2021 01 07
Around Crested Butte in Gunnison County Colorado, dispersed camping is about to get very expensive and the fees being proposed would be in direct violation of FLREA. Or, if they can’t get away with that they’ll get around it by just hiring a hit man (i.e. private concessionaire) to break the law for them. These people are shameless.
2021 01 07 New Fees for Crested Butte
2020 09 20 No Parks For The Poor
Custer Gallatin National Forest has lost its way. They think they’re in competition with private campgrounds and resorts, and have forgotten that Americans are not all wealthy.
2020 09 20 No Parks For The Poor
2014 11 14 Showdown Over A Shakedown
Fee-hungry Forest Service managers trying to charge for kids and painters to enjoy the National Forests.
2014 11 14 Showdown Over A Shakedown
2014 10 01 Adventure Pass More Like A Donation
Riverside Press-Enterprise about how the FS is still confusing and intimidating people into buying Adventure Passes even where they are not required.
2014 10 01 Adventure Pass More Like A Donation
2014 09 29 What Price Wilderness
Smithsonian on the effects of HR 5204 if it were enacted.
2014_09_29_Smithsonian_What Should the Price of Visiting Wilderness Be
2014 09 29 Sneaky Sneaky
Adventure Journal on the stealthy way congress is trying to impose more widespread fees on public land.
2014 09 29 Sneaky Sneaky
2014 09 29 Right On Cue FS Abuses Fee Authority
Montana columnist George Ochenski on the Forest Service abuse of their authority to charge fees.
2014 09 29 Right On Cue FS Abuses Fee Authority
2014 09 03 Stop HR5204
Montana columnist George Ochenski calls on Montanans to ask their Representative – and Senate candidate – Steve Daines to oppose HR 5204.
2014 09 03 Stop HR5204
2014 07 18 FS Concessionaires Equal Higher Costs
High Country News on the results of the Forest Service using concessionaires to privatize publicly owned campgrounds. Higher prices to the public, lower wages to the folks who keep things clean and orderly.
2014_07_18_HighCountryNews_The privatization of public campground management
2014_07_18_HighCountryNews_Concessionaire_Explainer
2014 07 10 FS Loses Landmark Case
One of the most notorious fee programs in the country, the southern California Adventure Pass, has gone down in judicial flames.
2014 07 10 FS Loses Landmark Case
2014 07 09 Judge Takes Chunk From Adventure Pass
When the FS charges you to simply park and head off into the undeveloped backcountry, without using any amenities, they may NOT require a fee. PERIOD.
2014 07 09 Judge Takes Chunk From Adventure Pass
2014 07 08 State Charging For Federal Access
California state parks, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bureau of Land Management are collaborating in California to charge citizens for access to undeveloped federal land.
2014 07 08 State Charging For Federal Access
2014 05 22 Response to LA Times Editorial
Letter to the editor responding to the LA Times editorial.
2014 05 22 Response to LA Times Editorial
2014 05 18 LA Times Editorial
Shockingly mis-informed editorial from the LA Times.
2014 05 18 LA Times Editorial
2014 05 12 Head For The Hills
Editorial from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune celebrating the death of the Adventure Pass.
2014 05 12 Head For The Hills
2014 05 11 Changes coming to Forest fees?
How will the Adventure Pass decision affect other similar fees, such as in the Pacific NW?
2014 05 11 Changes coming to Forest fees?
2014 05 07 Judge Limits Adventure Pass
Federal judge in California says hikers in the backcountry cannot be required to pay a fee for facilities they are not using.
2014 05 07 Judge Limits Adventure Pass
2014 05 06 Forest Fees OK If Concessionaire Charges Them
DC federal court says that it is perfectly legal for the private concessionaires who operate on National Forests to charge fees the Forest Service is prohibited from charging.
2014 05 06 Forest Fees OK If Concessionaire Charges Them
2014 05 05 Judge Rules Against Parking Fees
California federal judge rules that parking fees are illegal on the National Forests.
2014 05 05 Judge Rules Against Parking Fees
2014 05 03 Ruling Undercuts Fees
From the Bend (OR) Bulletin, taking the side of the poor Forest Service, despite the fact that they have been flaunting federal law for a decade.
2014 05 03 Ruling Undercuts Fees
2014 04 30 Judge Strikes Down Parking Fees
More on the April 2014 ruling that parking fees on National Forests are illegal.
2014 04 30 LA Times – Judge rules against Forest Service fees in Southern California
2014 04 30 Judge Nixes SoCal Forest Fee
Summit County (CO) Voice re the Adventure Pass ruling in California.
2014 04 30 Judge Nixes SoCal Forest Fee
2014 04 30 Fee Foes Claim Victory
Santa Barbara Independent re decision that parking fees on National Forests are illegal
2014 04 30 Fee Foes Claim Victory
2014 04 30 LA Times Judge Rules Against SoCal_Forest_Fees
LA Times re the ruling from the LA District Court that Adventure Pass parking fees violate federal law.
2014 04 30 LA Times – Judge rules against Forest Service fees in Southern California
2014 04 29 This Land Is Our Land Until Its Privatized
High Country News oped from Greg Lewis, one of the plaintiffs in the court case that authorized concessionaires to play by different rules than the Forest Service.
2014 04 29 This Land Is Our Land Until Its Privatized
2014 04 29 Judge Ends SoCal Forest Fees
The notorious Adventure Pass in southern California takes a hit, possibly a lethal blow.
2014 04 29 Judge Ends SoCal Forest Fees
2014 04 23 Privatization Backlash
From The Atlantic this report on the backlash against privatizing public services and its failure to achieve the cost savings that are always promised.
2014 04 23 Privatization Backlash
2014 04 14 Concessionaires Profit, Public Shafted
Incisive column by Montana columnist George Ochenski on the recent court decision that said concessionaires do not have to follow federal law.
2014 04 14 Concessionaires Profit, Public Shafted
2014 04 09 Rising Fees Taking A Toll
Rising fees on National Forests and other public lands are taking a toll. Those under private management are the most expensive and a recent court ruling is likely to result in many more places being privatized.
2014 04 09 Rising Fees Taking A Toll
2014 01 22 A Yes Vote Without A Quorum
California\’s Recreation Resource Advisory Committee members have proven once again that they were handpicked, and picked well, because they will bend over backward to do whatever the Forest Service asks of them, even disregard the law when necessary.
2014 01 22 A Yes Vote Without A Quorum
2013 12 12 Note To Concessionaires: You Dont Own The Land
High Country News on how the 2013 government shutdown drove a wedge between Forest Service concessionaires and their so-called partners in the agency.
2013 12 12 Note To Concessionaires: You Dont Own The Land
2013 12 11 Scrapping Fees Good Idea
Letter from another southern Californian who hates the Adventure Pass.
2013 12 11 Scrapping Fees Good Idea
2013 12 11 Open Forests To Everyone
Letter from a forest user supporting the elimination of the Adventure Pass in southern California.
2013 12 11 Open Forests To Everyone
2013 12 09 FS Plans to Ditch Fees
FS has proposed changes to the Adventure Pass program, although they do not even come close to ditching fees.
2013 12 09 FS Plans to Ditch Fees
2013 12 08 FS Scales Back Adventure Pass
The four Adventure Pass forests in Southern California are desperately scrambling to apply some semblance of legality to their fee program, in the wake of a serious wake up call ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
2013 12 08 FS Scales Back Adventure Pass
2013 09 15 Humboldt Board to Hear BLM Proposal
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will hear the BLM proposal to charge a fee for all access to the King Range Wilderness on September 17 2013.
2013 09 15 Humboldt Board Hears BLM Fee Proposal
2013 08 15 Picnicking Ticket Quashed By Murkowski
A day care provider in Alaska was ticketed for having a kids picnic without a permit – gasp! – on the Tongass National Forest. It took intervention from Senator Murkowski to get it dismissed. Too bad the Senator has not intervened in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Montana, New Hampshire, or any of the other states where the use of a picnic table for a couple of hours requires a permit.
2013 08 15 Picnicking Ticket Quashed By Murkowski
2013 08 14 Lake Isabella Locals Scratching Their Heads
Folks who live around Lake Isabella on the Sequoia National Forest are puzzled about why a meeting to determine the future of the fee program there is being held in Sacramento, 350 miles away. Well duh. Of course they are holding it far away. Otherwise some members of the public might actually attend. Cannot have that!
2013 08 14 Lake Isabella Locals Scratching Their Heads
2013 06 28 FS To Drop Fees At Mt Lemmon
Following their crushing loss at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Coronado NF is finally getting their fee program at Mt Lemmon into compliance with the law. Now how about Sabino and Madera Canyons, Sedona, the Adventure Pass and NW Forest Pass forests, and all the other illegal fees?
2013 06 28 FS To Drop Fees At Mt Lemmon
2013 06 24 Time To Rein In Fees
Editorial from The Missoulian by political commentator George Ochenski about the many problems and failures of recreation fees.
2013 06 24 Time To Rein In Fees
2013 06 20 If The World Were Run Like Airlines
Tongue in cheek piece from the Wall Street Journal that paints and all too possible picture of our future world if everything becomes a market commodity.
2013 06 20 If The World Were Run Like Airlines
2013 06 19 Lawmakers Consider Overhaul of FLREA
US House hearing shows the need for an overhaul of federal recreation fee law.
2013 06 19 Lawmakers Consider Overhaul of FLREA
2013 06 18 Hearing Could Hinder Free Access
Twin Falls Times-News on the oversight hearing in the US House June 18, 2013.
2013 06 18 Hearing Could Hinder Free Access
2013 06 17 House To Examine Fees
Energy & Environment Daily on the runup to an oversight hearing on recreation fees in the US House.
2013 06 17 House To Examine Fees
2013 06 09 Keep The Bells Free
Open letter to the Forest Service published in the opinion pages of the Aspen Times. Cyclists are going to fight to keep riding in Maroon Valley free.
2013 06 09 Keep The Bells Free
2013 06 07 Bike Fee Leaves Aspen Spinning
Aspen bicyclists are not pleased with the possibility of a fee to ride the Maroon Lake Road.
2013 06 07 Bike Fee Leaves Aspen Spinning
2013 06 06 Forest Service Considers Aspen Bike Fee
Bicyclists in Aspen may have to pay a fee to ride to Maroon Lake under a recent proposal by a Forest Service advisory committee.
2013 06 06 Forest Service Considers Aspen Bike Fee
2013 06 06 Bike Fee Hits Bump
The possibility of charging cyclists a fee to ride to Maroon Valley near Aspen, Colorado, is not looking very popular.
2013 06 06 Bike Fee Hits Bump
2013 06 06 Bicycle Fee Urged For Maroon Lake
Aspen Times article about the unexpected proposal from the Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory Committee to charge bicylists who ride to Maroon Lake the same $10 fee that vehicles and bus riders have to pay.
2013 06 06 Bicycle Fee Urged For Maroon Lake
2013 05 22 Maroon Bells Fee At Center Of Debate
Aspen Times on the changes coming to the fee that has been charged for Maroon Bells Wilderness access. They still plan to charge for parking at backcountry trailheads, and that is still illegal.
2013 05 22 Maroon Bells Fee At Center Of Debate
2013 05 20 Lake Como Fees Challenged by Montana Attorney
A former county attorney in Montana is taking on the entrance fee being charged at Lake Como on the Bitterroot National Forest.
2013 05 20 Lake Como Fees Challenged by Montana Attorney
2013 05 16 BLM Proposes to Eliminate Season Passes at ISDRA
The BLM plan to raise fees at Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area and eliminate the popular season pass option is meeting strong resistance.
2013 05 16 BLM Proposes to Eliminate Season Passes at ISDRA
2013 05 06 Siuslaw Visitors Hate Fees
Siuslaw NF in Oregon is having a vandalism problem with its fee payment stations. Geez do you suppose it could be because the fees they are collecting are prohibited by law? The law says you cannot be required to pay for just passing through federal lands without using facilities and services. On the Siuslaw, 35 of the 51 day use fee sites are trailheads. While no one condones vandalism, when a federal agency treats citizens this way it tends to make them angry and the end result is pretty predictable.
2013 05 06 Siuslaw Visitors Hate Fees
2013 04 18 Senior Pass Giveaway
The forces of commercialization and privatization of our public lands are setting their sights on the Interagency Senior Pass.
2013 04 18 Senior Pass Giveaway
2013 04 10 Sequoia Lawsuit Is Last Resort
Kern Valley Sun re the lawsuit filed against the Sequoia NF Southern Sierra Pass fee program.
