The USDA Forest Service’s Eastern Region is seeking volunteer committee members to advise the agency on recreation fee changes at national forests throughout the northeastern United States.
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act gives the secretary of agriculture the authority to establish, modify, charge and collect recreation fees at federal recreational lands. The Eastern Region reinvests those fees into the improvement, operation, maintenance and management of approximately 380 recreation fee sites. Majority of fees, approximately 80 to 95% remain on the units, were collected and are used for fee site improvements and management.
REA also requires the secretary to establish a Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee in each region for federal recreational lands managed by the USDA Forest Service. Recreation RACs make recommendations on implementing or eliminating standard amenity fees, expanded amenity fees and noncommercial individual special recreation permit fees; expanding or limiting the recreation fee program; and increasing or decreasing fee levels.
Currently, the Eastern Region does not have a functioning RRAC.
The committee of 11 volunteers who serve for two to three years meet once or twice a year to provide recommendations on recreation fees for national forests. Members receive travel, food and lodging costs for regularly scheduled meetings but do not receive pay or other compensation.
Candidates are being recruited to represent one of the following recreation interests:
-Summer motorized, summer nonmotorized, winter motorized, winter nonmotorized and hunting and fishing
-Motorized outfitter and guides, nonmotorized outfitter and guides and local environmental groups
-State tourism official, a person who represents affected local government interests and a person who represents affected American Indian tribes
The Eastern Region RAC provides recommendations for the Forest Service and BLM on recreation fee matters in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.
The Recreation RAC recruitment process is in alignment with USDA equal opportunity policies and will consider demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women and persons with disabilities.
Nomination packets and details are available online at fs.usda.gov/
Submit completed nomination forms by March 1 to Forest Service Recreation RAC, Eastern Regional Office, 626 E. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202 or email [email protected]. Letters of recommendation are welcome but not required.
Once the advisory committee is seated, all Recreation Advisory Committee meetings will be open to the public and include opportunities for public input.