[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19482]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 10, 1994]
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Part III
Department of The Interior
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Fish and Wildlife Service
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Commercial Use Fees on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Commercial Use Fees on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Implementation of Policy.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that special use permit fees for
commercial uses on National Wildlife Refuges (refuges) in Alaska have
been revised. The revised fee schedule became effective on January 1,
1993. Fees equal to 50% of the fee schedule were charged during 1993,
and full fees are being charged in 1994. The public was aware of this
fee change through public meetings and other appropriate notice.
However, as a policy matter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) desires to publish this Notice through the Federal Register.
The revised fee schedule has been incorporated into the Service
Policy Manual for Region 7 (Alaska). The fee revision was needed so
that the Service could meet Federal mandates. These mandates require
fee determinations to be based on fair market values, and that the
Service attempt to recover costs of administering revenue producing
commercial activities on refuge lands.
DATES: This revised fee schedule was effective on January 1, 1993.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daryle R. Lons, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska, 99503; telephone
(907) 786-3354.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service is implementing the following
fee schedule for commercial guides, outfitters, and transporters that
are issued special use permits to conduct commercial operations on
refuges in Alaska. Fees for other non-recreational types of commercial
activities that involve removing marketable resources or utilizing
reserved sites will not be based on the following fee schedule. Fees
for these types of commercial activities will be determined by the
Service's Division of Realty and will be based on fair market analysis
surveys. These surveys will be conducted periodically to assure that
fees reflect current market values.
The Service considered a number of methods for meeting the required
mandates. Four alternatives were given serious consideration and were
published in the May 31, 1991, Federal Register (56 FR 24827) to
receive public comment. These alternatives were: (1) A single fixed fee
of $350 for all commercial permittees, (2) a fee schedule based on type
of commercial use activity and actual client numbers, (3) a fee
schedule based on permittee calculations, made after the permit use
period, of 3% of adjusted gross income derived from commercial
activities that are authorized by special use permit on refuge lands,
and (4) a fee schedule based on permittee estimates, made prior to the
permit use period, of 3% of anticipated adjusted gross income derived
from commercial activities that are authorized by special use permit on
refuge lands.
The Service had proposed to adopt alternative 4 because it appeared
that it would be (1) equitable to all commercial use permittees,
regardless of the scale of their operation; (2) charging a fair market
value; (3) reasonably consistent with the fee schedule of other Federal
agencies in Alaska; and (4) cost effective for the government to
administer. Thirty-five comments were received from individuals,
professional organizations, and state and Federal agencies in response
to the published Federal Register notice. After review and
consideration of the comments received, the Service decided not to
implement this alternative. Public comments identified several
potential inequities in the originally proposed alternative and
strongly supported a flat fee or a client use-day system. A flat fee
was reconsidered but was not selected because the Service believes it
is not equitable to all commercial operators since the scale of
operations is highly variable among users. As a result of public
comment, the Service is implementing the following fee system which is
based on the type of activity and number of client use-days. The
specific fee for each type of client use-day is based on an adjusted
three percent of gross receipts figure which returns approximately 1.5-
2.0 percent of the typical daily rate charged to clients by commercial
guides, outfitters, and transporters in Alaska.
The Service's fee schedule system requires a non-refundable $100.00
administrative fee charged at the issuance of a permit and a
predetermined fee for client use-days, based on the activity, charged
following each session of use. Client use-day fees for all guiding,
outfitting, and transporting commercial operations on Alaska refuges
are:
Guiding-Outfitting
A. Brown Bear--$15.00 per client use-day ($100 minimum) on Alaska
Peninsula, Becharof, Izembek and Kodiak refuges.
B. Brown/Grizzly Bear--$10.00 per client use-day on all other
refuges.
C. Moose and Dall Sheep--$10.00 per client use-day.
D. All Other Hunted Species--$5.00 per client use-day.
E. Sport Fishing--$2.00 per client use-day.
F. River Floating--$2.00 per client use-day.
G. Photography/Birding/Wilderness Adventures/Other--$2.00 per client
use-day.
H. All Transporters--$2.00 per client use-day.
The Service will review and issue an adjustment to these fees every
three years. Adjustments will be based on the Implicit Price Deflator
Index (IPDI) which is compiled annually by the Department of Commerce
and is published in February of each year as part of the ``Economic
Report of the President'' for Congress.
Permittees will be required to obtain a special use permit from
each refuge that they operate on and full fees will be collected by
each refuge. Client use-day fees will be based on actual client use
days and be in addition to the $100 administrative fee. A ``client use-
day'' shall be defined as one calendar day, or any portion thereof, for
each client using the refuge. If clients are concurrently participating
in more than one activity during the same calendar day, the highest
client use-day rate will be used for that day.
The permittee is responsible for record keeping and reporting the
actual number of client use-days to the refuge manager and shall be
required to report actual use within 30 days of the end of the
authorized use period, unless otherwise stated in the permit. The
refuge manager is responsible for computing the actual fees owed the
government and issuing a bill for collection within 30 days of receipt
of the use report. Permittees are responsible to pay the fees within 30
days of receipt of the bill for collection. A permittee will not be
issued a new special use permit until all fees have been paid. Special
use permits issued for several year terms may be revoked during the
term of the permit if annual fees are not paid within the required 30
day period.
Fees for reserved land sites (e.g., cabins, tent platforms, caches,
etc.) associated with commercial operations remained at the $100 flat
fee during 1993. The Division of Realty conducted a fair market value
analysis survey for reserved land sites on a refuge-by-refuge basis
during 1993. Revised reserved land site fees will become effective in
late 1994.
Dated: July 20, 1994.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 94-19482 Filed 8-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