2013 04 10 Sequoia Lawsuit Is Last Resort
2013 03 25 Washington State Discovers Passes Are Not The Answer
When Washington State cut their state parks loose from state funding they predicted that the Discover Pass would bring the moola rolling in. Instead the parks are rotting and abandoned. Why is anyone surprised?
2013 03 25 Washington State Discovers Passes Are Not The Answer
2013 02 04 Tonto Wants Fee Boost
Tonto National Forest, which already operates the most complicated and expensive recreation fee program in the nation, wants to increase fees even more.
2013 02 04 Tonto Wants Fee Boost
2012 10 25 Imperial Sand Dunes Wants Another Increase
Imperial Sand Dunes in California charges an entrance fee – which is actually illegal. Now they want to increase it.
2012 10 25 Imperial Sand Dunes Wants Another Increase
2012 10 01 Adventure Passes Continue On Los Padres
Ventura (CA) Star report on the Los Padres National Forests continued denial that they have to get into compliance with federal law. They may not charge for parking or for access, only for use of developed amenities. Yet they continue to require an Adventure Pass just to park and enter the Forest, while claiming that they have to wait for public review before they change anything. Not true. No public review is necessary now that the federal courts have told them what is and is not legal.
2012 10 01 Adventure Passes Continue On Los Padres
2012 08 21 Montana Volunteers Quit Over Fees
The Bitterroot XC Ski Club in western Montana has discontinued a huge volunteer program that built and maintained the Gordon Reese cabin on Chief Joseph Pass. The cabin was built with volunteer labor and donated materials, and is situated in a ski trail system entirely groomed by volunteer labor and equipment. The club gave it freely to the Forest Service on the condition that winter use would always be free to the public. They have provided volunteer hosting and ski trail grooming in return for 60 nights each winter of overnight use by their membership, one of which was auctioned off annually as their major fundraiser. Now the Supervisor of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has slapped them in the face by cancelling the fundraiser, eliminating free overnight use and cutting their allocation of 60 nights of hosting in half. The club has responded by walking away from the cabin and wishing the Forest good luck. Club members will continue their volunteer grooming and care of the trails.
2012 02 15 FS Ethics Panel Nixes Raffle
2012 08 08 Club Appeals to Chief
2012 08 15 Club Ends Volunteer Efforts
2012 08 16 Volunteers Cease Maintaining Cabin
2012 08 19 Montana Volunteers Drop Cabin Project
2012 08 21 USFS Disregards Volunteers
2012 08 22 Baucus Gets Involved In Ski Cabin Dispute
2012 08 12 Privatizing Does Not Compute
Op-ed from California about privatizing state parks. The author makes arguments that are right on point for the Forest Service efforts to do the same with all recreation on our National Forests.
2012 08 12 Privatizing Does Not Compute
2012 08 07 Public Agencies Charging For Nothing
High Country News op-ed from a Sedona resident about the Forest Service being in denial that they are actually subject to the federal courts. Imagine that.
2012 08 07 Public Agencies Charging For Nothing
2012 07 09 Looking Is Free At Mt Evans
Westword in Denver re the new fee program at Mt Evans. Thanks to the the tenacity of a few determined citizens, you can now look at the mountain scenery for free.
2012 07 09 Looking Is Free At Mt Evans
2012 07 07 Mt Evans Fee Dropped
Denver Post on Forest Service dropping Mt Evans fee.
2012 07 07 Mt Evans Fee Dropped
2012 07 07 FS Tweaks Mt Evans Fee
It took four years and two lawsuits but the Forest Service is finally going to comply with federal law at Mt Evans in Colorado.
2012 07 07 FS Tweaks Mt Evans Fee
2012 07 03 No More Pay To Play At Mt Evans
Summit County (CO)Citizens Voice on the end of access fees at Mt Evans
2012 07 03 No More Pay To Play At Mt Evans
2012 06 20 Green Mountain Reservoir Fees End
After years of wrangling, the Forest Service is finally getting rid of the illegal parking fees for day use at Green Mountain Reservoir.
2012 06 20 Green Mountain Reservoir Fees End
2012 05 26 The Great Outdoors Will Cost You
In Washington state, ordinary folks are fed up with fees. But the Washington Trails Association and the Forest Service love them.
2012 05 26 The Great Outdoors Will Cost You
2012 05 21 Pacific NW Drops Some Fees
Forest Service is dropping some fees in the Pacific Northwest. However they are still basing their fees on the presence of amenities, rather than on the activity of the visitor. The federal court says they cannot charge for parking at a trailhead to go hiking, regardless of what amenities are present there. They plan to continue to do it anyway.
2012 05 21 Pacific NW Drops Some Fees
2012 05 11 Coronado Uses Intimidation To Collect Fees
Coronado National Forest uses intimidating tactics to continue charging fees ruled illegal by federal appeals court.
2012 05 11 Coronado Uses Intimidation To Collect Fees
2012 05 06 Ohio Commission Pushes For End To Fees
The County Commissioners of Lawrence County Ohio have sent a letter to Congress calling for an end to the fee for horse trail users.
2012 05 06 Ohio Commission Pushes For End To Fees
2012 05 01 No Fees At Braley Pond
George Washington and Jefferson National Forest officials deny planning to charge fees at Braley Pond recreations site. Why was there a sign posted to the contrary? Why, they just forgot to take it down. Yeah. Right.
2012 05 01 No Fees At Braley Pond
2012 03 02 Pacific NW Fee Case
Shortly after the 9th Circuit ruled an Arizona fee program was illegal, a federal court in Oregon dismissed all charges against a Portland hiker. Adi Fairbank had left his car parked for three days at a trailhead while he backpacked on the Pacific Crest Trail. On returning he had a federal ticket on his windshield for not having a Northwest Forest Pass on display. He contested the ticket based in part on the 9th Circuit decision, and the court dismissed the charges. This case shows the ruling is applicable nationwide, not just in Arizona.
2012 02 24 Forest Service Asks Court To Dismiss Charges
2012 02 27 Court Order Case Dismissed
2012 03 02 Are NW Forest Fees Illegal?
2012 03 01 Forest Service Defies Court
Forest Service announces that they will not be making any changes to their recreation fee program, despite being told by the 9th Circuit that they have exceeded their legal authority.
2012 03 01 Forest Service Press Release
2012 03 02 Forest Service Defies Court
2012 03 04 American Fork Utah Fee Will Continue
2012 03 07 FS Behavior Falls Short
2012 03 08 Colorado Fees Will Continue
2012 03 15 FS Fees Continue In Ventura Despite Court
2012 05 11 Coronado Uses Intimidation To Collect Fees
2012 02 29 Most Forest Fees To End
LA Times article about the Forest Service review of their fee program and the impact of the recent 9th Circuit decision.
2012 02 29 Most Forest Fees To End
2012 02 28 9th Circuit Ruling Media
Media around the recent 9th Circuit ruling striking down the Mt Lemmon fee area has been heavy. Here is a sampling.
2012 02 18 Good Riddance Adventure Pass
2012 02 21 Adventure Pass In Doubt
2012 02 21 Court Says No Parking Fees
2012 02 21 Ruling Affects Los Padres NF
2012 02 21 Ruling Further Restricts Red Rocks Pass
2012 02 21 Ruling Affects Santa Barbara
2012 02 21 Tonto NF May Evade Fee Ruling
2012 02 22 Court Attacks Adventure Pass
2012 02 22 No More Fees On Mt Lemmon
2012 02 22 Public Lands Private Fees on Tonto NF
2012 02 23 Ruling Affects NW Forest Pass
2012 02 20 Court to FS: Take a Hike
2012 02 21 Fees Take Another Legal Hit
2012 02 20 Adventure Pass In Doubt
2012 02 22 Ruling Affects Oregon Forest Fees
2012 02 22 Fees Axed By Court
2012 02 21 Ruling Affects NW Forests
2012 02 24 Ruling Overturns Arizona Forest Fees
2012 02 24 SoCal Forests Continue Illegal Fee Pending Appeal
2012 02 24 Federal Court Chops Fee
2012 02 27 Response to Federal Court Chops Fees
2012 02 29 Adventure Pass Not Required
2012 02 29 Northern Utah Fees May End
2012 03 01 Fees To End On Los Padres
2012 03 01 LA Times Loves Fees
2012 03 01 Ruling Blocks Arizona Fees
2012 03 02 Hikers Axe Adventure Pass
2012 03 01 San Diego Fees May End
2012 03 01 Utah Fees In Question
2012 03 06 San Francisco Chronicle
2012 03 07 Fresno Bee
2012 03 08 Drop Utah Fees
2012 04 01 Pick and Shovel Gazette
2013 06 28 FS To Drop Fees At Mt Lemmon
2012 02 21 Fee Foes Hail Ruling
Durango (CO) article about 9th Circuit ruling that the Forest Service has been exceeding its legal authority to charge fees.
2012 02 21 Fee Foes Hail Ruling
2012 02 17 Restore the Public in Public Lands
Letter to the editor of the Arizona Daily Star by successful plaintiff Gaye Adams, about the 9th Circuit decision overturning the Coronado National Forest fee program at Mt Lemmon near Tucson.
2012 02 17 Restore the Public in Public Lands
2012 02 16 Court Ruling Affects Adventure Pass
The Adventure Pass program in southern California requires a fee at hundreds of trailheads, even from those who just park and set off up the trail. The recent 9th Circuit ruling says the Forest Service can not do that.
2012 02 16 Court Ruling Affects Adventure Pass
2012 02 15 Decision Impacts Adventure Pass
Pasadena Star-News story about how the 9th Circuit decision will impact the Adventure Pass in Southern California.
2012 02 15 Decision Impacts Adventure Pass
2012 02 15 Adventure Pass Could End
Whittier California article correctly deducing that the Adventure Pass has been ruled illegal by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Forest Service still in denial.
2012 02 15 Adventure Pass Could End
2012 02 10 Court Invalidates Mt Lemmon Fee
9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns the Mt Lemmon access fee!
2012 02 10 Court Invalidates Mt Lemmon Fee
2012 02 10 Court Halts Mt Lemmon Fee
Updated article from AZ Daily Star. Coronado National Forest is consulting with their lawyers to decide whether to follow the law or not.
2012 02 10 Court Halts Mt Lemmon Fee
2012 02 10 Appeals Court Strikes Down Fees
AP story about the Mt Lemmon appeals court decision
2012 02 10 Appeals Court Strikes Down Fees
2012 02 10 9th Circuit Overturns Fees
Courthouse News Service article about the Mt Lemmon Decision
2012 02 10 9th Circuit Overturns Fees
2012 01 31 Red Rock Pass Changes Take Effect
Verde Valley(AZ)on the changes to the Red Rocks Pass fee program, with a sidebar on how the Sedona events started a national ball rolling that will likely result in reductions in fee areas nationwide.
2012 01 31 Red Rock Pass Changes Take Effect
2012 01 30 Clearwater Funding Cuts Mean More Concessionaires
The Clearwater National Forest is having its funding cut – not by Congress but by their own Regional Office. In response they will turn over campgrounds that actually bring money in to the Forest and let that money flow instead to private concessionaires. This makes no sense at all.
2012 01 30 Clearwater Funding Cuts Mean More Concessionaires
2012 01 27 Green Mountain May See Lower Fees
From the Summit Daily (Colorado)Green Mountain Reservoir may soon be free for day use.
2012 01 27 Green Mountain May See Lower Fees
2012 01 27 Federal Parks and Recreation
Excerpt of the January 27 2012 issue of Washington insider newsletter Federal Parks and Recreation, about the possible demise of HIRAs.
2012 01 27 Federal Parks and Recreation on HIRAs
2012 01 25 If A Fee Is Charged In The Forest
Bakersfield Californian columnist Lois Henry on the review and reform of High Impact Recreation Areas by the Forest Service. Looks like smoke and mirrors, not real change.
2012 01 25 If A Fee Is Charged In The Forest
2012 01 18 FS Forum Shopping
The Forest Service is in such a hurry to get this new fee site approved that they are taking it to a Utah BLM advisory committee rather than the Colorado Forest Service committee that should have jurisdiction.
2012 01 18 FS Forum Shopping
2012 01 06 Fees End In Wide Area
From the Arizona Republic. The Red Rock Pass fee area in Sedona is being scaled way back. It will now be almost, but not quite, in compliance with the court decision in US v Smith.
2012 01 06 Fees End In Wide Area
2012 01 01 Fed Up With Fees
From AARP Magazine. Americans have had it up to here with all kinds of fees, not just recreation fees.
2012 01 01 Fed Up With Fees
2012 01 01 Fed Up With Fees
It is not just public lands fees. Americans are being fee-ed to death. This article from AARP magazine says people are getting fed up with it.
