The Bureau of Land Management Recreation Standard Amenity Fee-Free Weekends for the Summer of 2009
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
June 18, 2009
In Reply Refer To:
8300 (250) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 06/22/2009
Information Bulletin No. 2009-086
To: All Field Office Officials
Attn: Recreation Planners and Designated Collection Officers
From: Division Chief, National Recreation and Visitor Services
Subject: The Bureau of Land Management Recreation Standard Amenity Fee-Free Weekends for the Summer of 2009
Program Area: Recreation and Visitor Services and the National Landscape Conservation System
Purpose: This Information Bulletin (IB) transmits information on Recreation Standard Amenity Fee-Free Weekends for the Summer of 2009.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2009, Secretary Salazar announced three summer weekends where national park entrance fees will be waived. The National Park Service (NPS) fees will be waived June 20-21 (Father’s Day weekend), July 18-19, and August 15-16, 2009. Fees being waived include entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Fees associated with reservations in the National Recreation Reservation Service will not be waived nor will entrance fees collected by other third parties. Other non-entrance fees such as camping, boating, interpretive tours, and concessions, may be waived per discretion of the NPS Superintendent.
While other federal land management agencies are not officially observing these “fee-free weekends,†the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field units/fee sites in jointly managed areas, near, or adjacent to the NPS units are encouraged to offer similar fee-free access as appropriate, at the discretion of the State Director. In general, these “fee-free†days may waive standard amenity fees, visitor center fees and individual day-use-fees; however, other fees, for example, those for site rental, group day use, overnight camping, cabins, or special recreation permits will remain in effect.
Most BLM lands are free for recreation use. “Fee-free†days only affect a small number of the BLM recreation sites/areas. Of the 372 BLM recreation sites/areas that charge fees, only 30 charge standard amenity fees. All federal land management agencies will continue to offer “fee- free†days for National Public Lands Day (September 26, 2009) and Veterans Day (November 11, 2009). Information on these observances will be provided in future IBs. More information on the NPS “fee-free weekends†can be found at: www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
If you have any questions concerning this IB, please contact Bob Ratcliffe, Division Chief, Recreation and Visitor Services, at 202-452-5040, or Anthony Bobo, Jr., BLM National Recreation Fee Program Manager, Business Practices and Visitor Services Branch, at 202-452-0333.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Robert T. Ratcliffe Robert M. Williams
Division Chief Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
National recreation and Visitor Services