Bureau of Land Management Fee-Free Days for 2023

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
https://www.blm.gov

August 31, 2022

In Reply Refer To:
2930 (HQ-430) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 09/01/2022
Information Bulletin No. 2022-055

To:                  All Field Office Officials

From:              Assistant Director, National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships
 

Subject:           Bureau of Land Management Fee-Free Days for 2023
 

In calendar year 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will waive standard amenity recreation fees for visitors on:

• January 16 (Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.)
• February 20 (Washington’s Birthday)
• June 19 (Juneteenth National Independence Day)
• August 4 (Great American Outdoors Day)
• September 23 (National Public Lands Day)
• November 11 (Veterans Day)

Authority for the establishment of “fee-free” days stems from the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) (16 U.S.C. Chapter 87, section 6804(e)), which authorizes 5 agencies to establish fee-free days on the lands they manage.  These agencies include the BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service.  For the BLM, “fee-free” days refer to the waiver of standard amenity fees and day-use fees only (i.e., visitor centers, picnic/day use areas and National Conservation Lands units where fees are charged).  Expanded amenity fees and other fees (i.e., group day use, overnight camping, cabin rentals, and individual special recreation permits for use of special areas) will remain in effect unless the authorized officer determines it is appropriate to waive them.  For data collection and accountability purposes, a zero-value receipt equivalent to a one-day pass may be issued.

The BLM field units in jointly managed areas near or adjacent to other Federal units are encouraged to coordinate to offer similar fee-free access as appropriate.  BLM offices are encouraged to promote the fee-free days to the public, communities, partners, and youth organizations as an opportunity to instill land stewardship values and promote the Secretary of the Interior’s priority for expanded public access opportunities on BLM-managed public lands.

For more information about the BLM’s recreation fee program, please visit the BLM Recreation Permits and Fees webpage.  For questions about this Information Bulletin, please contact KC Craven, Recreation Permit and Fee Assistant Program Manager, kcraven@blm.gov.

Signed by:                          Authenticated by:
Thomas Heinlein                Robert M. Williams
Acting, Assistant Director  Division of Regulatory Affairs and Directives,(HQ-630)
National Conservation
Lands and Community Partnerships