2012 01 01 Fed Up With Fees
2011 12 23 Red Rock Pass Transforms Under Pressure
Sedona Red Rocks News article about the move by the Coconino National Forest to bring the Red Rock Pass program into a little better compliance with the law. A welcome move, but still room for improvement.
2011 12 23 Red Rock Pass Transforms Under Pressure
2011 12 19 Red Rock Pass Area Now Smaller
From the Prescott Arizona Courier, the Coconino National Forest has shrunk the Red Rock Pass area to 11,000 acres from the previous 160,000. But they are still charging for access to several trails, and they cannot do that according to the court ruling. A little less illegal is not the same as legal.
2011 12 19 Red Rock Pass Area Now Smaller
2011 12 14 Red Rock Pass Scaled Back
Coconino National Forest is dramatically scaling back the size of the Red Rock Pass fee area around Sedona Arizona. This is a less illegal system than previously, but that is not the same as being legal. They are still charging for parking and access to trails, which both the law and the judge say is not allowed. Only a matter of time until they are hauled back into court.
2011 12 14 Red Rock Pass Scaled Back
2011 12 04 NPS Stonewalls On Great Smoky Mts Fee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park wants to start charging a fee for backcountry permits. They took comments for 30 days and received more than 1,500 of them. But they do not want to tell anyone what they said. A local backpacker who filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the comments is being told it will cost over a thousand dollars to provide them.
2011 12 04 NPS Stonewalls On Great Smoky Mts Fee
2011 10 29 Summit Countys Dirty Secret
Day use fees in Summit County have resulted in resource damage on surrounding public lands.
2011 10 29 Summit Countys Dirty Secret
2011 10 22 Fewer Fee Sites In Sedona
Coconino National Forest modifies the Red Rock Pass program to be a little bit less illegal.
2011 10 22 Fewer Fee Sites In Sedona
2011 09 19 Tipton GAO Letter
Congressman Scott Tipton (R-CO) and two House colleagues call on the GAO to do a complete audit of the federal recreation fee program
2011 09 19 Tipton GAO Letter
2011 06 02 Red Rock Pass Changes
Arizona Daily Sun article about the Red Rock Pass proposed changes – and why they would still not comply with the law.
2011 06 02 Red Rock Pass Changes
2011 06 01 This Land Is Your Land Or Is It
The problems and scandals created by the privatization of public lands are explored in this excellent article by Sedona resident Cindy Cole in The Noise, a northern Arizona arts and news magazine.
PDF files for this item
2011 06 01 This Land Is Your Land Or Is It
2011 05 31 Tonto Needs Balance On Fees
Opinion piece from the Payson Roundup about the Tonto National Forest plan to create new day use sites outside the law and turn them over to private management.
2011 05 31 Tonto Needs Balance On Fees
2011 05 31 Tonto Fee Outcry May Prompt Change
News article from Payson (AZ) Roundup. The Tonto National Forest may be backing down from their plan to create a batch of new fee areas and turn them over to private management.
2011 05 31 Tonto Outcry May Prompt Change
2011 05 13 Where Is The Service?
Letter to the editor of the Payson (AZ) Roundup about the proliferation of fees and privatization on the Tonto National Forest.
2011 05 13 Where Is The Service?
2011 05 01 Open House Closed Minds
The Sedona Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest wants to hear your thoughts about the Red Rock Pass, but they just do not want anyone else to hear them.
2011 05 01 Open House Closed Minds
2011 04 27 Privatization Threatens Tonto
Tonto National Forest is proposing to privatize dozens of recreation sites without any public process whatsoever.
2011 04 27 Privatization Threatens Tonto
2011 04 27 Fighting Fees In The Red Rocks
Flagstaff Public Radio story about the ongoing battle over the Red Rock Pass in Sedona. Audio available at www.knau.org
2011 04 27 Fighting Fees In The Red Rocks
2011 04 12 The Best Things In Life Are Free
Reprint of an article from SummitPost.org about the difficulties and expense of obtaining a permit from the BLM to visit The Wave, a much-photographed rock formation in southern Utah. BLM is running the permit system as a gambling racket, and generating thousands of dollars in non-refundable application fees from people who never do get permits.
2011 04 12 The Best Things In Life Are Free
2011 04 01 Stormy Weather for Red Rock Pass
Front page story from northern Arizona weekly The Noise about the desperate efforts by the Coconino National Forest to save the Red Rock Pass.
2011 04 01 Stormy Weather for Red Rock Pass
2011 03 22 Red Rock Pass Deters Local Visits
Editorial from the Verde Valley Independent about how the Red Rock Pass discourages residents from visiting their beautiful neighboring public lands.
2011 03 22 Red Rock Pass Deters Local Visits
2011 03 20 Red Rock Pass Help Sought
Coconino National Forest is looking for the public to help them decide what to do about the Red Rock Pass. Here is an idea. Read the law and follow it.
2011 03 20 Red Rock Pass Help Sought
2011 03 03 Sedona Disputes Access Fees
Sedona Arizona residents turn out to blast the Coconino National Forest and their Red Rock Pass access fee program.
2011 03 03 Sedona Disputes Access Fees
2011 03 03 Forests For Sale
Cover story from the Bend Oregon Source Weekly, about the creeping – oops make that galloping – commercialization and privatization of our National Forests.
2011 03 03 Forests For Sale
2011 03 03 Cross Words At The Crossing
Sedona residents are being told they must pay a concessionaire $2 to walk across 200 yards of National Forest land that is under private management, in order to access the bank of Oak Creek on the far side.
2011 03 03 Cross Words At The Crossing
2011 02 21 Forest Service Tickets Families Having Snow Fun
On a rare snow day, Santa Barbarans took their kids to the Los Padres National Forest, only to be slapped with federal tickets for not having a pass to park on the side of the road.
2011 02 21 FS Tickets Families Having Snow Fun
2011 02 17 Does BLM Care?
A total disregard for public input characterizes the Bureau of Land Management relationship with Jackson County Colorado. This is the front page article from the February 17 2011 Jackson County Star telling the whole sad story.
2011 02 17 Does BLM Care?
2011 02 04 Toll Roads No More Popular Than Public Lands Fees
LA is pushing back hard against the incursion of toll roads. There is a very close analogy between roads and public lands. They both serve the common good and have historically been funded by everyone. The move to charge directly for using them is meeting similar resistance in both cases. When will we return to a concept of public good instead of commercializing absolutely everything?
2011 02 04 Toll Roads No More Popular Than Public Lands Fees
2011 01 19 FS Gives Away Campground Revenue
An Oregon county is taking over management of several Forest Service campgrounds and paying the FS only 5.3% of the gross. If the FS managed these directly they could keep 100% of the gross. Why is the FS so anxious to get out of the recreation business?
2011 01 19 FS Gives Away Campground Revenue
2011 01 18 Nickel Diming Quartering the Public
Chicago experience with privatizing its parking meters shows why privatizing public lands is an equally bad idea.
2011 01 18 Nickel Diming Quartering the Public
2011 01 05 Bagby Hot Springs Privatization Goes To Public
Mt Hood National Forest has bowed to public pressure and will hold a public meeting to discuss whether Bagby Hot Springs should be privatized by having it managed by a private concessionaire.
2011 01 05 Privatization of Bagby Hot Springs Goes to Public
2011 01 03 Privatization Is Soaking In On Mt Hood
The Mt Hood National Forest wants to privatize a popular public hot springs, but is running into stiff public resistance.
2011 01 03 Privatization Is Soaking In On Mt Hood
2010 12 06 Debate Steams Over Hot Springs
Mt Hood National Forest wants to turn over a beloved backcountry hot springs that has been maintained by volunteers for decades to a private concessionaire to manage for profit.
2010 12 06 Debate Steams Over Hot Springs
2010 11 18 Colorado Counties Object To Fourteener Fee
Two Colorado counties refuse to support the imposition of an access fee for the 14,000 foot peaks in the Sangre de Cristo range on the San Isabel National Forest.
2010 11 18 Colorado Counties Object to Fourteener Fee
2010 11 13 Skull Hollow Privatized, Then Closed
In less than two years, Skull Hollow Campground on the Ochoco National Forest went from being free to a $5 fee, to being turned over to a private concessionaire to manage for profit. The concessionaire added a $3 extra vehicle fee on top of the $5, and now for the first time the campground will be closed in the winter even though climbers have relied on using it year round for years. The public has been completely taken out of the process.
2010 11 13 Skull Hollow Privatized, Then Closed
2010 11 06 Vermont Campground Closure Ruffles Feathers
The closure of a local campground by the Green Mountain National Forest has not gone down well with the local community.
2010 11 06 Vermont Campground Closure Ruffles Feathers
2010 11 06 Campground Not Needed
The Forest Service wants to build a campground, but this letter writer says there are far more pressing needs for the money.
2010 11 06 Campground Not Needed
2010 10 29 Parking Fee In Idaho
BLM in Idaho is going to start charging for parking at St Anthony Dunes, even though they are prohibited by law from charging for parking.
2010 10 29 Parking Fee In Idaho
2010 10 27 Red Rock Pass Interim Changes
Camp Verde (Arizona) Bugle article about the new enforcement rules for the Red Rock Pass. The pass will still be required at many places just for parking or simple access to a trail, both of which the recent court ruling said are illegal.
2010 10 27 Red Rock Pass Interim Changes
2010 10 27 Red Rock Pass Changes
Arizona Daily Sun article about the changes being made to enforcement of the Red Rock Pass program. There will still be places where a pass is required for access to trails and just for parking, both of which the recent court decision said are illegal.
2010 10 27 Red Rock Pass Changes
2010 10 27 FS Press Release
Coconino National Forest press release about the enforcement changes to the Red Rock Pass. They still plan to charge in many places for parking and access to trails, both of which the recent court decision says are illegal fees.
2010 10 27 FS Press Release
2010 10 25 Colorado River Fees Going Up
BLM in Colorado wants to increase access fees for the upper Colorado River.
2010 10 25 Colorado River Fees Going Up
2010 10 23 Coconino Backs Off
Verde Valley (AZ)News on the Coconino National Forest – sort of – getting into compliance with federal law with their Red Rock Pass program. Not exactly a clear picture yet.
2010 10 23 Coconino Backs Off
2010 10 21 FS Moves To Intimidation
Bill Schneider at NewWest.net on the Forest Service move to using intimidation tactics to collect fees they are not authorized to charge.
2010 10 21 FS Moves To Intimidation
2010 10 21 Custer County Asked To Oppose Fee
Wet Mountain Tribune article about the WSNFC request to Custer County officials that they oppose any access fee for the South Colony Lakes Basin, gateway to the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.
2010 10 21 Custer County Asked To Oppose Fee
2010 10 16 Court Reins In Red Rock Pass
Verde Valley (AZ) News article about the federal court decision that the Coconino National Forest does not have legal authority to charge for all access to 160,000 acres of public land.
2010 10 16 Court Reins In Red Rock Pass
2010 10 15 Red Rock Pass Scope Reduced
The Coconino National Forest has decided not to appeal their loss in US v Smith. Instead they are going to get the Red Rock Pass fee program into compliance with federal law. Thats one HIRA down, 95 to go.
2010 10 15 Red Rock Pass Scope Reduced
2010 10 05 Fourteener Fees Controversial
Tim Sprinkle article in NewWest.net crystallizes the issues that make fee-based access a very bad idea.
2010 10 05 Fourteener Fees Controversial
2010 10 01 Judge Rules Against Red Rock Pass
Red Rock News (Sedona, AZ) front page story about the decision in US v Smith
2010 10 01 Judge Rules Against Red Rock Pass
2010 09 30 Outdoor Access Should Be Free
Editorial in the Sedona Red Rock News. The editor misunderstands federal law, which requires that rules apply equally to all visitors. There is no such thing as a local when it comes to National Forests – they belong equally to those who live far away as to those who live nearby. Given that misunderstanding, otherwise a good editorial.
2010 09 30 Outdoor Access Should Be Free
2010 09 29 Finally Our Day In Court
The defendants story in his own words about the US v Smith decision.
2010 09 29 Finally Our Day In Court
2010 09 29 Earth To Forest Service
Bill Schneider on the Sedona decision that the Forest Service is greatly exceeding its fee authority.
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2010 09 29 Earth To Forest Service
2010 09 26 Judge Dismisses Red Rocks Ticket
Jim Smith tells his own story in this article for Sedona.biz.
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2010 09 26 Judge Dismisses Red Rocks Ticket
2010 09 24 Denali and Rainier Fees Going Up
NPS climbing fees at Denali and Rainier National Parks are about to skyrocket.
