Notice of Proposed Fee Change; Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Title VIII, Pub. L. 108-447)

Riepilogo

The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, located within the Chugach National Forest in Alaska will change the fee it charges after consideration of public comments. New fees are to begin on Memorial Day Weekend 2008. The increased fee that it collects will help to make up the shortfall in operations and maintenance costs that it is experiencing due to declining Federal budgets and a change in fee authority. The expanded fee program will allow the visitor center to reopen its doors to the public on weekends from October through May, and to offer interpretive presentations to the public during the summer months, as well as upkeep the center and its exhibits and audio-visual programs and equipment. We are also planning to charge facility use fees, as outlined in our "Amended Business and Communication Plan 2007," for special use of the visitor center. As a result we are also seeking input from the public on the fee structure for special facility use during the same comment period. The special facility use fees will be a part of the amended Recreation Fee structure for the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center and help us to meet our operation and maintenance needs. Currently the only fee charged at t