For Immediate Release: September 11, 2007
Contact: Jaime Gardner 303-239-3681
Jack Placchi 303-239-3832

BLM Announces Statewide Special Recreation Permit Application Fee

The Bureau of Land Management has announced that a consistent statewide application fee will be implemented for all Special Recreation Permits (SRPs) the agency issues.  BLM Colorado manages over 800 SRPs annually.  Through commercially permitted services, BLM provides a variety of recreation opportunities, including: big game hunting, fishing, float boating, hiking, biking, horse and jeep tours, hot air ballooning, and paragliding, among others.  BLM also provides opportunities for organized group activities such as jamborees and weddings, and special events such as fund raisers, races, and endurance rides.

Special Recreation Permits are required for a variety of recreation activities on public land, including commercial activities, competitive events, certain organized group activities, and in some designated special areas.  All new permits will be subject to a non-refundable $100 application and transfer fee, or $50 for renewal of a permit, following the public comment period which ends on November 13, 2007.  There will be no fee for annual operating authorizations, and this fee does not affect commercial annual use fees, which remain at 3 percent of gross revenue, or $90, whichever is greater.

“This fee will put dollars spent on processing permits back into field offices for on the ground work such as law enforcement, seasonal employees, or site improvements,” says BLM State Director Sally Wisely. 

The public, and private outfitters, will benefit from the fee through increased law enforcement capabilities, additional funds for signing and interpretive education, and a greater presence by BLM staff in the field to control illegal operations on public lands.  The average cost to existing permit holders will be $10 per year, since most permits are renewed every five years.

A Supplementary Rule was published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2007, detailing these administrative changes.  These changes are authorized under the Federal Land Management and Policy Act.

The Bureau of Land Management oversees 8.3 million acres of public land and 27 million acres of federal subsurface mineral estate in Colorado. 

-BLM-