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2010 09 24 Denali and Rainier Fees Going Up
2010 09 23 Sedonan Wins In Court
Sedonan Jim Smith succeeded in having his Red Rock Pass ticket thrown out in federal court because the Coconino National Forest is exceeding its legal authority to charge recreation fees.
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2010 09 23 Sedonan Wins In Court
2010 09 23 Make Fees Fit Use
Confused and confusing editorial from the Flagstaff Daily Sun re US v Smith decision. Note that a lot of the work they credit to Red Rock Pass money was done by volunteers. The more developed sites that they support fees for are almost all managed by private concessionaires for profit and do not accept the Red Rocks Pass. Just about all the Red Rocks Pass money that does go to the Forest Service is for access to backcountry, and the judge just put a stop to that.
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2010 09 23 Make Fees Fit Use
2010 09 22 Case Could End HIRA Fees
Kern Valley Sun says the US v Smith decision could be the end of scam HIRA fees.
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2010 09 22 Case Could End HIRA Fees
2010 09 21 Red Rock Fees In Legal Limbo
The court victory by Jim Smith of Sedona Arizona could result in free access to millions of acres of National Forest that are now off limits to those without a pass to be there.
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2010 09 21 Red Rock Fees In Legal Limbo
2010 09 16 Live Fee Or Die
Columnist David Feela in High Country News on the proliferation of fees, dwarfs and toads.
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2010 09 16 Live Fee Or Die
2010 09 05 Angeles NF Gets Little Funding
The Angeles National Forest has been charging a $5 day use fee since 1996 – supposedly to supplement appropriated funding so they can adequately support the high level of use. Based on the numbers in this article they should be getting $4-5 million a year in user fees. But the Forest Service has cut their share of appropriated funds, so the place is still a mess. A true lose-lose situation.
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2010 09 05 Angeles NF Gets Little Funding
2010 08 17 Pass Confusion
Remember when you could take a hike on a National Forest without any pass at all? Now we need advice columnists to sort out all the options.
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2010 08 17 Pass Confusion
2010 07 18 Fees Force Events To Cancel
Longstanding organized events in the National Forests, many of them fundraisers for charity, are having to cancel because of skyrocketing fees.
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2010 07 18 Fees Force Events To Cancel
2010 07 16 BLM Plans New Fees At Lake Havasu
BLM plans for new fees on boaters at Lake Havasu have the city government worried about the impact on tourism.
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2010 07 16 BLM Plans New Fees At Lake Havasu
2010 07 15 Fees Are The New Taxes
TV story from Orange County Florida about government picking out pockets for fees instead of getting control of their spending. The Forest Service could be the poster child for this method.
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2010 07 15 Fees Are The New Taxes
2010 07 13 Waive National Park Fees
Op-ed from the Arizona Republic making the connection between high entrance fees and declining visitation. Why do the Park Service and Forest Service not see this?
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2010 07 13 Waive National Park Fees
2010 07 13 New Jersey Parks Are Not For Sale
Guest editorial against the New Jersey proposal to privatize state parks.
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2010 07 13 New Jersey Parks Are Not For Sale
2010 07 08 Boundary Waters Fees Up, Visitors Down
As fees go up, visitation goes down. Duh.
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2010 07 08 Boundary Waters Fees Up, Visitors Down
2010 07 02 BLM Campground Fee Increase
Mud Springs Campground near Grand Junction Colorado is increasing its fees. They tried to start a day use fee here but the WSNFC was able to get it quashed.
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2010 07 02 BLM Campground Fee Increase
2010 07 01 More Fees For North Carolina
North Carolina just gets calloused to fees and gives up and pays them, according to the Forest Service spokesman in this article. And as a bonus, you can get a government job and earn back some of the fees you paid! He thinks that is just splendid.
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2010 07 01 More Fees For North Carolina
2010 06 15 Quillen On 14er Fees
High Country News op-ed by Ed Quillen about the Forest Service proposal to charge an access for for climbing peaks inside a designated Wilderness. He gives all the reasons why that is a bad idea, then draws the conclusion that is is a good idea. Ed, what is the deal?
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2010 06 15 Quillen On 14er Fees
2010 06 10 Privatize At Your Peril
Boston South End columnist explains why privatization of public services is such a terrible idea.
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2010 06 10 Privatize At Your Peril
2010 06 09 San Joaquin Gorge Gets Access Fees
General access and parking fees are being proposed by the BLM at the San Joaquin River Gorge.
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2010 06 09 San Joaquin Gorge Gets Access Fees
2010 06 07 More Fees For Oak Creek
The Forest Service continues its relentless progress toward complete privatization of recreation on our National Forests.
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2010 06 07 More Fees For Oak Creek
2010 06 05 Free Parking On Okanagon Wenatchee
Oh Joy! The National Forests in the Pacific NW are offering a few days of free parking this summer! Of course federal law prohibits them from charging for parking in the first place, but this reporter got it right: it walks like a parking fee and quacks like a parking fee. Its a parking fee.
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2010 06 05 Free Parking On Okanagon Wenatchee
2010 06 04 Oregon Gets Fee Free Days
Eugene (OR) Examiner article about the Forest Service offering two fee-free days in June. The Forest Service Chief now openly admits that some people are deterred from visiting a National Forest by a $5 per day fee. For years they have claimed that fees have no effect on visitation. It was always a ridiculous claim, and they are not even pretending anymore that that is true.
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2010 06 04 Oregon Gets Fee Free Days
2010 06 03 Why Do So Many Pay?
Denver Westword Weekly asks why so many still pay the fee at Mt Evans when it is clearly against the law.
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2010 06 03 Why Do So Many Pay?
2010 06 01 Umpqua NF Gets More Fees
More fees in the Pacific NW courtesy of the rubber-stamp Pacific Northwest Recreation Resource Advisory Committee.
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2010 06 01 Umpqua NF Gets More Fees
2010 05 31 Longs Peak Next Fourteener Fee
Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park may be the next fourteener to charge a fee for climbing. This story from ABC Denver TV News. View embedded video at http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/23745748/detail.html
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2010 05 31 Longs Peak Next Fourteener Fee
2010 05 30 NPS Considers Fourteener Fee At Longs Peak
The next fourteener to join the slippery slope of controlling use by charging fees may be Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.
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2010 05 30 NPS Considers Fourteener Fee At Longs Peak
2010 05 30 Boulder Loves Fourteener Fees
Boulder Daily Camera editorial favoring access fees for fourteeners.
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2010 05 30 Boulder Loves Fourteener Fees
2010 05 28 Mt Evans CBS Denver TV News
CBS Denver TV news story updating their coverage of the Mt Evans fee controversy. View embedded video at http://cbs4denver.com/consumer/mount.evans.road.2.1722991.html
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2010 05 28 Mt Evans CBS Denver TV News
2010 05 26 Fremont Winema Fee Increases
Fremont-Winema National Forest implementing fee increases approved two years ago by the rubber-stamp Pacific Northwest Recreation Resource Advisory Committee.
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2010 05 26 Fremont Winema Fee Increases
2010 05 25 Senators Push Fee Repeal Bill
From the online magazine National Parks Traveler, an article about the request by four powerful Senators that the Fee Repeal bill be given a Committee hearing. Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) has so far not scheduled it to be considered.
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2010 05 25 Senators Push Fee Repeal Bill
2010 05 24 Fees Creating Dispute
Ft Collins Coloradoan article about the proliferation and inconsistency of public lands access fees.
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2010 05 24 Fees Creating Dispute
2010 05 22 South Colony Fee Raises Hospitality Concerns
Colorado Springs Business Gazette re South Colony Fee Proposal on Pike-San Isabel National Forest.
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2010 05 22 South Colony Fee Raises Hospitality Concerns
2010 05 21 Fourteener fee is a bad idea
Editorial from the Longmont (CO) Times-Call opposing the fee for access to four Colorado fourteeners.
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2010 05 21 Fourteener fee is a bad idea
2010 05 20 Greeley Tribune Editorial
Editorial sort of supporting the fourteener fee in South Colony Basin, while giving lots of reasons to oppose it.
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2010 05 20 Greeley Tribune Editorial
2010 05 20 FS Wants Comments On South Colony Fee
Wet Mountain Tribune (Custer County Colorado) report on Forest Service request for public comments about the proposed general access fee for South Colony Basin in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest.
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2010 05 20 FS Wants Comments On South Colony Fee
2010 05 17 Grand Junction Fee Increases
Grand Junction Colorado is facing fee increases in every direction.
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2010 05 17 Grand Junction Fee Increases
2010 05 16 FS To Require Peak Fees
Pike-San Isabel National Forest is planning to charge peak baggers $10-$20 to climb four of Colorados 14,000-foot mountains.
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2010 05 16 FS To Require Peak Fees
2010 05 16 Feds Consider Peaks Fees
AP story from Aurora (CO) Sentinel about the Pike-San Isabel National Forest plan to charge fees for hiking four 14,000-foot peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.
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2010 05 16 Feds Consider Peaks Fees
2010 05 13 ABC Denver News re Fourteeners Fee
ABC Denver TV news story re plans to charge a fee to climb the four fourteeners at South Colony Basin.
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2010 05 13 ABC Denver News re Fourteeners Fee
2010 05 12 Plumas Concessionaire Raises Fees
Campground fees to go up, new boat launch fees going in, all without any public input, to enhance the bottom line of a private concessionaire. The County Commissioners are not happy.
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2010 05 12 Plumas Concessionaire Raises Fees
2010 05 12 Days Of Free Fourteeners Ending
Pike-San Isabel National Forest plans to charge $10-$20 per person to go for a walk in the mountains.
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2010 05 12 Days Of Free Fourteeners Ending
2010 05 06 Not Happy Campers
The Pike-San Isabel National Forest proposes a general access fee to the South Colony Basin area, starting point for climbing several 14,000-foot mountains.
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2010 05 06 Not Happy Campers
2010 04 29 Four Senators Letter re S.868
April 2010 letter from Senators Max Baucus, Jon Tester, Mike Crapo, and Jim Risch calling on the leadership of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee to bring S.868 The Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act, to a hearing.
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2010 04 29 Four Senators Letter re S.868
2010 04 24 Risch Joins Fee Repeal
Idaho Senator Jim Risch signs on as another co-sponsor of S.868 The Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act.
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2010 04 24 Risch Joins Fee Repeal
2010 04 24 Ochoco Fee Hikes Spark Debate
Higher costs, less access result from transfer of federal recreation facilities to private management.
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2010 04 24 Ochoco Fee Hikes Spark Debate
2010 04 23 Ochoco Hiking Fees
Ochoco National Forest is going to raise fees so they can attract a concessionaire to run newly refurbished public facilities.
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2010 04 23 Ochoco Hikes Fees
2010 04 19 Campers Dont Like Private Operators
Durango (CO) Herald re dissatisfaction with private concessionaires in public recreation facilities.
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2010 04 19 Campers Dont Like Private Operators
2010 04 05 Public Not Keen On Fees
Article from summitcountyvoice.com about Forest Service policies at concessionaire sites that charge fees the FS would not be authorized to charge themselves.
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2010 04 05 Public Not Keen On Fees
2010 03 30 Little Sahara Price Going Up
Prices climbing for OHV users at Little Sahara in Utah.
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2010 03 30 Little Sahara Price Going Up
2010 03 30 Fee Proliferation on the Stanislaus
Fees fees and more fees on the Stanislaus National Forest.
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2010 03 30 Fee Proliferation on the Stanislaus
2010 03 28 Zimo re Seniors and Concessionaires
Pete Zimowsky of the Idaho Statesman on Senior discounts and the privatization of Forest Service recreation.
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2010 03 28 Zimo re Seniors and Concessionaires
2010 03 28 Little Sahara Fee Increase Hits Criticism
Many Little Sahara OHV area users are not too pleased with the fee increase that went into effect Easter weekend 2010.
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2010 03 28 Little Sahara Fee Increase Hits Criticism
2010 03 20 Is Washington Listening?
RV News article about the FS decision to leave Senior/Disabled camping discounts in place.
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2010 03 20 Is Washington Listening?
2010 03 19 Seniors Keep Discount
Salt Lake City Tribune article about the decision by the Forest Service to let seniors and the disabled keep their 50% camping discount. A discordant note from the Vice President of Utah-based American Land and Leisure, one of the largest Forest Service concessionaires, whose profits stood to gain if the discount had been reduced to 10%.
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2010 03 19 Seniors Keep Discount
2010 03 19 Ranger Obamas Pay to Hike System
Utne Reader article about the continuation of the Clinton-Bush fee based recreation policies by the Obama administration.
