For Immediate Release: April 28, 2008

Mel Lloyd, 970-244-3097

BLM Grand Junction seeks input on fee proposals 

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) is seeking public comment on its proposals to initiate user fees for the 18 Road campground in the North Fruita Desert, as well as to revise user fees for the Mud Springs campground and day-use area on Glade Park. The fee structures are being proposed in an effort to increase BLM’s capacity to maintain and improve the areas. Visitation to these sites continues to increase significantly as public lands are seen, more than ever, as popular destination points.

"We are at the point that the quality of the public’s visits to these areas is being impacted because we don’t have the ability to properly maintain the areas and protect the natural resources," Field Manager Catherine Robertson said. "BLM has received informal comments in recent years that a small fee in exchange for maintained facilities would be welcomed by the public—we want to confirm if that remains the general consensus.

The BLM will present the fee site proposals to its Northwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC) next month at its May 22 meeting in Steamboat Springs. As required by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), the BLM will then formally present the fee site proposals to the new Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory Council (RRAC) later this year. The RRAC is administered by the USDA Forest Service in cooperation with the BLM.

The fee proposals are available for public review at the GJFO, located at 2815 H Road, in Grand Junction, or online at www.blm.gov (select Grand Junction from interactive map). Comments may be e-mailed to GJFO_webmail@blm.gov, attention RRAC, or dropped off or mailed to BLM GJFO, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506. Comments will be most helpful to the BLM if they are substantive and received by May 15, 2008. For further information, contact Ken Straley at (970) 244-3031 or Chris Pipkin at (970) 244-3024.

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