WESTERN SLOPE NO-FEE COALITION

September 10, 2014

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NEWS RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

A bill introduced in the House, and already rammed through Committee and ready for a floor vote, would authorize the Forest Service and BLM to charge fees for all public lands, for any activity, by any person, any time.
More information:
Kitty Benzar 970-259-4616 wsnofee@gmail.com

HOUSE BILL WOULD ALLOW FEES FOR ALL FEDERAL LANDS

Just before the House adjourned for their August recess, a bill that would drastically change federal

recreation fee policy was introduced by U.S. Representative Rob Bishop (R-UT) and rammed through the House Resources Committee, without a hearing, by its Chairman, U.S. Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA).

The bill, known as HR 5204 The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Modernization Act of 2014, could result in having to pay a fee for access to every place and for every activity, both at highly developed recreation sites and those that are completely undeveloped like Wilderness Areas.

Opposition to HR 5204 is being led by the Colorado-based Western Slope No Fee Coalition. According to coalition president Kitty Benzar, "Mr. Bishop's bill lacks any over-arching vision or framework of our public lands being spaces where we all are welcome and have access. It would be a major change in policy, accomplished without public hearings or debate."

Benzar urged people who oppose the bill to contact their congressional delegation without delay, because Congress is expected to act within a week, before it adjourns for the election recess.

According to Benzar, it's likely that Bishop and Hastings are planning to get HR 5204 attached as a rider to the FY2015 appropriations bill. Although HR 5204 has attracted no sponsor in the Senate so far, it's likely that if attached as an appropriations rider it will pass both chambers without scrutiny or public debate, because appropriations bills are considered "must pass" in order to avoid a government shutdown.

Bishop's bill would allow the kind of fees that have not been controversial to continue, such as fees for developed campgrounds and National Park entrance fees. But in addition to those fees, it would allow general access fees for any federal recreational lands and waters. It would accomplish this by two types of fee: Day Use Fees and Permit Fees.

The only meaningful requirement for a Day Use Fee would be that where your vehicle is parked there is a toilet of some kind (it could be a porta-potty or a stinky outhouse) within a half mile.

The only meaningful requirement for a Permit Fee would be that where your vehicle is parked provides access to a "special area." Neither "special" nor "area" is defined. The land agencies would have complete discretion to claim that any place at all is a "special area."

The result is that there would not be anyplace where a fee is not allowed.

Other provisions in HR 5204 include eliminating the requirement that the agencies offer fee-free days, imposing a citizenship check before an annual interagency pass can be purchased, and an increase in allowable overhead costs from 15% to 25%.

A detailed analysis of the major provisions is on our website at this link.

The Western Slope No-Fee Coalition is a broad-based organization consisting of diverse interests including hiking, biking, boating, equestrian and motorized enthusiasts, community groups, local and state elected officials, conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats, and just plain citizens.

Our goals are:

To eliminate recreation fees for general access to public lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
To eliminate backcountry fees and interpretive program fees in National Parks
To require more accountability within the land management agencies
To encourage Congress to adequately fund our public lands

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Kitty Benzar
Western Slope No Fee Coalition