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2010 03 19 Ranger Obamas Pay to Hike System
2010 03 18 Not The Change We Expected
Bill Schneider of NewWest.net puts the Mt Lemmon decision into context.
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2010 03 18 Not The Change We Expected
2010 03 18 AARP Online Bulletin
Followup article from the AARP online bulletin about the Forest Service backing down on their proposal to reduce Senior/Disabled discounts at concessionaire-managed campgrounds.
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2010 03 18 AARP Online Bulletin
2010 03 04 Wyoming Trailhead Fee Draws Fire
Billings Gazette article about the Bighorn National Forest plan to charge a fee at West Tensleep Trailhead.
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2010 03 04 Wyoming Trailhead Fee Draws Fire
2010 03 03 Fees Lead To Privatization
Bill Schneider makes the case on NewWest.net that anyone who opposes privatization of public lands needs to oppose general access fees because that is what they lead to.
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2010 03 03 Fees Lead To Privatization
2010 03 02 West Tensleep Fee Free For Now
Sheridan Wyoming article implies that the Bighorn National Forest may have seen the light and is looking for fairer and less controversial ways to protect the Cloud Peak Wilderness than charging for access to it.
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2010 03 02 West Tensleep Fee Free For Now
2010 02 19 Wyden Wants Senior and Disabled Discounts Continued
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden calls on the Forest Service to drop their plan to eliminate the camping discounts that were promised to seniors and the disabled when they got their lifetime passes.
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2010 02 19 Wyden Wants Senior and Disabled Discounts Continued
2010 02 18 Seniors and Idaho Delegation Blast Plan to End Discounts
Twin Falls (ID) Times-News article about the Forest Service plan to slash camping discounts for Seniors and the disabled.
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2010 02 18 Seniors and Idaho Blast Plan to End Discounts
2010 02 18 Red Rock Fee Increase Approved
The Nevada Recreation Resource Advisory Committee rubber stamps its approval of the fee increase at Red Rock National Conservation Area.
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2010 02 18 Red Rock Fee Increase Approved
2010 02 17 Idaho Delegation Fights For Seniors
Rexburg Idaho newspaper article about the Idaho congressionals asking the Forest Service not to eliminate the 50% Senior and Disabled camping discounts at National Forest campgrounds.
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2010 02 17 Idaho Delegation Fights For Seniors
2010 02 13 Red Rock Fee Hike Coming
Las Vegas Review-Journal article about the upcoming BLM advisory committee meeting to consider new and increased fees at Red Rock Canyon.
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2010 02 13 Red Rock Fee Hike Coming
2010 02 13 Idaho to FS: Whoa Partner Not So Fast
Article from NewWest.net online magazine about the Idaho delegation letter to Forest Service Chief Tidwell calling for him to forget about slashing discounts for Senior and Disabled passholders.
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2010 02 13 Idaho to FS: Whoa Partner Not So Fast
2010 02 12 IDAHO DELEGATION WEIGHS IN
The entire Idaho Congressional Delegation – Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick – have joined in a letter urging Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to drop the misguided idea of reducing discounts for Senior and Disabled lifetime passholders at concessionaire-managed campgrounds! If you live in Idaho, PLEASE send these four elected officials a note of thanks through their websites. You can find them at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov. If you live outside of Idaho, contact YOUR congressional delegation and ask them to join Idaho!
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2010 02 12 BREAKING NEWS! IDAHO DELEGATION WEIGHS IN
2010 02 11 Red Rock Fee Increase Up For Discussion
Las Vegas Sun article about upcoming BLM advisory committee meeting to consider proposed new and increased fees at Red Rock Canyon.
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2010 02 11 Red Rock Fee Increase Up For Discussion
2010 02 10 FS Plan To Cut Senior Discounts Under Fire
Article from the Summit County (CO) Voice about the Forest Service plan to slash camping discounts for senior and disabled lifetime passholders.
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2010 02 10 FS Plan To Cut Senior Discounts Under Fire
2010 02 09 BLM Rules Keep Public Out At Red Rocks
Las Vegas Journal Review editorial taking the BLM to task for keeping the public off of public lands with new rules and fees for group hikers.
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2010 02 09 BLM Rules Keep Public Out At Red Rocks
2010 02 04 New Fee At Red Rocks
BLM will hit hikers with a $95 special permit fee and require 6 months advance notice if they go in groups of 13 or more.
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2010 02 04 New Fee At Red Rocks
2010 01 29 Deadline Nears On Senior Discount Chop
Article from The Missoulian about the Forest Service plan to chop Senior/Disabled camping discounts.
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2010 01 29 Deadline Nears On Senior Discount Chop
2010 01 25 AARP re Concessionaires and Passes
Article from the AARP online bulletin about the Forest Service plan to dramatically raise camping rates for Seniors and the disabled.
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2010 01 25 AARP re Concessionaires and Passes
2010 01 23 So Much For That Lifetime Agreement
Story from Florida about the Forest Service reneging on its promises to Seniors and the disabled.
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2010 01 23 So Much For That Lifetime Agreement
2010 01 20 Trailhead Parking Should Be Free
Letter to the editor of the Buffalo (WY) Bulletin about the Big Horn National Forest plan to charge $10 a day to park at a wilderness trailhead.
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2010 01 20 Trailhead Parking Should Be Free
2010 01 06 A Rock And A Hard Place
Letter to the editor of the Methow Valley (WA) News in response to their interview with the new District Ranger for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This letter was penned by Kristi Laguzza-Boosman who had a recent success fighting a ticket for failure to pay a fee at a wilderness trailhead.
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2010 01 06 A Rock And A Hard Place
2010 01 03 Dont Squeeze The Geezers In The Outdoors
WSNFC President Kitty Benzar column for the Writers On The Range syndicate on the Forest Service attempt to squeeze seniors and the disabled out of the benefits they were promised for their Golden passports.
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2010 01 03 Dont Squeeze The Geezers In The Outdoors
2009 12 31 FS Will Eliminate Discounts
About.com blog article about the elimination of discounts for seniors and the disabled at Forest Service campgrounds managed by private concessionaires.
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2009 12 31 FS Will Eliminate Discounts
2009 12 25 Remove,Reword,Repost
Bighorn NF repackages their proposed parking fee for West Tensleep Trailhead. It still walks like a parking fee and quacks like a parking fee. It is a parking fee.
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2009 12 25 Remove,Reword,Repost
2009 12 30 Parking Fees Are Not Like Camping Fees
2009 11 03 West Tensleep Fee Questioned
2009 12 24 Making Bank at Mt Lemmon
Coronado National Forest continues its efforts to keep from having the legality of the Mt Lemmon fee tested in court.
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2009 12 24 Making Bank at Mt Lemmon
2009 12 20 Fee Proposed For Buffalo Pass
Routt National Forest wants to charge a fee for winter recreation on Buffalo Pass.
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2009 12 20 Fee Proposed For Buffalo Pass
2009 12 15 FS Considers Sr/Disabled Fee Increases
The Coloradoan (Ft Collins) reports on proposed fee increases on Senior and Disabled citizens at Forest Service campgrounds.
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2009 12 15 FS Considers Sr/Disabled Fee Increases
2009 12 14 Little Sahara Gets Hefty Increase
Little Sahara off-highway vehicle area is facing fee increases of over 300%. They are disguised under the trick of eliminating the one-day pass and making the minimum purchase a two-day pass, and even then the increase is substantial.
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2009 12 14 Little Sahara Gets Hefty Increase
2009 12 21 Stop Little Sahara Fee Increase
2009 12 12 Routt NF Proposes Fee On Buffalo Pass
Routt National Forest has pitted motorized vs non-motorized visitors against each other with their proposal to charge a $5 fee for winter access to Buffalo Pass.
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2009 12 12 Routt NF Proposes Fee On Buffalo Pass
2009 12 10 FS Wants To Reduce Discounts
Warren (PA) Times Observer article about the Forest Service plan to eliminate 50% discounts for senior and disabled passholders.
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2009 12 10 FS Wants To Reduce Discounts
2009 12 08 USFS To Eliminate Discounts
Kern Valley (CA) Sun article about the Forest Service plan to eliminate senior and disabled camping discounts.
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2009 12 08 USFS To Eliminate Discounts
2009 12 08 Seniors May Pay More
Bend Oregon Bulletin on the proposal by the Forest Service to end the 50% Senior and Disabled discount on National Forest Campgrounds managed by private concessioners.
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2009 12 08 Seniors May Pay More
2009 12 08 Proposal Would Cut Discount
Billings Gazette/AP article about the Forest Service proposal to cut senior and disabled discounts for camping from 50% to 10%. Their lifetime passes would also no longer cover day use sites in full but would only get a 10% discount for those as well.
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2009 12 08 Proposal Would Cut Discount
2009 12 08 FS Wants To Eliminate Discounts
Article from Motorhome Magazine about the Forest Service plan to eliminate senior and disabled camping discounts. A spokesperson for the Forest Service says they do not want to undercut private campgrounds. But that is exactly what they should be doing, since the Forest Service is subsidized with our federal taxes. They should be offering a more basic facility, sure, but at a modest rate that anyone can afford, and they should honor the discounts Congress extended to seniors and the disabled for social reasons, not economic ones.
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2009 12 08 FS Wants To Eliminate Discounts
2009 12 05 Campground Discount Plan Stirs Debate
The Durango (CO) Herald on the Forest Service plan to eliminate the 50% senior/disabled discount at most campgrounds.
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2009 12 05 Campground Discount Plan Stirs Debate
2009 12 03 Forest Service Wants To End Camping Discounts
Senior and disabled campers will lose their 50% discount on camping at most Forest Service campgrounds if this agency proposal succeeds.
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2009 12 03 Forest Service Wants To End Camping Discounts
2009 12 01 Umpqua Fees to Increase
Roseburg(OR)News-Review on the proposed across-the-board new and increased fees on the Umpqua National Forest.
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2009 12 01 Umpqua Fees to Increase
2009 11 24 Umpqua Proposes Raising Fees
Umpqua National Forest in Oregon proposes raising fees at 38 sites and adding six new fee sites. Nothing in here about the fact that under the law they must obtain general public support first, or about how the public can comment about their plan.
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2009 11 24 Umpqua Proposes Raising Fees
2009 11 22 Bighorn NF Resorts to Trailhead Fees
NewWest.net article about the plan to implement a parking fee at the West Tensleep Trailhead on the Bighorn National Forest.
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2009 11 22 Bighorn NF Resorts to Trailhead Fees
2009 11 12 Bighorn NF Proposes Parking Fee
Bighorn National Forest proposes a $10 per day fee for parking at the West Tensleep trailhead in Wyoming, despite the prohibition on parking fees in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
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2009 11 12 Bighorn NF Proposes Parking Fee
2009 11 11 New Parking Fee On Bighorn NF
The Bighorn National Forest plans to charge for parking at a popular trailhead, while at the same time admitting that they cannot legally charge for parking.
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2009 11 11 New Parking Fee On Bighorn NF
2009 11 06 Dunes Visits Down
Visits to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area are down again, which hurts the Yuma economy. With high fees and heavy-handed law enforcement, what does the BLM expect?
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2009 11 06 Dunes Visits Down
2009 11 05 Deschutes Visits Down
Latest Forest Service surveys show visits to the Deschutes and other Pacific NW National Forests are down – way down. Forest Service officials claim the results are not reliable, then proceed to make excuses for the declines. Could it be because you have to pay five bucks just to park your car and go for a walk in the woods?
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2009 11 05 Deschutes Visits Down
2009 10 28 Judge Dismisses Trail Fee Case
A federal judge in Washington dismisses the charges against a Twisp resident for failure to pay a fee at an undeveloped backcountry trailhead.
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2009 10 28 Judge Dismisses Trail Fee Case
2009 10 16 Kinzua Closed or Renovated Which Is It
Last year the recreation facilities at Kinzua Reservoir on the Allegheny National Forest were beyond repair. This year they are being completely renovated. Watch for a fee next year.
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2009 10 16 Kinzua Closed or Renovated Which Is It
2009 10 14 Trail Fees Are Hurdles to Many
Guest editorial in the Methow Valley (WA) News by Kristi Laguzza-Boosman, accused criminal, who goes on trial in Spokane October 26, 2009 for the federal misdemeanor of hiking in the woods without a $5 pass.
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2009 10 14 Trail Fees Are Hurdles to Many
2009 09 30 Local Fights Forest Fee Ticket
A Washington resident is disputing whether the Forest Service has authority to charge a fee at a trailhead where she received a ticket. The trailhead provides access to undeveloped backcountry, which the law says must be free, as well as lacking the six amenities required by the law for day use fee areas.
