[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3869-3871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1226]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-060-05-1050-00-602]
Collection of Entrance Fees for Specific Caves in Areas Listed as
``Special Areas'' and Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMA) Within
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roswell District, New Mexico
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Roswell District.
ACTION: Cave entrance fee collection.
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SUMMARY: The Roswell District, with authorization by the State
Director, has determined that it would be feasible to collect fees for
entrance to specific managed caves within the District. The feasibility
is based on the deficit reduction legislation of Public Law 103-66, the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, which further amended the
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCFA) of 1965. The authorization
is also based on the BLM Use Fee Policy for Recreation Areas in New
Mexico of August 1989.
[[Page 3870]]
DATES: Written comments on the proposal will be accepted for April 19,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to the Bureau of Land
Management, Roswell District Office, 1717 West 2nd Street, Roswell, New
Mexico, 88201-2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Paul T. Happel at the address listed above, telephone (505) 627-0203.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested persons are invited to
participate in the making of the Recreation Fee Policy for entrance
fees for specific caves within the Roswell District by submitting
written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. All comments
received on or before the closing date for acceptance specified above
will be considered before taking action on the recreation fee policy
for caves. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received. All comments submitted will be
available at the Roswell District Office, both before and after the
closing date for comments, for examination by interested persons.
Comment will be summarized and placed in the final Federal Register
notice for collection of entrance fees for specific caves within the
Roswell District, New Mexico. The proposal is as follows:
Fees for permit to enter BLM ``special areas'' caves where Special
Recreation Permits will be required.
State: New Mexico
District: Roswell
Resources Areas: Roswell and Carlsbad
List of Caves
Crystal Cave
Crocket Cave
Doc Brito Cave
Endless Cave
Fort Stanton Cave
Wind Cave
Algerita Blossom Cave (ABC)
Jarnigan No 2 Cave
Lost Cave
Little Manhole Cave
McKittrick Cave
Sand Cave
Torgac Cave
The six criteria used as a basis for the collection of fees under
the Land and Water Conservation Fund are listed as follows:
1. Direct and Indirect Cost to the Government
The direct cost to the government would be for signing at each cafe
and a volunteer self-service pay station at caves which are checked on
a weekly basis. There would be an additional workload for on-board
personnel to collect fees at cave sites where there are self-service
pay tubes. There would be an additional workload by on-board personnel
associated with time spent processing the permits, receiving and
accounting for money derived for money derived from the fee collection
and tracking volunteer hours. Additional equipment such as locks, lock
boxes, money bags, will be needed for the collection process.
The indirect costs to the government would be administrative staff
time to supervise accounting, reporting and auditing functions. It
could take the recreation planner an additional 5-10 minutes to derive
the additional information at the time the permit is issued.
2. Benefits to the Recipient
There will be less ``no shows'' for people who obtain a free permit
and cancel their date assigned to them to enter the cave. There could
be an increase of volunteer time from the caving community on BLM
projects, to obtain waivers of fees to enter the caves. Funding from
permits would provide funding for work projects associated with the
caves. In a pay-as-you-go society, the careers will know that their
support for the program, through fees, will go directly into the
management of caves, through the 1230 and 1231 accounts. Of the amount
collected 15 percent will be immediately available to the collecting
Resources Area to be used in the cave program.
3. Comparable Recreation Fees Charged by other Federal and Non-Federal
Public Agencies Within New Mexico and Bordering States
Carlsbad Caverns National Park charges $8.00 per minor and $12.00
per adult for a ranger guided tour of Spider, Slaughter and Ogle Caves.
Because of the changes in the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act
(LWCFA), the U.S. Forest Service is in the beginning stages of looking
into charging for cave entry.
4. Economic and Administrative Feasibility of Fee Collection
The average number of car permits issued within the District is 500
permits per fiscal year. The effect of a fee permit may reduce the
number of permits per year within the District. Cavers may use other
caves to ply their activity. This may help reduce wear and tear on the
caves, thus letting the cave animals reclaim traveled portions of the
caves. Collection would be done by the administrative staff within the
resource areas. In cases where a fee pay tube is located at the cave,
fees will be collected by a resource person who regularly works the
area. In the case of Fort Stanton Cave the administrative and
maintenance people form Valley of Fires Recreation Area will collect
the fees. The fees will be administered with 1230 and 1231 funds from
Valley of Fires Recreation area. Existing Outdoor Recreation Planners
at each resource areas will facilitate the paperwork for the
application and permit process. Existing administrative personnel will
collect the fees from the public and complete the accounting process.
Overall revenue potential for fee collection could be a minimum $4,950
if 250 permits are maintained for the fiscal year. Of the above amount,
15 percent of the fees collected will be immediately available to the
Resource Area collecting the fees. The above figure is derived as
follows:
250 permits times $5.00 per application fee =................. $1,200
250 Permits times $3.00 per participant times an average of 5
people per permit =.......................................... 3,750
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Total Projected Revenue................................. 4,950
Caves which require a BLM authorized trip leader to lead the caving
trip (such as Torgac Cave) will be charged a flat fee of $30.00 per
trip. There may be some reduction of revenues due to Friends groups,
educational, scientific, and volunteer groups who will be exempt from
fees. If an individual volunteers five hours on a BLM authorized work
project, the daily use fee will be waived for that individual for one
day of caving.
5. Public Policy or Interest Served
The cave use within the District is mainly from New Mexico, the
surrounding states of Texas, Colorado, and Arizona. A small portion of
the visitors range from all over the United States and foreign
countries. The cost of the permit system will be borne by the special
interest caving groups and independent cavers. The existing services
includes maintained roads to the caves and cave gates at each managed
cave, which prevent unauthorized access to the caves.
6. Other Pertinent Factors
Fee collection will achieve better protection of caves through
improvement or replacement of old cave gates for increased security.
Locks and equipment can be purchased through the permit fees. Small
research projects and cost share agreements can be funded. The fee
system may spread the visitor use out to other areas and lessen
[[Page 3871]]
the impact on the caves which are intensively managed.
Field recommendation on implementation of entrance fees:
Entrance fee $3.00
Application fees $5.00
Rationale: Based upon the legislative criteria summary noted above, it
is in the government's best interest to charge fees for caving for
caves listed as ``special areas'' and Special Recreation Management
Areas (SRMA).
Dated: January 7, 1995.
Leslie M. Cone,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-1226 Filed 1-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M