Proposed New Recreation Fees: George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
| Published date | 30 September 2019 |
| Citation | 84 FR 51509 |
| Record Number | 2019-21164 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Forest Service |
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 189 (Monday, September 30, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51509-51510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21164]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Proposed New Recreation Fees: George Washington and Jefferson
National Forests
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of proposed new recreation fees.
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SUMMARY: The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests is
proposing to charge new fees at three recreation sites. Recreation fees
are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided,
cost of operation and maintenance, analysis of other providers, and
public comment. The fees listed are only proposed and will be
determined upon further analysis and public comment. Funds from fees
would be used for the continued operations of these campgrounds,
maintenance, and improvements.
DATES: Comments on the fee changes will be accepted through October 15,
2019. The fees will become available pending a recommendation from the
Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee. If approved by
the Regional Forester, implementation of new fees will occur no sooner
than 180 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed
to the Supervisor's Office at: Joby P. Timm, Forest Supervisor, George
Washington and Jefferson National Forests, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway,
Roanoke, VA 24019, Attention Recreation Fee Coordinator.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginny Williams, Recreation Fee
Coordinator, 540-265-5166. Information about proposed fee changes can
also be found on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/gwj.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the proposed new fee structure, Little
Fort, The Pines and Wolf Gap Campgrounds will be available for
overnight camping for a fee. An analysis of campgrounds with similar
amenities in the areas surrounding these recreation sites indicates
that the proposed fees of $12
[[Page 51510]]
to $14 per night are comparable and reasonable.
All three campgrounds offer designated campsites with a parking
spur, tent pad, picnic table and fire ring with cooking grill. The
campgrounds each have at least one information kiosk, vault toilet
building, interior gravel or paved campground road, and informational
signs. The Pines Campground has trash receptacles and trash removal
service. Campers are responsible for removing their trash from Little
Fort and Wolf Gap Campgrounds. Currently, none of the campgrounds offer
drinking water.
All three of these campgrounds offer direct access to several
outdoor recreation opportunities. Little Fort is adjacent to a
motorized trail system and near non-motorized trails and a mountaintop
observation tower. Wolf Gap Campground on the Virginia/West Virginia
border offers access to several highly popular non-motorized trails.
The Pines Campground is located adjacent to a challenging four-wheel
drive road on one side and the designated Barbour's Creek Wilderness on
another. A stocked trout stream runs by The Pines as well. Recreation
fees would be combined with other funds to support continued operations
and maintenance of these campgrounds that support visitor enjoyment of
national forest recreation opportunities.
Currently all three campgrounds are fee free recreation sites. A
camping fee of $12 to $14 per site per night would be required.
Additional amenities are proposed for the facilities including
establishing a host campsite at The Pines, repairing the water system
and reintroducing drinking water at The Pines and at Wolf Gap, and
rehabilitating campsites and the interior campground road at Little
Fort. Site features such as picnic tables, signs, and information
kiosks will be repaired or replaced as needed.
The Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act (Title VII, Pub. L.
108-447) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to publish a six-month
notice in the Federal Register whenever new recreation fee areas are
established.
Once public involvement is complete, these new fees will be
reviewed by the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee
prior to a final decision and implementation. These sites have all the
required features to allow a fee to be charged. Those features include
designated parking area, interpretive information and signing,
permanent toilets, increased patrols, picnic table, and trash services.
These standard amenity fee sites will honor the full suite of
Interagency Passes.
Once public involvement is complete, these new fees will be
reviewed by the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee
prior to a final decision and implementation.
Dated: August 29, 2019.
Richard A. Cooksey,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2019-21164 Filed 9-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