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2009 09 30 Local Fights Forest Fee Ticket
2009 08 17 Red Rock Floats Fee Increase
Las Vegas Sun article about proposed fee increase at Red Rock National Conservation Area.
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2009 08 17 Red Rock Floats Fee Increase
2009 08 14 Red Rock Wants Fee Increase
Red Rock National Conservation Area just outside Las Vegas wants across the board fee increases, including charging bicycles and pedestrians for the first time. Full proposal can be downloaded at www.blm.gov/nv
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2009 08 14 Red Rock Wants Fee Increase
2009 08 07 Fee Increase For Green Mountain Reservoir Still In The Works
White River National Forest officials still hoping for an increase at Green Mountain Reservoir. You gotta admire their perseverence.
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2009 08 07 Fee Increase For Green Mountain Reservoir Still In The Works
2009 08 04 Green Mountain Reservoir Starts Over
With an infusion of stimulus cash, the White River National Forest is starting over on a new master plan for Green Mountain Reservoir, where they have repeatedly been stopped from raising their fee.
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2009 08 04 Green Mountain Reservoir Starts Over
2009 07 29 FS Stops Painting Trucks Green
Government bureaucracies, including the Forest Service, find millions in savings through simple measures like using two sided copying and not painting Forest Service trucks green.
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2009 07 29 FS Stops Painting Trucks Green
2009 07 29 Forests Receive Fewer Visitors
The Oregonian reports on the drop in visitation to National Forests.
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2009 07 29 Forests Receive Fewer Visitors
2009 07 26 Fee Free Weekends Boost Park Visits
Secretary Salazars fee-free weekends show clearly that fees are a deterrent to National Park visitation. This article asks is that a good thing or a bad thing?
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2009 07 26 Fee Free Weekends Boost Park Visits
2009 07 10 Fee Needs Fixing
Editorial from Baker City (OR) Herald about the day use fee for local lakes located on National Forest land but managed by a private concessionaire.
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2009 07 10 Fee Needs Fixing
2009 06 24 KIKO Radio re S.868
Radio interview and discussion about the Fee Repeal Bill S.868
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2009 06 24 KIKO Radio re S.868
2009 06 22 Kimbell Farewell
Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell sends farewell email to FS employees. Her replacement is Tom Tidwell, produced by the same bureaucratic pipeline that gave us Kimbell. Meet the new Chief, same as the old Chief.
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2009 06 22 Kimbell Farewell
2009 06 22 BLM Oregon Wants Fee Increase At Alsea Falls
BLM office in Salem Oregon wants to increase fees at Alsea Falls
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2009 06 22 BLM Oregon Wants Fee Increase At Alsea Falls
2009 06 18 Tidwell Named FS Chief
Tom Tidwell abruptly named to replace Abigail Kimbell as Forest Service Chief. Tidwell is a longtime supporter of access and user fees. No changes expected here.
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2009 06 18 Tidwell Named FS Chief
2009 06 11 NPS Fee Free Weekends Spark Debate
Do fees deter visitation? Fee free weekends in the National Parks at the height of summer should tell the tale.
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2009 06 11 NPS Fee Free Weekends Spark Debate
2009 06 09 Wilkes Withdrew For Financial Reasons
Obama second choice for Undersecretary of Agriculture in charge of the Forest Service, Homer Lee Wilkes, says he withdrew his name after it was announced due to financial and family reasons.
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2009 06 09 Wilkes Withdrew For Financial Reasons
2009 06 05 BLM Adjusts a Fee Change (Or Did They Change a Fee Adjustment?)
BLM in Kremmling Colorado originally announced fee changes at two Upper Colorado River recreation sites. Upon being questioned how they could make changes without approval of the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee as required by law, the fee changes suddenly became fee adjustments. A citizens Change is a bureaucrats Adjustment. If you can tell the difference you have a great career in public land management awaiting you.
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2009 05 29 First its a fee Change
2009 06 05 Then its a fee Adjustment
2009 06 03 Salazar, Permanently Waive Fees
Bill Schneider at NewWest.net calls on Interior Secretary Salazar to permanently waive entrance fees at National Parks.
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2009 06 03 Salazar, Permanently Waive Fees
2009 06 02 NPS Waives Entrance Fees
Interior Secretary Salazar waives National Park entrance fees for three weekends in the summer of 2009. This marks a watershed event: official recognition that fees deter visitation. Prior administrations insisted that if you could afford to travel to a Park you were rich enough that the entrance fee meant nothing to you. Low-income need not apply. Now that a whole lot of people are a whole lot lower income than they used to be, it is clear that what we have been saying all along is true: the value of public lands to local economies vastly exceeds the value of fees to the government, and even a small fee has a deterrent effect on some potential visitors. Thanks, Secretary Salazar!
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2009 06 02 NPS Waives Entrance Fees CNN
2009 06 02 NPS Waives Entrance Fees SLC Trib
2009 06 03 NPS Waives Entrance Fees Wash Post
2009 06 02 NPS Waives Entrance Fees NYTimes
2009 06 03 NPS Waives Entrance Fees LATimes
2009 06 03 NPS Waives Entrance Fees BalSun
2009 06 03 NPS Waives Entrance Fees DallasNews
2009 06 03 NPS Waives Entrance Fees AJC
2009 06 03 NPS Waives Entrance Fees DenPost
2009 06 02 Baucus Applauds Waivers
2009 05 26 This Land Is Your Land For A Fee
Lois Henry of the Bakersfield Californian continues her pursuit of truth from the Sequoia National Forest, still no luck with that.
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2009 05 26 This Land Is Your Land For A Fee
2009 05 26 Bills Aim To Curb Fees
Lois Henry of the Bakersfield Californian on the status of congressional action to eliminate the Recreational Access Tax (RAT).
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2009 05 26 Bills Aim To Curb Fees
2009 05 14 Vilsack, Ease Off
Bill Schneider calls on the new Secretary of Agriculture to ease off from their aggressive opposition to allowing litigation challenging the implementation of FLREA at Mt Evans to proceed.
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2009 05 14 Vilsack, Ease Off
2009 05 11 No Increase At Dunes Yet
Yuma Sun re BLM decision to delay fee increase at Imperial Sand Dunes
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2009 05 11 No Increase At Dunes Yet
2009 05 11 Dunes Fee Increase Pulled
BLM withdraws their plan to increase the fee on OHV enthusiasts at Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area without any public participation. A bad idea, badly implemented. Pulling it was the right thing to do.
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2009 05 11 Dunes Fee Increase Pulled
2009 05 07 Max Attacks RAT
Commentary from George Ochenski of the Missoula Independent supporting Max Baucus in repealing the Recreation Access Tax
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2009 05 07 Max Attacks RAT
2009 05 05 Sequoia Fee Update
Lois Henry of the Bakersfield Californian uses part of an odds and ends column for an update on the fee situation on the Sequoia National Forest.
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2009 05 05 Sequoia Fee Update
2009 05 05 Baucus Pushes Fee Repeal
The Missoulian re Senator Max Baucus push to repeal rec fees and restore access.
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2009 05 05 Baucus Pushes Fee Repeal
2009 05 05 Baucus Proposes Fee Rollback
Front page story from Kern Valley Sun re Baucus introduction of Fee Repeal Bill
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2009 05 05 Baucus Proposes Fee Rollback
2009 04 30 Fee Repeal Bill Is Back
From insider newsletter Energy and Environment Daily, a report that the Fee Repeal Bill (S.868) may have a better chance of passage than in the previous congress.
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2009 04 30 Fee Repeal Bill Is Back
2009 04 29 Skull Hollow Case Study In Rec Fees
The Source Weekly (Bend Oregon) explores the dynamics behind how a primitive rock climbers campground became a case study in recreation fees.
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2009 04 29 Skull Hollow Case Study In Rec Fees
2009 04 27 Repeal Bill Reintroduced
Flathead (MT) Beacon on Senator Baucus reintroduction of the Fee Repeal Bill
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2009 04 27 Repeal Bill Reintroduced
2009 04 22 Baucus and Crapo Re-Introduce Fee Repeal
Senators Max Baucus of Montana and Mike Crapo of Idaho re-introduce their bill to repeal the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, or Recreation Access Tax (RAT) for short.
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2009 04 22 Baucus and Crapo Re-Introduce Fee Repeal
2009 03 27 FS Gestapo Riles Crowd In California
Opinion column from the Bakersfield Californian about yet another angry crowd at a Sequoia National Forest meeting in California.
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2009 03 27 FS Gestapo Riles Crowd In California
2009 03 24 FS Meeting Stirs Up Community
Sequoia National Forest just does not seem to be winning the hearts and minds of the residents of the Kern River Valley.
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2009 03 24 FS Meeting Stirs Up Community
2009 03 07 Cant See The Forest For The Fees
Bakersfield Californian columnist Lois Henry nails the heart of the story in this op-ed piece on the ongoing saga of the Sequoia National Forest fee program boondoggle.
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2009 03 07 Cant See The Forest For The Fees
2009 03 04 Free Sites Becoming More Popular
As the economy tanks, more folks choose destinations with free admission.
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2009 03 04 Free Sites Becoming More Popular
2009 02 28 New Hampshire Fees Going Up
White Mountain National Forest announces planned increase in the price of a walk in the woods.
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2009 02 28 New Hampshire Fees Going Up
2009 02 28 Cost Of Walking In The Woods Is Going Up
New Hampshire White Mountain National Forest is raising the price of a walk in the woods.
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2009 02 28 Cost of Walk in the Woods Going Up
2009 02 27 How Do We Manage To Manage Public Lands?
Editorial from the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel about the disfunctional Recreation Resource Advisory Committees established in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Includes online comment that was submitted but never posted by the newspaper. Also letter to the editor in response to the column.
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2009 02 27 How Do We Manage To Manage Public Lands?
2009 03 03 Letter to Editor Grand Jct Sentinel
2009 02 22 Walton Lake To Close
Article from the Bend Bulletin about plans to close the Walton Lake facilities on the Ochoco National Forest and spend $612,000, or about four times the amount of money they claim to have for all developed recreation facilities on the entire forest, on remodeling the area. Then it goes back to being managed by Thousand Trails Inc, and the public can not get anywhere near it without paying them the price of admission.
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2009 02 22 Walton Lake To Close
2009 02 12 Kids Need Nature
Article from NewWest.net about a conference trying to get kids outdoors. Perhaps it would help if it did not cost $5 to take a hike.
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2009 02 12 Kids Need Nature
2009 02 09 Idaho Acts Logically
News flash from Idaho via NewWest.net: Fees affect behavior. A fact that the Forest Service and BLM cannot seem to get, as they bemoan declining visitation while raising recreation fees. DUH.
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2009 02 09 Idaho Acts Logically
2009 02 04 HIRA Fees Debated In Kernville
Sequoia National Forest officials still cannot make their numbers add up.
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2009 02 04 HIRA Fees Debated In Kernville
2009 02 02 Iowa Drops Fee Increase
Citing tough economic times, Iowa wisely decides not to raise fishing and hunting fees. Now if only the Forest Service and BLM would do the same.
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2009 02 02 Iowa Drops Fee Increase
2009 01 27 Idaho Fee Meetings Cause Confusion
Confusion in Idaho about advisory committee meetings about fee increases on the Boise and Sawtooth National Forests.
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2009 01 27 Idaho Fee Meetings Cause Confusion
2009 01 23 More Details On Idaho Fees
Forest Service releases more details on fee increase plans in Idaho.
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2009 01 23 More Details On Idaho Fees
2009 01 23 FS Backs Down In Montana
After the press and Senator Baucus started making inquiries, Forest Service Region 1 decided not to push for new fee sites after all.
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2009 01 23 FS Backs Down In Montana
2009 01 22 New Fees In Idaho
Boise and Sawtooth National Forests planning new and increased fees.
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2009 01 22 New Fees In Idaho
2009 01 15 OHV Users Pick Up Trash Costs For BLM
Shortly after receiving approval for a fee increase at Imperial Sand Dunes in California, the BLM announced they were discontinuing trash service there. Sensing impending disaster, the county stepped in and secured funding from the OHV Green Sticker fund.
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2009 01 15 OHV Users Pick Up Trash Costs For BLM
2009 01 12 Forest Service Skips A Chance To Do Things Right
The Forest Service is rushing through new policy directives before the administration change, without including the public.
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2009 01 12 Forest Service Skips A Chance To Do Things Right
2009 01 02 Nebraskans Have A Better Idea
Locals come up with a better management plan that will keep sites open on the Nebraska National Forest.
