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, 60707-60708 [2015-25537]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices Delta National Wildlife Refuge final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (1988). Authority: 43 CFR 1601.2. Ted A. Murphy, Associate State Director. [FR Doc. 2015–25538 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLMTM01000.L12320000.FV0000.LVRDMT 110000XXX 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 Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: 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. SUMMARY: 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 BLM_MT_Malta_FO@blm.gov 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: https://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/malta_ field_office.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Tribby, BLM Outdoor Recreation asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Oct 06, 2015 Jkt 238001 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 PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60707 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 E:\FR\FM\07OCN1.SGM 07OCN1 60708 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices 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 BLM_MT_Malta_FO@blm.gov 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. BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO600000.L18200000.XP0000] Renewal of Approved Information Collection; OMB Control No. 1004– 0204 Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: 30-Day Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to continue the collection of information from applicants for Resource Advisory Councils. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004–0204 to this information collection. DATES: The OMB is required to respond to this information collection request within 60 days but may respond after 30 SUMMARY: asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Purdy at 202–912–7635. Persons who use a telecommunication device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1–800– 877–8339, to leave a message for Mr. Purdy. You may also review the information collection request online at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501–3521) and OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 provide that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated to respond. In order to obtain and renew an OMB control number, Federal agencies are required to seek public comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d) and 1320.12(a)). As required at 5 CFR 1320.8(d), the BLM published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register on July 13, 2015 (80 FR 40084). The comment period closed on September 11, 2015. The BLM received no comments in response to the notice. The BLM now requests comments on the following subjects: 1. Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper functioning of the BLM, including whether the information will have practical utility; 2. The accuracy of the BLM’s estimate of the burden of collecting the information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [FR Doc. 2015–25537 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am] VerDate Sep<11>2014 days. For maximum consideration, written comments should be received on or before November 6, 2015. ADDRESSES: Please submit comments directly to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (OMB #1004– 0204), Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, fax 202–395–5806, or by electronic mail at OIRA_ submission@omb.eop.gov. Please provide a copy of your comments to the BLM. You may do so via mail, fax, or electronic mail. Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW., Room 2134LM, Attention: Jean Sonneman, Washington, DC 20240. Fax: to Jean Sonneman at 202–245– 0050. Electronic mail: Jean_Sonneman@ blm.gov. Please indicate ‘‘Attn: 1004–0204’’ regardless of the form of your comments. 18:12 Oct 06, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 3. The quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 4. How to minimize the information collection burden on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology. Please send comments as directed under ADDRESSES and DATES. Please refer to OMB control number 1004–0204 in your correspondence. 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. The following information pertains to this request: Title: Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council Application (43 CFR Subpart 1784). OMB Control Number: 1004–0204. Summary: This control number includes only one information collection activity. In an application form, the BLM seeks to collect information to determine education, training, and experience related to possible service on advisory committees established under the authority of Section 309 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1739), the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and 43 CFR Subpart 1784. The BLM refers to such advisory committees as ‘‘Resource Advisory Councils’’ (RACs). The information that the BLM collects is necessary to ensure that each RAC is structured to provide fair membership balance, as prescribed by each RAC’s charter. Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Forms: Form 1120–19, Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council Application. Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 200 applicants annually for possible service on RACs. Estimated Annual Responses: 200. Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 800. Estimated Annual Non-Hour Costs: None. Jean Sonneman Information Collection Clearance Officer, Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. 2015–25550 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P E:\FR\FM\07OCN1.SGM 07OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60707-60708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25537]


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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 
BLM_MT_Malta_FO@blm.gov 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: https://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 
BLM_MT_Malta_FO@blm.gov 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
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