Porcupine cabin, Gallatin National Forest. Forest: Gallatin Region: 1

Most Forest Service personnel are familiar with the temporary Recreation Fee Demo program. The Recreation Fee Demo program authority expired at the end of 2005 and was replaced by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA). Both the Fee Demo program and REA authorized retention of most collected fees for use at the site where they were collected for maintenance and improvements. However, there are differences between the two programs.

The REA is a 10-year authority that prohibits collection of entry fees for Forest Service lands. However, it authorizes the collection of fees at areas that provide certain amenities. Standard fees may be charged at national conservation areas, national volcanic monuments, visitor centers, and all recreation sites or areas that provide at least these amenities: picnic tables, trash collection, toilets, parking, interpretive signing, and security services. Expanded fees may be charged at highly developed sites that provide additional amenities such as campground utility hookups, boat ramp lifts, swimming beach bathhouses with showers, dump stations, special tours such as heritage expeditions, cabin or lookout rentals, and reservation services. Special permits may be issued when extra measures are required for natural and cultural resource protection or the health and safety of visitors.

The REA also contains requirements for enhanced public input on recreation fees and sites and requires implementation of a new multi-agency recreation lands pass.

Click here for more information about the REA

Click here for the full text of the REA

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