[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