Moderator's Note:
Recreation interests were able to delay the pending 1 October Fee Demo through the Barstow Field Office.
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U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
News Release
For Immediate Release: August 12, 2003
CA-CDD-03-70
Contact: Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220; E-MAIL:
[email protected]
BLM Reviews OHV Desert Recreation Fee Program
The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) California Desert District
continues to evaluate its fee demonstration program to include
initiating or increasing fees at certain popular desert recreation
sites.
"Fee implementation/increases remain under consideration and we are
maintaining our public outreach to those affected or interested in
OHV recreation in the desert," said Linda Hansen, BLM California
Desert District Manager.
A recent release of information by the BLM Barstow Office regarding
development of a fee demonstration program is intended to inform the
public that the BLM remains on track in keeping users of public lands
informed as to the progress of these plans. An initial BLM news
release dated April 25, 2003, provided a general overview of the
process for expansion of a District wide Fee Demonstration Program.
Congress authorized BLM to initiate the Recreation Fee Demonstration
Program in 1996 in order to keep pace with the rising costs of
managing recreation sites. Based upon the Act (PL 104-134), BLM
identified the California Desert District as a fee demonstration
collection site.
"The BLM's California Desert District is currently working with OHV
interests, government officials, and the public concerning final
program decisions that will ultimately prove beneficial to everyone,"
added Hansen.
Hansen also noted that with the assistance of an outside contractor
this year, the BLM developed business plans and extensively involved
many audiences, including working groups, OHV groups, volunteer
groups and vendors. The fees collected will help improve law
enforcement capability, emergency medical assistance, litter removal,
maintenance of facilities (toilets, campsites, etc.), OHV access
roads, appropriate signing, and information kiosks.
BLM implemented a recreation fee demonstration program at the
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, which encompasses approximately
160,000 acres, in January 1999. Paralleling the Dunes program, if
fees are collected at Dumont Dunes (10,000 acres), Johnson Valley
(188,000 acres), Stoddard Valley (53,000 acres), and El Mirage
(25,000 acres), they will be used to improve services and facilities
at those sites.
BLM has successfully implemented fee demonstration programs at
popular recreation areas throughout the eleven western states. Also,
the fees are used for improvements at the site collected.
visit our website at
www.ca.blm.gov"
California Desert District Office - 22835 Calle San Juan De Los
Lagos, Moreno Valley, California - (909) 697-5220
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John Stewart
Director, Environmental Affairs,
United Four Wheel Drive Associations,
http://www.ufwda.org
Recreation Access and Conservation Editor,
http://www.4x4wire.com
Moderator, MUIRNet - Multiple Use Information Resource Network