[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 139 (Thursday, July 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37468-37469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17916]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Intent to Revise Concession Policy
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to revise concession policy.
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SUMMARY: On January 17, 1995, the National Park Service (NPS) published
for public comment in the Federal Register proposed amendments to
certain concession policies. Two of these policy amendments have been
adopted under separate notice. The remaining policy amendment proposed
to eliminate the exemption from franchise fee computation of gross
receipts generated by the sale of Native American handicrafts. In
reviewing comments received on this proposal, NPS noted that the notice
incorrectly limited this exclusion to Native American handicrafts,
although the Standard NPS Concession Contract refers to ``genuine
United States Indian and native handicraft.''
Because this is a much broader category than indicated in the
January 17, 1995, Federal Register notice, NPS is publishing a revised
policy amendment for comment. Although not required by law to seek
public comments on this policy amendment, NPS will consider all
comments received in a timely manner in its final decision on this
matter. Comments on this policy amendment submitted in response to the
January 17, 1995, Federal Register notice will also be retained and
considered. Respondents to that notice are also invited to amend or
expand their comments as a result of this revision.
COMMENT DATE: August 21, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be made to Robert Yearout, Chief,
Concessions Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127,
Washington, DC 20013-7127.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For many years, NPS has had a policy which
excludes from franchise fee computation the proceeds to concessioners
generated by the sale of United States Indian and native handicrafts.
The purpose of the policy
[[Page 37469]]
was to encourage the sale of such handicrafts by making their sale more
profitable to concessioners. However, experience has shown that
concessioners generally are not encouraged to stock and sell more
United States Indian and native handicrafts as a result of this policy
than they would in its absence. Consequently, the exemption from
franchise fees constitutes a windfall to concessioners with no
overriding benefits to United States Indian or native handcrafters.
According to a recent report from the Department of the Interior
Inspector General, this exemption reduced NPS franchise fee revenues by
over $2.7 million from 1988 through 1992 from 55 concessions in 43
parks. In addition, the Inspector General criticized NPS for not
adequately monitoring merchandising procedures with respect to sale of
United States Indian and native handicrafts and stated that NPS
personnel often did not have the expertise to verify handicraft
authenticity. The Inspector General recommended the elimination of the
policy of exempting sales of United States Indian and native
handicrafts from franchise fee calculations.
For these reasons, NPS intends to eliminate this exemption from the
Standard NPS Concession Contract and to remove it from Chapter 10 of
NPS Management Policies.
Dated: July 3, 1995.
John Reynolds,
Acting Director, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17916 Filed 7-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
