The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act REA

1
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
(REA)
Implementation Status

• June 2005

2
Key Components of REA Implementation

• Organization
• Timeline
• Outreach
• Compliance
• Collections/Expenditures
• Public Participation
• America the Beautiful Pass (ATB)

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REA Implementation - Organization
FEE COUNCIL Senior officials from DOI and
USDA OVERALL POLICY GUIDANCE
PUBLIC INPUT
STEERING COMMITTEE Senior Agency Staff Oversees
day-to-day implementation
WORKING GROUPS America the Beautiful Pass
Collections / Expenditures Communications
Public Participation/ Recreation RACs
4
REA Timeline (Approximate)
Feb-June, 05 Develop guidelines and definitions
and provide to field
Feb-Dec, 05 Develop and implement Recreation
RACs
Dec '04 REA enacted
Jan 07 ATB pass available for sale
Jan-Feb 05 Initial compliance check
Feb 05 Dec 06 Develop RFP, conduct market
research, implement ATB Pass
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Outreach ActivitiesWe are committed to an open
and inclusive implementation process under REA.

• Listening sessions (6 to date)
• Congressional briefings
• Briefings offered to interested
  stakeholders/groups
• Outreach efforts during Great Outdoors Month,
  June 2005
• Updates on the Department and Agency web-pages

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Outreach Listening Sessions

• ATB Pass
• February 11 and February 18, Washington, DC
• June 2, Washington, DC Disabled Community
• Public Participation/Recreation RACs
• for feedback related to public participation
  issues, including Recreation RAC structure
• June 8, Washington, D.C. Great Outdoors Week
• June 15, Denver, Colorado
• June 17, Washington, D.C.
• Two Additional TBA in Western U.S.

7
Program Changes

• Initial compliance check completed
• Fees inconsistent with new law have been
  eliminated
• No standard amenity fee for individuals under 16
  years
• Spending on biological monitoring of TE species
  has ceased

8
Program ChangesPreliminary Forest Service Site
Reductions
9
Program ChangesExample Los Padres NF
10
Program ChangesBureau of Land Management

• Eliminated fees for overlooks at Imperial Sand
  Dunes (CA)
• Eliminated fees at undeveloped site at Orilla
  Verde Recreation Area (NM)
• Increased the number of sites that accept
  national passes from 12 to 28
• Eliminated youth fee at Piedras Blancas (CA)
  visitor center
• Eliminated youth fee at Cape Blanco Lighthouse
  (OR)

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Collections/Expenditures Interagency Guidelines
have been adopted.

• A Common Set of Definitions
• Uniform Policy Statements
• Analysis of existing private and public
  facilities or services in the vicinity
• In addition, each agency is developing
  additional guidelines to meet individual agency
  needs.

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Public Participation

• Recreation RACs (USFS/BLM only)
• Options for Structuring Recreation RACs have been
  formulated
• Presentation and discussion of Options
• Congressional briefings
• Listening sessions with key national stakeholders
• USFS and BLM field staff with key state, local
  and regional interests

13
2005 Recreation RAC Timeline (Approximate)
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Public ParticipationGuidelines (apply to all
agencies)

• Publication in the Federal Register is required
  before establishing any new recreation fee areas.
• The Guidelines will provide the public with
  opportunities to participate in
• the development or changing of a fee
• how fee revenues should be spent
• The agencies will provide public notice of
• - A new fee area six months prior to
  establishment
• - A new or changed fee
• - How fee revenues are being spent

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America the Beautiful (ATB) Pass Goals

• Seek the input of key stakeholders and the public
• Establish a pass that is convenient for visitors
  and set at a fair price
• Establish a program that provides opportunities
  for educating the public
• Develop partnerships with organizations that
  support recreation and stewardship.

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America the Beautiful Pass Guidelines

• Developing interagency guidelines on
• Price
• Revenue Distribution
• Cost Sharing
• Benefits Provided
• Documentation for age/disability discounts
• Issuance of the pass to volunteers
• Estimated completion in Fall 2005

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America the Beautiful Pass Outreach

• Listening sessions with interested stakeholders
• Two sessions were held in February to receive
  input on the ATB pass. Additional sessions for
  the public will be held as needed.
• Session held in June with disabled community
  regarding the ATB Access pass

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America the Beautiful Pass Decisions

• Continue 50 discounts for senior and access
  ATB pass holders
• Conduct marketing surveys and studies
• GovWorks to act as Contracting Officer
• Use the 2007 National Park Pass photo contest
  to obtain the 2007 ATB image
• Explore the use of technology to improve
  visitor convenience

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America the Beautiful Pass Pricing Strategy

• Purpose Establish a pass that is convenient for
  visitors and set at a fair price
• Collect benchmark data
• Analyze price structures
• Utilize focus groups
• Conduct surveys

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America the Beautiful PassRevenue

• Revenue collected at agency sites remains in the
  agency. Agencies set the policy for within
  agency distribution.
• Short-term (2-3 years) concept pass revenue
  collected centrally (e.g., web sales, telephone
  sales) will be divided on a equal basis with all
  participating agencies
• Long-term concept pass revenue collected
  centrally will be divided by a formula that
  incorporates use data

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Handouts Available

• The REA Implementation Status June 2005
  Powerpoint
• Recreation RACs Alternatives Powerpoint
• Quarterly Implementation Updates
• BLM Interim Guidelines
• FS Interim Guidelines
• Definitions Related to REA
• Analysis of Changes to Forest Service Program

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Next StepsBuilding a Successful Program

• We are committed to an open and inclusive
  implementation process
• We are looking forward to working with the
  public, key stakeholders and interested groups,
  states, local governments, and Congress to build
  a successful recreation fee program.
• Updates on the status of implementation of REA
  may be found at
• www.doi.gov
• www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs