80 FR 37011 - Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on Public Land in Tooele and Rich Counties, UT

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 124 (June 29, 2015)

Pursuant to applicable provisions of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the Salt Lake Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to begin collecting fees for overnight camping within two developed campgrounds.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37011-37012]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15793]



[[Page 37011]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[15X L1109AF LLUTW01100 L12320000.FU0000 LVRDUT240000 24 1A]


Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on Public Land in Tooele and 
Rich Counties, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to applicable provisions of the Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the Salt Lake Field Office of the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to begin collecting fees 
for overnight camping within two developed campgrounds.

DATES: Effective six months after the publication of this notice, the 
BLM-Utah, Salt Lake Field Office would initiate fee collection at the 
Simpson Springs Campground Group Site and at the Little Creek 
Campground for both single occupancy campsites and group sites, unless 
the BLM publishes a Federal Register notice to the contrary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ray Kelsey, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, BLM-Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 South Decker Lake Blvd., West 
Valley City, Utah 84119, Phone: 801-977-4333, Email: [email protected]. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave 
a message or question for the above individual. The FIRS is available 
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Replies are provided during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC), 
functioning as a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC), will 
review the proposal to charge fees at the two campgrounds. Future 
adjustments in the fee amount will be made in accordance with the Salt 
Lake Field Office's publicly-reviewed recreation fee business plan 
covering the campgrounds. Fee adjustments will be made after 
consultation with the Utah RRAC and general public support for the 
proposed fees are documented in conformance with section 6803(c) of the 
REA.
    The two developed camping areas discussed in this notice are: 
Simpson Springs Campground (T. 9 S., R. 8 W, Sec. 18, SLM) and the 
Little Creek Campground (T. 11 N., R. 6 E., Sec. 24, SLM). Under 
section 6802(g)(2) of the REA, the campgrounds listed above qualify as 
sites wherein visitors can be charged an ``Expanded Amenity Recreation 
Fee.''
    Visitors wishing to use the expanded amenities the BLM has 
developed at Simpson Springs and Little Creek Campgrounds would 
purchase a Recreation Use Permit as described at 43 CFR 2933. Pursuant 
to REA and implementing regulations at 43 CFR 2933, fees may be charged 
for overnight camping and group use reservations where specific 
amenities and services are provided. Specific visitor fees will be 
identified and posted at the developed campgrounds. Fees for individual 
sites at Little Creek Campground must be paid at the self-service pay 
station located at the camping areas. Fees for the Simpson Springs and 
Little Creek group sites must be paid for in advance with the Salt Lake 
Field Office. People holding the ``America the Beautiful--The National 
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass'' or an Annual Access 
Pass would be entitled to a 50 percent discount on all expanded amenity 
fees except those associated with group reservations. Fees charged for 
use of the group sites would include a non-refundable site reservation 
fee.
    The Simpson Springs Campground is located within the Pony Express 
Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). Individual campsite fees 
have been charged at Simpson Springs for several decades, but a group 
camping site has not been established until now. Simpson Springs 
Campground offers a public water system, a toilet, an access road, 
regular patrols, fire rings, tent spaces, and picnic tables.
    The Little Creek Campground has existed with individual sites and a 
group picnic pavilion since the mid-1990s, but BLM has not proposed 
fees at this location until now. Little Creek Campground offers a 
public water system, a toilet, an access road, regular patrols, fire 
rings, tent spaces, refuse containers, and picnic tables.
    The BLM is committed to providing and receiving fair market value 
for the use of developed recreation facilities and services in a manner 
that meets public use demands, provides quality experiences and 
protects important resources. The BLM's policy is to collect fees at 
all specialized recreation sites, or where the BLM provides facilities, 
equipment or services at Federal expense, in connection with outdoor 
use as authorized by REA. In an effort to meet increasing demands for 
services and increased maintenance of developed facilities, the BLM 
would implement a fee program for the campgrounds. The BLM's mission 
for the campgrounds is to ensure that funding is available to maintain 
facilities and recreational opportunities, to provide for law 
enforcement presence, and to protect public health and safety and 
public land resources. This mission entails communication with those 
who will be most directly affected by the campgrounds such as 
recreationists, other recreation providers, partners, neighbors, 
elected officials, and other agencies.
    Camping and group use fees would be consistent with other 
established fee sites in the area including other BLM-administered 
sites and those managed by the United States Forest Service, National 
Park Service, and Utah State Parks and Recreation. Future adjustments 
in the fee amount will be made following the Salt Lake Field Office's 
recreation fee business plan covering the sites, in consultation with 
the Utah RRAC and other public stakeholders prior to a fee adjustment.
    In December 2004, the REA was signed into law. The REA provides 
authority for the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to 
establish, modify, charge, and collect recreation fees for the use of 
some Federal recreation lands and waters, and contains specific 
provisions addressing public involvement in the establishment of 
recreation fees, including a requirement that RRACs or Councils have 
the opportunity to make recommendations regarding establishment of such 
fees. The REA also directed the Secretaries of the Interior and 
Agriculture to publish advance notice in the Federal Register whenever 
new recreation fee areas are established under their respective 
jurisdictions. In accordance with the BLM recreation fee program 
policy, the Salt Lake Field Office's draft Business Plan for Salt Lake 
Field Office Campgrounds explains the proposal to collect fees at the 
two campgrounds, the fee collection process, and how the fees will be 
used at the two campgrounds. The BLM provided the public an opportunity 
to comment on the draft Business Plan for Salt Lake Field Office 
Campgrounds from November 10, 2014 through January 12, 2015. The Utah 
RRAC will review the fee proposals at its next meeting, following REA 
guidelines. Fee amounts will be posted on-site, on the BLM-Salt Lake 
Field Office Web site and at the Salt Lake Field Office.
    Copies of the business plan will be available at Salt Lake Field 
Office and the BLM-Utah State Office.


[[Page 37012]]


    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 6803(b).

Jenna Whitlock,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-15793 Filed 6-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P