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2009 01 02 Nebraskans Have A Better Idea
2009 01 01 Prescott NF Raises Fees
Across the board fee increase goes into effect on the Prescott National Forest. The Forest told the Arizona Recreation Resource Advisory Committee this plan had general public support, and they approved it. The commenters on this article would say differently.
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2009 01 01 Prescott NF Raises Fees
2008 12 31 National Park Entry Expensive
Letter to the Editor about the high costs of visiting a National Park.
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2008 12 31 National Park Entry Expensive
2008 12 29 Forest Service Morale Hits New Low
Forest Service employee morale is at an all time low.
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2008 12 29 Forest Service Morale Hits New Low
2008 12 24 Prescott NF Raises Fees Across The Board
Prescott National Forest implements across the board fee increases. They were approved at a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee meeting in September 2008 that was never announced to the public. Despite increased appropriated funding, they are trying to run their entire recreation program on fee revenue.
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2008 12 24 Prescott NF Raises Fees Across The Board
2008 12 22 FS Keeps Christmas Tree Cash
Forest Service is transferring Christmas tree permit revenue from the Timber program, which would be shared with counties, to the Recreation program, where they get to keep it all.
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2008 12 22 FS Keeps Christmas Tree Cash
2008 12 16 Salazar Pick Gets Mixed Reception
Obamas pick of Colorado Senator Ken Salazar for Interior Secretary gets a mixed reception from environmental groups, who had hoped for Arizonas Raul Grijalva. But as a sponsor of the Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act, Salazar can be expected to bring his anti-fee stance to BLM and NPS, which will be a step forward for the anti-fee movement.
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2008 12 16 Salazar Pick Gets Mixed Reception
2008 12 16 NF Visits Down Inyo Up
LA Times article saying that the Inyo National Forest is the exception to declining visitation across the National Forest system. Too bad this cannot be confirmed because the latest survey report for the Inyo has not been made public.
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2008 12 16 NF Visits Down Inyo Up
2008 12 16 Canadians Hate Fees Too
Fee increases are not well received in Saskatchewan, where they have been dubbed the Unhappy Camper Tax.
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2008 12 16 Canadians Hate Fees Too
2008 12 15 Visitation Declines Disputed
The National Forests in the Sierras do not like the numbers they are seeing for visitation, even though they come from the Forest Services own survey.
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2008 12 15 Visitation Declines Disputed
2008 12 10 Umpqua NF Visits Down By A Third
Roseburg Oregon News Review article on visitation drop at the Umpqua National Forest
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2008 12 10 Umpqua NF Visits Down By A Third
2008 11 29 National Forest Vists Down
This AP story about declining visitation to National Forests ran in hundreds of papers nationwide.
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2008 11 29 National Forest Vists Down
2008 11 27 Fees Linked To Drop In Visitation
Visitation decline on National Forests linked to spread of fees.
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2008 11 27 Fees Linked To Drop In Visitation
2008 11 13 Red Rock Canyon Fee Opposed
Article from the Las Vegas Review Journal about the proposed increase in the entrance fee at Red Rock Canyon. There was also a talk show at Nevada Public Radio on November 12, 2008 on this topic. Archive audio is available at http://www.knpr.org/son/archive/detail.cfm?programid=1462
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2008 11 13 Red Rock Canyon Fee Increase Opposed
2008 10 28 Forest Service Needs Saving From Itself
Payson (AZ) Roundup observes that most of the problems on the Tonto National Forest were created by the Forest Service.
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2008 10 28 Forest Service Needs Saving From Itself
2008 10 24 Michigan Forests Face Higher Fees Reduced Services
The Huron-Manistee National Forest is raising fees while reducing services.
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2008 10 24 Michigan Forests Face Higher Fees Reduced Services
2008 10 21 Arizona Has A New Tax
Arizona gets on the fee bandwagon by charging to walk on state trust lands.
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2008 10 21 Arizona Has A New Tax
2008 10 17 New Melones Lake Fees A Surprise
The Stockton Searchlight Record says folks are surprised at the new fees to launch their boats on New Melones Reservoir. See also http://www.westernslopenofee.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/New_Melones_Comments_re_Fees.pdf and http://www.westernslopenofee.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2008_09_04_Fee_Increase_at_New_Melones_Lake.pdf
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2008 10 17 New Melones Lake Fees A Surprise
2008 10 17 BLM Arizona Campground Fee Increase
Kingman office of BLM in Arizona want to increase campground fees, accepting comment until April 2009.
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2008 10 17 BLM Arizona Campground Fee Increase
2008 10 15 Black Hills Wants OHV Fee
Black Hills National Forest wants to hear public comment about a proposed new trail fee for OHVs. Trouble is, this article appeared the same day as the public meeting. On a Wednesday. Bet they got a GREAT turnout.
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2008 10 15 Black Hills Wants OHV Fee
2008 10 13 Sawtooths Improvements May Wreck Stanley Lake
The Sawtooth National Forest is proposing so-called improvements to a primitive campground at Stanley Lake. The locals object, saying it will ruin the area.
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2008 10 13 Sawtooths Improvements May Wreck Stanley Lake
2008 10 09 Editorial Opposing Fee Increase At Red Rock
The Las Vegas Review Journal asks editorially what BLM is doing with the money they already collect at Red Rock National Conservation Area, and why the price needs to go up.
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2008 10 09 Editorial Opposing Fee Increase At Red Rock
2008 10 08 Red Rocks Entrance Fee Going Up
The BLM is prohibited by the FLREA from charging Entrance Fees. But this one is going up.
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2008 10 08 Red Rocks Entrance Fee Going Up
2008 10 08 Forest Service Backs Down In PA
A letter from Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey to Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell succeeds in keeping campgrounds open on the Allegheny National Forest.
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2008 10 08 Forest Service Backs Down In PA
2008 10 04 BLM Stops Trash Service At Fee Area
BLM got approval for a fee increase at Imperial Sand Dunes OHV area in January 2008. Some of that revenue is supposed to provide trash service for the area, which is the size of a small city at busy periods. Now BLM has decided to keep the newly increased fee but to stop the trash service and use the funds for something else. More money for less service. You gotta love it.
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2008 10 04 BLM Stops Trash Service At Fee Area
2008 10 02 New Fees For Deschutes
New day-use fees are coming on the Deschutes National Forest if the Forest Service has their way.
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2008 10 02 New Fees For Deschutes
2008 10 02 Angeles NF Parking Fees Are Not Keeping The Toilets Clean
This blog from the LA Times documents the Angeles National Forest is still charging a parking fee (the law says no fees solely for parking). Their claims that the money is keeping the toilets cleaner appear bogus.
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2008 10 02 Angeles NF Parking Fees Are Not Keeping The Toilets Clean
2008 10 01 Congress Restores FS Funding
Congress gives the Forest Service an emergency appropriation to stave off the need for $400 million in cuts and closures that they had announced. Proving once again that it is their own bureaucracy, not Congress, that is responsible for their financial woes.
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2008 10 01 Congress Restores FS Funding
2008 09 30 No One Left To Speak For Me
Commentary from the Redding (CA) Searchlight explains why it is important for all recreational users of public lands to work together to protect our access to them. You may be able to afford that $5 user fee, but if you fail to speak up for those who cannot, there will be no one to speak for you when it becomes $10, $15, or $50.
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2008 09 30 No One Left To Speak For Me
2008 09 25 Report Examines Fee Advisory Committees
Cortez (CO) Journal on the Western Slope No Fee Coalition report charging the Forest Service and BLM with obstructing public participation in fee decisions.
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2008 09 25 Report Examines Fee Advisory Committees
2008 09 25 Casey Questions Allegheny Closures
Pennsylvania Senator Robert Casey questions planned closures on the Allegheny National Forest in a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimball.
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2008 09 25 Casey Questions Allegheny Closures
2008 09 24 WSNFC Charges FS and BLM With Obstructing Public Participation
Western Slope No Fee Coalition analysis report charges that the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are obstructing the public from participating in fee decisions.
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2008 09 24 WSNFC Charges FS and BLM With Obstructing Public Participation
2008 09 24 Fees Too Will Pass
From the summer 2008 issue of Wilderness Watch by Scott Phillips, retired Forest Service recreation professional.
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2008 09 24 Fees Too Will Pass
2008 09 19 Gettysburg Fee Takes Flak
Hanover(PA)Evening Sun reports on angry meeting about entrance fee for Gettysburg Battlefield museum.
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2008 09 19 Gettysburg Fee Takes Flak
2008 09 17 Trail Fees In Tellurides Future
Forest Service floating a plan to charge for mountain bike trails on Telluride ski area.
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2008 09 17 Trail Fees In Tellurides Future
2008 09 17 Shawnee Fees Timeline
The latest from Sophie Says, the Illinois donkey columnist, on the decision to drop the proposal for day use and trail fees on the Shawnee National Forest.
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2008 09 17 Shawnee Fees Timeline
2008 09 04 New Fees at New Melones In Defiance of Local Opposition
Despite overwhelming public opposition, the Bureau of Reclamation plans to implement new and increased fees at New Melones Reservoir on October 1, 2008.
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2008 09 04 New Fees at New Melones In Defiance of Local Opposition
New Melones Comments Show Opposition to Fees
2008 08 27 Shawnee Scraps Fee Plans
An outpouring of local opposition has succeeded in stopping the Shawnee National Forest from implementing new day use fees
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2008 08 27 Shawnee Scraps Fee Plans
2008 08 25 Columbia Gorge Fee Hike
From the Dalles (OR) Local News, the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area plans fee hikes at several popular campgrounds
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2008 08 25 Columbia Gorge Fee Hike
2008 08 22 Protestors Silenced At Kernville Fee Meeting
Protestors stage silent vigil at meeting between Kernville area community groups and Sequoia National Forest officials regarding a proposed major expansion of the HIRA at Lake Isabella and two new HIRAs along the Kern River.
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2008 08 22 Protestors Silenced At Kernville Meeting
2008 08 22 Funding Recreation The Right Way
Editorial by Senator Mike Crapo about why fees are the wrong way to fund recreation on federal public lands.
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2008 08 22 Funding Recreation The Right Way
2008 08 15 Western Issues Missing From National Campaign
Ed Quillen of Writers on the Range wonders why Western issues, including public lands access fees, are not showing up in the presidential campaigns.
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2008 08 15 Western Issues Missing From National Campaign
2008 08 12 CDOT Fixes Mt Evans Road
Colorado Department of Transportation is repairing the Mt Evans Road in anticipation of increased use by visitors to the Democratic National Convention. Any of those visitors who want to stop and enjoy the view along the way will have to pay the Arapaho National Forest $10. Get that? Colorado fixes the road, the Forest Service charges a fee to use it. Go figure.
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2008 08 12 CDOT Fixes Mt Evans Road
2008 08 10 No More Free Camping On The Monongahela
This is a weird article. It extolls the popularity of free dispersed camping on the Monongahela National Forest, and only at the very end throws in the zinger that the Forest wants to begin charging for the sites. What are the people who enjoy them the way they are supposed to do?
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2008 08 10 No More Free Camping On The Monongahela
2008 07 30 Public Land Managers Should Remember Public
Aspen Times Editorial calling on the White River National Forest to include the public in decisions to close facilities and charge new and higher fees.
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2008 07 30 Public Land Managers Should Remember Public
2008 07 30 Allegheny Comment Period is Over
Article from the Bradford (PA) Era about the Allegheny National Forest Recreation Facility Analysis. The plan has hit furious local opposition.
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2008 07 30 Allegheny Comment Period is Over
2008 07 29 Video Slams Mt Evans Fee
Bill Schneider of NewWest.net about the new 5-star YouTube video slamming the fee at Mt Evans and calling it illegal.
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2008 07 29 Video Slams Mt Evans Fee
2008 07 28 Aspen Times re White River NF Closing Campgrounds
White River National Forest has released their RFA 5 Year Plan a year after it was approved. It calls for new fees and campground closures. There has never been a public meeting or a news release regarding this plan, which is in the process of being implemented.
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2008 07 28 Aspen Times re White River NF Closing Campgrounds
2008 07 27 Visitation Down
Visitation to public lands is down. This article from The Economist examines why.
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2008 07 28 Visitation Down
2008 07 27 Mt St Helens A Monument To Mismanagement
The Oregonian on the sad mismanagement of Mt St Helens. The image of hikers wearing green bracelets to prove they paid their access fee is unforgettable.
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2008 07 27 Mt St Helens A Monument To Mismanagement
2008 07 20 Eleven Campgrounds to Close On The Allegheny
People in Erie are not happy with plans to close eleven campgrounds on the Allegheny National Forest
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2008 07 20 Eleven Campgrounds to Close On The Allegheny
2008 07 17 Kern Valley Opposes Fees
Opposition to Sequoia National Forest fees continues in the Kern Valley of California.
