Designation of National Public Lands Day (NPLD), Saturday, September 26, 2009, as a Fee-Free Day at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation and Visitor Sites and the Use of the 2009 Fee-Free Coupon to Recognize NPLD Volunteers
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240http://www.blm.gov/September 4, 2009In Reply Refer To: (250/172) PEMS TRANSMISSION 09/16/2009Information Bulletin No. 2009-107To: All Field Office OfficialsFrom: Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and PlanningSubject: Designation of National Public Lands Day (NPLD), Saturday, September 26, 2009, as a “Fee-Free" Day at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation and Visitor Sites and the Use of the 2009 “Fee-Free Coupon" to Recognize NPLD VolunteersThe NPLD will be celebrated Saturday, September 26, 2009, as a “fee-free" day for visitors to all the Department of the Interior recreation and visitor sites. Site entrance/standard amenity and individual day-use fees will only be waived on this day; however, other fees, such as those for group day use, overnight camping, and cabin rentals, will remain in effect.Fee-Free Coupons for NPLD VolunteersFive of the federal NPLD participating agencies (BLM, National Park Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and Army Corps of Engineers), in conjunction with the Take Pride in America Program and the National Environmental Education Foundation, will present “fee-free coupons" to NPLD volunteers in recognition of their invaluable service to our nation's public lands. The 2009 coupon will entitle the recipient and their family or vehicle companions to one "fee-free" day at a participating federal recreation or visitor site of their choice within one calendar year beginning on September 27, 2009. An example of the 2008 coupon is provided for your information (see Attachment 1).Coupons will be issued to those volunteers, aged 16 years or older, who are participants in a registered NPLD event. Event coordinators will fill in the volunteer's name on the coupon and inform them that the coupon is valid for use at any of the participating agencies' recreation fee sites. If the volunteer intends to use the coupon at an unstaffed Forest Service recreation fee site (i.e., trailhead, day-use site), the volunteer should use the coupon as one would cash, and exchange it for a daily pass using the established self registration process at the site. If there is no other alternative, the volunteer can fill in the date of visit and place it on the dashboard of their vehicle. The coupons are non-transferable, and if lost, will not be replaced.Coupon Distribution and Presentation Supplies of fee-free coupons have been distributed directly to all BLM's NPLD site coordinators (see Attachment 2 for names and locations) by the National Environmental Education Foundation. Site coordinators should note in their records the number of coupons received as well as the number distributed to NPLD volunteers. Volunteers at sites with NPLD events on dates other than September 26 are eligible to receive coupons in recognition of their contributions.The coupon supply must be under the control of the site coordinator or their designee, as there must be an accurate accounting of non-monetary recognition items. After completion of an NPLD event, any surplus fee-free coupons, bundled and clearly labeled as “unused,"should be mailed to Bibi Booth at BLM Education, Interpretation & Partnerships (WO-172), 1849 C Street, NW, MS-LS-406, Washington, D.C. 20240.Coupon Redemption at BLM Sites The coupons will be accepted at any fee site where the America the Beautiful -- National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes (Interagency Annual Pass, Senior Pass, and Access Pass), Golden Age, Golden Access passports, or daily/annual site passes are accepted. At the time of redemption, the holder of the coupon must surrender it to the appropriate BLM recreation or visitor site staff member, who must then record it as “one coupon redeemed." After September 25, 2010, the used coupons, bundled and clearly labeled as “redeemed," should be mailed to Bibi Booth at the address above. Please share this information with your field employees, particularly those who are directly involved in NPLD, such as NPLD site coordinators (see Attachment 2) and State Volunteer Coordinators (see Attachment 3). NPLD Public OutreachWe also request that you promote both "fee-free NPLD" and the NPLD volunteer recognition fee-free coupon via news releases and web postings to encourage local residents and visitors to volunteer at one of the BLM's many 2009 NPLD events. Interested persons may be directed to the national NPLD website at: http://www.publiclandsday.org or referred to local NPLD site coordinators.Thank you for your cooperation. For more information you may contact Bibi Booth, Division of Education, Interpretation & Partnerships, at 202-912-7451, or Anthony Bobo, BLM National Recreation Fee Program Manager, at 202-912-7248.Signed by: Edwin L. Roberson, Assistant Director Renewable Resources and PlanningAuthenticated by: Robert M. Williams, Division of IRM Governance, WO-5603 Attachments1 -- 2008 NPLD "Fee-Free Coupon" (1 p)2 -- 2009 National Public Lands Day Sites and Activities (4 pp)3 -- Contact Information for BLM State Volunteer Coordinators (1 p)