Notice2022-06731
Notice of Intent To Implement Camping Permit and Future Fee Program on Public Lands at Rabbit Valley in Mesa County, CO
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 30, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is implementing a future expanded amenity fee program for camping at Rabbit Valley campgrounds, located within McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (NCA) in Mesa County, Colorado. The fee program will allow the BLM to meet increasing demand for camping activities, protect resources, prevent further deterioration of the recreation setting, enforce existing rules and regulations, and provide for enhanced information and educational opportunities.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18390-18391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06731]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOG01200 L12200000.MA0000 223]
Notice of Intent To Implement Camping Permit and Future Fee
Program on Public Lands at Rabbit Valley in Mesa County, CO
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is implementing a future
expanded amenity fee program for camping at Rabbit Valley campgrounds,
located within McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (NCA) in Mesa
County, Colorado. The fee program will allow the BLM to meet increasing
demand for camping activities, protect resources, prevent further
deterioration of the recreation setting, enforce existing rules and
regulations, and provide for enhanced information and educational
opportunities.
DATES: Comments on the proposed fee changes must be received or
postmarked by June 28, 2022 and must include the commenter's legible
full name and address. Starting on Friday, September 30, 2022, the BLM
will have the option to initiate fee collection at Rabbit Valley
campgrounds for overnight visitation, unless the BLM publishes a
Federal Register notice to the contrary. Comments received after the
close of the comment period or delivered to an address other than the
one listed in this notice may not be considered or included in the
administrative record for the proposed fee program.
ADDRESSES: Please send comments to the BLM Grand Junction Field Office
at 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506 or by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#12707e7f4d717d4d75784d6267707e7b714d717d7f7f777c666152707e7f3c757d64"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="20424c4d7f434f7f474a7f5055424c49437f434f4d4d454e545360424c4d0e474f56">[email protected]</span></a>. Documents concerning this fee change
may be reviewed at the Grand Junction Field Office. Phone: (970) 244-
3000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Collin Ewing, NCA Manager, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#345751435d5a53745658591a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="187b7d6f71767f587a7475367f776e">[email protected]</span></a>; telephone: (970) 244-3000. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service at (800) 877-8339 to contact Mr. Ewing during normal business
hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a
message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business
hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act (FLREA) and BLM policy, the BLM may collect fees in
conjunction with Recreation Use Permits to manage visitor use, protect
natural and cultural resources, achieve the goals and objectives of the
applicable management plan, and authorize specific types of
recreational activities. Under Section 2(g) of the FLREA, certain
campgrounds qualify as sites where visitors can be charged an
``Expanded Amenity Recreation Fee.'' Visitors wishing to use the
expanded amenities can purchase a recreation use permit as described in
the FLREA implementing regulations at 43 CFR part 2930. Pursuant to
FLREA and the regulations at 43 CFR subpart 2933, the BLM may charge
fees for overnight camping and group-use reservations where specific
amenities and services are provided.
The BLM is implementing fee collection in the Rabbit Valley
campgrounds for overnight camping. Rabbit Valley is a popular
recreation destination for off-highway vehicle riding, mountain biking,
horseback riding, and hiking, located off Interstate 70, 2 miles east
of the Colorado/Utah border. In accordance with a July 2019 decision,
the BLM will be constructing new campgrounds in the Rabbit Valley area.
Most campsites in the Rabbit Valley campgrounds will require a fee of
$20 per night, except for group campsites, which will range from $20 to
$50 per night, depending on the number of vehicles ($20 per night for
the first two vehicles, additional vehicles are $10 per night up to a
maximum of five vehicles). The BLM will identify and post specific
visitor fees at each campground. Visitors holding an America the
Beautiful--National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands ``Senior
Annual Pass,'' ``Senior Lifetime Pass,'' or ``Access Pass'' would be
entitled to a 50 percent discount on expanded amenity fees. Veterans
and ``Annual Interagency Pass,'' ``Fourth Grade Pass,'' and ``Gold Star
Families Parks Pass'' holders are not entitled to this discount.
The BLM is also implementing a temporary, fee-free Individual
Special Recreation Permit (ISRP) for camping in both undeveloped and
developed designated campsites. Within the footprint of planned future
campground development, undeveloped campsites for ISRPs will be
designated with a sign. Dispersed camping outside of developed and
undeveloped designated campsites will be prohibited. The BLM will phase
out the ISRP as the new campgrounds in the Rabbit Valley are
constructed.
In response to increasing visitor demand, the BLM issued a July
2019 Decision Record approving the development of additional campsites
in the Rabbit Valley area as described in an Environmental Assessment
(EA) (DOI-BLM-CO-S081-2018-0005-EA), and prepared a Business Plan for
the project. The proposed action described in the EA, and approved in
the Decision Record, included the option to charge a fee for overnight
camping within the Rabbit Valley project area. The EA explained that
the fee program would be developed through a separate process, which
would include public involvement and consultation with the BLM Colorado
Southwest District Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The BLM's public
outreach process and analysis of the fee program are detailed in the
Business Plan.
The Business Plan outlines the agency management direction, the
need for fee collection, and how the BLM intends to use the fees to
improve and maintain the amenities in the Rabbit Valley area.
Information about the use of the fee revenues will be posted at one or
more kiosks within the fee area annually. As discussed in the Business
Plan, the camping fees are consistent with other established fee sites
in the region, including other BLM-administered sites and those managed
by the U.S. Department of the Interior--National Park Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture--Forest Service, and the State of Colorado.
In accordance with the FLREA and the Council of Environmental
Quality regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act,
the BLM has notified and involved the public throughout this process.
The BLM released its draft Business Plan and the Proposed Action for
public scoping from June 24 through July 25, 2018. The BLM presented
the proposed project and the results of this scoping to the BLM
Colorado Southwest District RAC on March 8, 2019. The RAC passed a
resolution to support fees in existing and new campgrounds in Rabbit
Valley, with a separate resolution recommending that the BLM release
the preliminary EA and an updated Business Plan for additional public
comment. The public comment period ran from April 16 through May 17,
2019.
[[Page 18391]]
The BLM presented summaries of the public comments to the RAC on June
13, 2019. The RAC passed a resolution to support the Rabbit Valley
camping project and collecting fees as provided in the Business Plan.
The BLM welcomes public comments on the proposed fee changes.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware 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 and 43 CFR 2932)
Benjamin Gruber,
Acting BLM Colorado Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-06731 Filed 3-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 30, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.