| Contacts: | Danny Randall | , 505.761.8953 |
BLM Proposes Fee Increase at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Albuquerque, N.M. – In an effort to maintain and improve facilities and services at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument near Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing to increase visitor fees in 2010. There have been no fee increases at the site since 2000 when fees were first established.
The current fees are $5.00 per day for private vehicles, $25.00 per day for groups up to 25 individuals, and $100.00 per day for groups of 25 to 100 individuals. The proposal would increase the entrance fee to $12.00 for a seven-day pass for private vehicles, $25.00 per day for groups up to 25 individuals, and $100.00 per day for groups of 25 to 100 individuals.
The intent of the fee program is to fund needed public services while protecting and enhancing public lands and natural resources. The primary use of fees is for the maintenance of existing trails, roads and other facilities, services, and operations. Fees will also be used for enhancements such as interpretation, shelter construction, trail construction and upgrading and developing a water source. More costly projects, such as adding new vault toilets and picnic shelters, will be evaluated based on availability of funds. The Management Plan for the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument will guide the use of all fees generated by this proposal.
For FY 2008, the annual cost of operating the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument was about $278,000. Operational costs include pumping vault toilets, providing routine maintenance (e.g. trash collection), major maintenance of facilities and trails, and upgrading and replacing facilities as needed. For FY 2008, BLM collected about $70,000 per year in fees or less than 25 percent of the annual operating costs; the proposed fee increase is expected to generate about 55 percent of these costs.
The public is invited to comment on the proposed fee increase by contacting Danny Randall at the Rio Puerco Office, 435 Montano NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 or via email: Danny_Randall@blm.gov.
Comments must be received by Monday, July 27 2009. A final decision on the proposed fee increase will occur after BLM’s Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) has reviewed the proposal and provided a formal recommendation to the BLM.
For more information on the RRAC, please visit: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/info/resource_advisory/recreation_rac.html
The BLM manages more land - 253 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.