80 FR 60707 - Notice of Intent To Collect Fees at the Zortman Ranger Station and Buffington Day Use Area on Public Land in Phillips County Near Zortman, Montana

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 194 (October 7, 2015)

Pursuant to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Malta Field Office, Malta, Montana, intends to collect fees at the Zortman Ranger Station, a historic U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station now administered by the BLM in Zortman, Montana, and expand the amenity reservation fee at the Buffington Day Use Area at the Camp Creek Recreation Area.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60707-60708]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25537]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLMTM01000.L12320000.FV0000.LVRDMT110000XXX MO#4500080082]


Notice of Intent To Collect Fees at the Zortman Ranger Station 
and Buffington Day Use Area on Public Land in Phillips County Near 
Zortman, Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 
(REA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Malta Field Office, Malta, 
Montana, intends to collect fees at the Zortman Ranger Station, a 
historic U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station now administered by the BLM 
in Zortman, Montana, and expand the amenity reservation fee at the 
Buffington Day Use Area at the Camp Creek Recreation Area.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the proposed rental fees by November 6, 2015. 
Effective April 7, 2015, the BLM Malta Field Office will begin charging 
expanded amenity fees for the recreational rental of the Zortman Ranger 
Station and reservation of Buffington Day Use Area, unless the BLM 
publishes a Federal Register notice to the contrary. The Central 
Montana Resource Advisory Council reviewed these proposed fees in May 
2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or hand delivered to the BLM Malta 
Field Office, Attn: Field Manager, 501 South 2nd Street East, Malta, MT 
59538. You may also submit comments via email to 
[email protected] or fax to 406-654-5150. Copies of the fee 
proposal are available at the BLM Malta Field Office, 501 South 2nd 
Street East, Malta, MT 59538 or on-line at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/malta_field_office.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Tribby, BLM Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, at the above address, or by calling 406-654-5124. 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 the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By this Notice, the BLM Malta Field Office 
is proposing to collect an expanded amenity fee for the rental of the 
Zortman Ranger Station and historic site and the Buffington Day Use 
Area. Proposed rental fees and day use fees would be identified and 
posted on the Malta Field Office Web site, at the Malta Field Office, 
and distributed in the local media. Fees would be collected as outlined 
in the field office's existing Camp Creek Campground, Montana Gulch 
Campground, Buffington Day Use Area, Zortman Ranger Station and Special 
Recreation Permits Business Plan.
    The Zortman Ranger Station, built in 1905, was part of the Lewis 
and Clark National Forest until 1965 when management of public lands in 
the area was transferred to the BLM. The site includes the four-room 
main building, a storage shed and amphitheater which was built for the 
Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration. The main building is eligible 
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2013, the 
BLM partnered with the Forest Service's historic preservation team to 
repair the outside of the main building and landscape the yard to 
divert runoff which was undermining the foundation. The interior of the 
building has been inventoried and abated for asbestos and lead paint. 
The site also features an amphitheater which is used for interpretive 
presentations.
    Buffington Day Use Area is located within the Camp Creek Recreation 
Area just northeast of Zortman, Montana. Buffington Day Use Area is 
utilized by individuals and groups as a parking site for day hikes, 
family and group gatherings such as picnics, reunions, church group 
outings and birthday parties. The BLM receives several inquiries each 
year about reserving the site for weddings and other large gatherings. 
Since this site has never been designated as a fee area, use is on a 
first come first serve basis and the facilities cannot be reserved for 
exclusive use. Establishing the site as a fee area will provide the 
opportunity for groups to reserve Buffington Day Use Area facilities 
for day use and allow the BLM to collect fees to cover the additional 
administrative and maintenance costs.
    The Zortman Community and surrounding rural areas are trying to 
increase economic and recreational opportunities for local and regional 
populations by promoting the Little Rocky Mountains area and 
surrounding public lands south to the Missouri River as a destination 
for eco-tourism groups and families. The BLM is committed to providing 
and receiving fair 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. In an effort to 
meet increasing demands for services and maintenance of the existing 
historic structure, the BLM would collect fees to offset those ongoing 
costs. In September 1994, the BLM completed the Record of Decision 
(ROD) and Approved Phillips Resource Area Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) which provides for the maintenance and/or enhancement of the 
recreational quality of BLM land and resources to ensure enjoyable 
recreation experiences. Collecting expanded amenity fees for the 
Zortman Ranger Station and Buffington Day Use Area would provide a 
reliable source of funding to ensure the long-term maintenance of these 
facilities for future recreational use. The collection of user fees was 
also addressed in the Business Plan, prepared pursuant to the REA and 
BLM recreation fee program policy. This Business Plan establishes the 
rationale for charging recreation fees. In accordance with BLM 
recreation fee program policy, the Business Plan explains the fee 
collection process and outlines how the fees with be used within the 
Malta Field Office. The BLM has notified and involved the public at 
each stage of the public participation process addressed by REA, 
including the proposal to collect fees, through the Central Montana 
Resource Advisory Council and other public scoping avenues.
    Fee amounts will be posted on the BLM Malta Field Office Web site 
and at the Malta Field Office. Copies of the Business Plan are 
available at the Malta Field Office and the BLM Montana State Office.
    Pursuant to the REA (16 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.), the Secretary may 
establish, modify, charge and collect recreation fees at Federal 
recreation lands and waters. Specifically, pursuant to Section 
6802(g)(2)(C) of the REA, the Secretary may charge an expanded amenity 
recreation fee, either in addition to a standard amenity fee, or by 
itself, for the

[[Page 60708]]

rental of day use areas, cabins or historic structures.
    Comments may be mailed or hand delivered to the BLM Malta Field 
Office, Attn: Field Manager, 501 South 2nd Street East, Malta, MT 
59538. You may also submit comments via email to 
[email protected] or fax to 406-654-5150. The BLM welcomes public 
comments on this Notice and on the proposed expanded amenity recreation 
fees at the Zortman Ranger Station and Buffington Day Use Area. 
Comments on the proposal of fees should be specific, should be confined 
to issues pertinent to the proposals, and should explain the reason for 
any recommended change. Where possible, your comments should reference 
the specific section or paragraph of the proposed fee that you are 
addressing.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, be advised 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(b); 43 CFR 2932.31.

Vinita Shea,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2015-25537 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P