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Recreation RAC Organization, Purpose & Membership
The Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) gives the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture the authority to establish, modify, charge and collect recreation fees on Federal recreational lands.
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REA also requires the Secretaries to establish Recreation Resource Advisory Committees (Recreation RACs -- types of Federal Advisory Committees) to provide recommendations on recreation fee proposals for federal lands managed by the BLM and the US Forest Service. All meetings of Recreation RACs are open to the public and include opportunities for public comment. Under REA, existing BLM Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) may also act as, and perform the duties of, Recreation RACs.
Organization & Recreation RAC/RAC Links
The Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture signed an Interagency Agreement which outlines the interagency approach to complying with REA’s Recreation RAC requirements. It also stipulates where existing BLM RACs will be used to act as Recreation RACs and where new Forest Service-chartered Recreation RACs will be created.
For a complete explanation of the advisory committee organization, including links to each Advisory Committee Web site, visit the Recreation RACs Interactive Map.
Purpose of Recreation RACs
What They Do:
The Recreation RACs provide recommendations on implementing or eliminating standard amenity fees, expanded amenity fees, and non-commercial individual special recreation permit fees; expanding or limiting the recreation fee program; and fee level changes (increases or decreases).
What They Do Not Do:
Recreation RACs do not make recommendations on recreation fee sites operated by a concessionaire or contractor, commercial permits such as outfitting and guiding, or Forest Service special use permits and BLM special recreation permits issued for group events such as bike races.
Membership / Application
Recreation RAC Membership (Forest Service-Chartered):
Forest Service-chartered Recreation RACs consist of 11 members who represent the following interests as indicated in REA:
- Five people who represent recreation users and include as appropriate:
- Winter motorized;
- Winter non-motorized;
- Summer motorized;
- Summer non-motorized; and
- Hunting and fishing.
- Three people who represent interest groups that include as appropriate:
- Motorized outfitters and guides;
- Non-motorized outfitter and guides; and
- Local environmental groups.
- Three people, one in each position:
- State tourism official;
- A person who represents affected local government interests; and
- A person who represents affected Indian tribes' issues.
BLM RAC Membership:
Existing Advisory Committees performing the duties of Recreation RACs, such as the BLM Resource Advisory Councils, will retain their current membership. However, these advisory councils may consider establishing subcommittees specifically to address recreation fees.
Each existing BLM RAC consists of 12 to 15 members from diverse interests in local communities, including ranchers, environmental groups, tribes, State and local government officials, academics, and other public land users. The councils have been successful in bringing diverse and often competing interests to the table to deal with issues of mutual concern. This inclusive approach has shown great promise as a means to successfully deal with long-standing public land management issues.
Application Materials:
If you are interested in nominating yourself or another candidate to become a member of a public Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (Recreation RAC) or existing BLM Resource Advisory Council (RAC), you can learn how to do so by going through the following links:
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