proposal to collect
fees. During a field office briefing in spring 2015, the Southwest
Colorado Resource Advisory Council informally discussed and verbally
expressed their support of charging a fee at the campground.
The BLM welcomes public comments on this proposal. 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6803 and 43 CFR part 2932.
Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-20450 Filed 8-25-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P