Recreation Fee Policy

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT



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Recreation Fee Policy

Recreation fees are used to provide needed public services while protecting and enhancing public lands and recreation opportunities. Fees should be balanced and affordable for all members of the public, should not be an impediment to visiting public lands, and fees should not be used as a means to affect the allocation of recreation opportunities. However, those persons actively using recreation opportunities should make a greater, but reasonable, contribution to protect and enhance those opportunities than those who do not use these opportunities.

Recreation Fee Policy

The BLM collects recreation fees at all recreation sites which meet fee collection guidelines as provided for in REA. The collection of recreation fees supports the Department of the Interior’s 2007-2012 Strategic Plan Performance Goal “to provide for and receive fair value in recreation” and conforms to the BLM's “Priorities for Recreation and Visitor Services” strategic plan. Fee programs should support protection of natural resources, provide for public health and safety, and facilitate access to public lands.

Recreation fees are one part of a comprehensive funding strategy to support recreation sites and services. This funding strategy also includes appropriated funding (as a primary funding source), volunteer assistance, interagency cooperation, grants, partnerships with the private sector, commercial operations, and leveraged funding. Fees are not used to maximize revenue.

Fee Categories

Public lands recreation areas, sites and services provide an array of benefits and amenities ranging from collective societal good to personal use. This forms a spectrum of benefits for the provision of visitor services.

Click on the following links for information on the following three BLM Recreation Use Permit (RUP) fee categories, as well as information on SRP fees: