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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92155-92156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27271]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_CO_FRN_MO4500179563]

Notice of Intent To Establish Recreation Fees in the Uncompahgre 
Field Office, Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 
(FLREA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Uncompahgre Field Office 
(UFO) intends to establish fee areas and to collect recreation fees at 
five existing campgrounds, three proposed campgrounds, and eight day-
use recreation sites located within the UFO administrative boundaries 
in Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel Counties, 
Colorado.

DATES: New fees will take effect on May 21, 2025, unless the BLM 
publishes a Federal Register Notice to the contrary.

ADDRESSES: Documents concerning this fee proposal may be reviewed at 
the Uncompahgre Field Office, 2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 
81401; phone: (970) 240-5310; and online at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-fees/business-plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caroline Kilbane, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, at the Uncompahgre Field Office, telephone: 970-240-5310, 
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 the BLM. 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: Consistent with FLREA, the intent of 
recreation fees is to help protect natural resources, provide for 
public health and safety, and facilitate access to public lands and 
related waters, and not to maximize fee revenue. Fees are a way of 
ensuring that those who actively use recreation opportunities make a 
greater, but reasonable, contribution toward protecting and enhancing 
those opportunities than those who do not utilize recreational 
opportunities.
    FLREA directs the Secretary of the Interior to publish a 6-month 
advance notice in the Federal Register whenever new recreation fee 
areas are established. In accordance with BLM policy, the Business Plan 
for the UFO explains the fee collection process and how fees will be 
used at these sites.
    The BLM intends to assess an expanded amenity fee of $12 per night 
per site at five developed campgrounds (Lower Beaver, Caddis Flats, 
Fall Creek, Ledges Cottonwood, and Ledges Rockhouse) and at three 
proposed campgrounds (Electric Hills Rim, Nucla, and Paradox), and to 
assess a standard amenity fee of $4 per vehicle per day at eight day-
use recreation sites located within the UFO administrative boundaries 
in Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel Counties, 
Colorado. A vehicle is defined as legal transportation used to access 
the site (e.g., car, truck, motorcycle, van, or

[[Page 92156]]

other wheeled conveyance). In addition, the BLM plans to offer a site-
specific Standard Amenity Pass/Annual Day-Use Pass for all day-use 
sites in the UFO of $20 per year. The campgrounds will provide the 
expanded amenities, and the day-use sites will provide the standard 
amenities, necessary for the establishment and collection of fees prior 
to fee collection. The fees will assist the BLM in meeting recreation 
and visitor service goals within the UFO and promote consistency in 
management for recreational visitors and interested publics. Any areas 
where dispersed/undeveloped camping is permitted would continue to be 
available throughout the UFO without a reservation or fee.
    To stay current with rising management and maintenance costs, the 
BLM will utilize the Western U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 
determine future fee adjustments. The Western U.S. CPI is published 
online monthly and annually in January at: https://www.bls.gov/cpi/regional-resources.htm. Every January after fee implementation begins, 
the BLM would use the yearly CPI average to determine consistent fees 
for the campgrounds and day use sites. When the CPI increase or 
decrease equates to a $2 incremental change for campsite fees or $1 
incremental change for per vehicle day use fees, then the fees would be 
adjusted accordingly. This measure would result in a sustainable and 
consistent funding source that would increase assurances for users that 
the program could continue to provide regular maintenance and necessary 
capital improvements into the future.
    If the UFO decides to make reservation services or other types of 
e-commerce options available in the future, an expanded amenity fee for 
reservation services would be charged in addition to any other standard 
or expanded amenity fees in accordance with 16 U.S.C. 6802(g)(2)(G). 
The expanded amenity fee is subject to contracting requirements and 
will be adjusted with contract changes or with future updates to the 
business plan.
    People holding an America the Beautiful Pass--The National Parks 
and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass or Access Pass, or a Golden 
Age or Golden Access Passport, would be entitled to a 50 percent fee 
reduction on all expanded amenity fees. A public comment period on the 
draft business plan, announced by news release, ran from August 12, 
2024, to September 16, 2024. In accordance with FLREA guidelines, the 
BLM presented the draft business plan to the Southwest Resource 
Advisory Council (RAC) at its September and December 2022 meetings, 
which was followed by robust discussion. The RAC will review the final 
draft business plan and public comments received and make a 
recommendation at its next meeting.

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

Douglas J. Vilsack,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-27271 Filed 11-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-16-P
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