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2008 07 17 Kern Valley Opposes Fees
2008 07 16 Fees Are Public Lands Shakedown
Ted Williams of Writers on the Range about the Recreation Access Tax (RAT.
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2008 07 16 Fees Are Public Lands Shakedown
2008 07 15 KIKO Radio Arizona
Transcript of live radio show featuring Kitty Benzar and Myles and Velma Hodson, broadcast July 15, 2008 on KIKO Radio, Miami Arizona
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2008 07 15 KIKO Radio Arizona
2008 07 15 FS Destroys County Roads
Uncompahgre National Forest work on Ouray County Colorado roads results in the destruction of several road sections. These roads form the basis for a huge segment of the local economy that relies on jeep tours, jeep and ATV rentals, and folks who bring their own 4wds and ATVs to try the 100 year old mining roads in the area. They are county roads and the county does annual maintenance on them, but the FS decided to fix them anyway without any local consultation.
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2008 07 15 FS Destroys County Roads
2008 07 15 Fee Increases Opposed at Lake Isabella
Residents of Lake Isabella and the Kern River Valley gather to oppose new fees proposed by the Sequoia National Forest
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2008 07 15 Fee Increases Opposed at Lake Isabella
2008 07 08 Allegheny NF Destroys Historic Sites
From the Bradford (PA) Era, CCC historian Michael Schultz laments plans by the Allegheny National Forest to close, and eventually remove, historic sites built by the CCC.
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2008 07 08 Allegheny NF Destroys Historic Sites
2008 07 05 Fees Threaten Public Access
Portales New Mexico News Tribune Managing Editor Karl Terry about the fees that keep ordinary folks from visiting their public lands
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2008 07 05 Fees Threaten Public Access
2008 07 12 Portales Editor Responds to Feedback
2008 07 03 Congress Needs To Walk The Talk
Bill Schneider of NewWest.net calls on Congress to get moving to repeal the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
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2008 07 03 Congress Needs To Walk The Talk
2008 07 02 Allegheny NF Plan Meets Local Opposition
The Allegheny National Forest plan to close facilities under the Recreation Facility Analysis policy meets strong local opposition
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2008 07 02 Allegheny NF Plan Meets Local Opposition
2008 07 01 Klamath Proposes Fee Increases
Klamath National Forest proposes to increase fees at numerous campgrounds.
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2008 07 01 Klamath Proposes Fee Increases
2008 06 29 No Fee Hike At Green Mountain
The relentless drive to raise fees at the Green Mountain and Cataract Lake areas has been foiled for the third time. The area already brings in, without a fee increase, more than their management plan says they need. Here is the article from the Summit Daily and a response from the WSNFC.
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2008 06 29 No Fee Hike At Green Mountain
WSNFC Response: Green Mountain Fee Increase Deserves Denial
2008 06 25 A Seat In The House
Idaho State Representative George Eskridge wrote a column on his efforts in Washington to get legislation to repeal the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
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2008 06 25 A Seat In The House
2008 06 20 Federal Parks and Recreation on House Hearing
Federal Parks and Recreation is a Washington insider newsletter. Here is their take on the oversight hearing on recreation fee implementation that was held on June 18, 2008
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2008 06 20 Federal Parks and Recreation on House Hearing
2008 06 19 Utah Opposition to Fees
A Utah resident questions the doubling of fees to access American Fork Canyon and Mirror Lake scenic byways.
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2008 06 19 Utah Opposition to Fees
2008 06 19 Bipartisan Fire at Fees
House hearing shows bipartisan concerns about fee implementation on public lands
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2008 06 19 Bipartisan Fire At Fees
2008 06 18 DeFazio Wants Accountability
Oregon US Congressman Peter DeFazio wants the Forest Service to account for its fee revenue or he says he will try again to terminate the program.
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2008 06 18 DeFazio Wants Accountability
2008 06 13 Mob Scene at Forest Service Meeting
Two proposed new HIRAs on the Sequoia National Forest are not well received in the Kern River Valley
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2008 06 13 Mob Scene at Forest Service Meeting
2008 06 11 Forest Service Plan Angers Kern Valley
Kern Valley residents are angry about a Sequoia National Forest plan to make their whole valley a High Impact Recreation Area (HIRA).
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2008 06 11 Forest Service Plan Angers Kern Valley
2008 06 11 Fee Fiasco
The Colorado Springs Gazette on the Mt Evans fee and lawsuit
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2008 06 11 Fee Fiasco
2008 06 10 Ochoco Plans Higher Fees, Less Maintenance
The Bend Bulletin on the Ochoco National Forest plan to reduce services while raising fees.
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2008 06 10 Ochoco Plans Higher Fees, Less Maintenance
2008 06 06 Congress Looks At RAT
Bill Schneider at New West announces that the US House will take a look at implementation of fees by the federal land management agencies.
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2008 06 06 Congress Looks At RAT
2008 06 05 New Fees For Kern River Valley
Kern Valley Sun article on opposition to the Sequoia National Forest proposal for new High Impact Recreation Areas (HIRAs) that will require a $10 fee. These proposed HIRAs would control access to Lake Isabella, Loyd Meadow Road and the Kern River.
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2008 06 05 New Fees For Kern River Valley
2008 06 03 Chadron Nebraska Objects To Campground Changes
Residents of Chadron Nebraska turned out in force to oppose the Nebraska National Forest plan to close favorite campgrounds in the area.
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2008 06 03 Chadron Nebraska Objects To Campground Changes
2008 06 02 Sequim Washington Too Late To Comment
This article about the proposed Recreation Facility Analysis changes on the Olympic National Forest appeared in the Sequim Washington Gazette. Too bad the deadline for comment had already passed before the story appeared.
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2008 06 02 Sequim Washington Too Late To Comment
2008 06 01 Fee Demo Losing Its Appeal
From Forest Magazine, about the failure of recreation fees to solve National Forest systemic problems, and the continuing decline in public land visitation since Fee Demo was initiated.
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2008 06 01 Fee Demo Losing Its Appeal
2008 06 01 Fee Demo Falls Short
A retired District Ranger and former gung-ho Fee Demo supporter traces his path to disillusionment with recreation fees. From Forest Magazine.
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2008 06 01 Fee Demo Falls Short
2008 05 29 Miffed At The Forest Service
Harrisburg Illinois Daily Register columnist Brian DeNeal about how the Shawnee National Forest took his comments out of context and misrepresented his opinion.
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2008 05 29 Miffed At The Forest Service
2008 05 26 North Carolina Federal Lands Neglected
The Charlotte Observer calls for adequate federal funding for public lands in North Carolina.
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2008 05 26 North Carolina Federal Lands Neglected
2008 05 26 Fee Fight Spills Into Court
The Aspen Times on the class action suit filed against the Arapaho National Forest fee for use of the Mt Evans highway.
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2008 05 26 Fee Fight Spills Into Court
2008 05 15 Fee Fight Fattens
Another gem from Tim Vanderpool at Tucson Weekly, about the class action suits filed against the Forest Service in Arizona and Colorado.
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Fee Fight Fattens
2008 05 07 AZ Daily Star Mt Lemmon Lawsuit
AZ Daily Star on the lawsuit against the Mt Lemmon fee on the Coronado National Forest
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2008 05 07 AZ Daily Star Mt Lemmon Lawsuit
2008 05 06 Tucson Citizen re Mt Lemmon Lawsuit
Tucson Citizen on lawsuits filed against Forest Service fees at Mt Lemmon and Mt Evans
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2008 05 06 Tucson Citizen re Mt Lemmon Lawsuit
2008 05 06 Legal Challenge to Mt Evans Fees Launched
Denver Post on the class action suit charging the Arapaho National Forest with exceeding its legal authority in its fee program at Mt Evans
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2008 05 06 Legal Challenge to Mt Evans Fees Launched
2008 05 05 Schneider at New West On Lawsuits at Mt Evans and Lemmon
Wild Bill Schneider at NewWest.net on the class action suits filed in Tucson and Denver against the Forest Service fees at Mt Lemmon and Mt Evans
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2008 05 05 Schneider at New West On Lawsuits at Mt Evans and Lemmon
2008 05 03 Okanogan Wenatchee NF Closing Sites
The Wenatcheeworld on plans by the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest to spend $140,000 to close sites and why you should be happy about that
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2008 05 03 Okanogan Wenatchee NF Closing Sites
2008 05 03 Green Mountain Fee Hike Questioned
Summit County (CO) Daily on the continuing efforts to raise the fee at Green Mountain Reservoir in the face of public opposition
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2008 05 03 Green Mountain Fee Hike Questioned
2008 05 01 Lincoln Debate Site To Charge Fee
A quiet park in Jonesboro Illinois that was the site of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates will begin charging a fee if the Shoshone National Forest gets their way. Local opposition is building.
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2008 05 01 Lincoln Debate Site To Charge Fee
2008 05 01 Chugach Slows Fee Changes
The Turnagain Times, Girdwood Alaska, on the Chugach National Forest slowing down their plan to raise fees at the Begich Boggs visitor center
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2008 04 23 Dont Forget Your Wallet on the Boise NF
The Boise Weekly on a new round of fee increases about to hit the Boise National Forest.
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2008 04 23 Dont Forget Your Wallet on the Boise NF
2008 04 13 Commercialization of Public Lands Must Stop
Idaho Statesman on treating public lands as a commercial product.
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2008 04 13 Commercialization of Public Lands Must Stop
2008 04 12 Green Mountain Fee Hike Delayed
Summit County (CO)Daily re the Green Mountain Reservoir fee increase being delayed due to continuing public opposition.
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2008 04 12 Green Mountain Fee Hike Delayed
2008 04 06 Shasta Trinity River Fee
Editorial from Redding (CA)Record-Searchlight against proposed river fee on Shasta-Trinity NF.
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2008 04 04 Fees Grow Like Trees
San Luis Obispo Tribune on the proliferation of fees on the Sequoia National Forest.
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2008 04 04 Fees Grow Like Trees
2008 04 02 Tent Matches Wallet
Colorado Springs Gazette on fees for fourteeners on the Pike San Isabel and other National Forests
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Tent, matches, compass – wallet?
2008 03 22 Campground Fees Rise In California
Sacramento Bee on the meteoric rise in campground fees in California, approved by the state Recreation Resource Advisory Committee, a little-known citizen group hand picked by the Forest Service.
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2008 03 22 Campground Fees Rise In California
2008 03 07 New York Times Front Page
The author was told by FS officials that firefighting costs are causing reductions in recreation budgets. That is not the case. Budgets for recreation and firefighting are completely separate, and appropriated recreation budgets have increased. Where less funding is getting to the ground it is the result of agency overhead, not diminished congressional appropriations. Otherwise a good article, and front page placement in the New York Times.
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2008 03 07 New York Times Front Page
2008 02 18 Illinois Fights Shawnee Fees
Southern Illinois is up in arms about proposed fees on the Shawnee National Forest
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2008 02 18 Illinois Fights Shawnee Fees
2008 02 13 BLM re Yaquina Head Entrance Fee
BLM press release openly calling the fee at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in Oregon an Entrance Fee. The law prohibits BLM from charging Entrance fees.
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2008 02 13 BLM re Yaquina Head Entrance Fee
2008 02 06 Allegheny NF No More Meetings
A meeting to obtain public input about recreation on the Allegheny National Forest did not go well. The solution? No more meetings.
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2008 02 06 Allegheny NF No More Meetings
2008 02 05 Are Americans Afraid Of The Outdoors?
A study shows Americans aren\’t going out into nature as much as they used to. One reason is the increasing cost. Which is why taking your kids to a National Forest should be getting cheaper, not more expensive.
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2008 02 05 Are Americans Afraid Of The Outdoors?
2008 01 30 Allegheny NF Meeting Derails
Allegheny National Forest meeting goes off track due to angry local users
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2008 01 30 Allegheny NF Meeting Derails
2007 12 30 Miracles Do Happen
Bonner County Idaho Editorial re introduction of Fee Repeal Bill
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2007 12 30 Miracles Do Happen
2007 12 20 Harrisburg Illinois Daily Register
This article personalizes the impact of recreation fees on the Shawnee National Forest.
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2007 12 20 Harrisburg Illinois Daily Register
2007 12 19 Tucson Citizen Billie Stanton
Billie Stanton column in the Tucson Citizen brings the fee issue home to Tucson and Mt Lemmon, home of the notorious case of US vs Wallace.
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2007 12 19 Tucson Citizen Billie Stanton
2007 12 13 Poker Night
A tongue-in-cheek look at fees from the Harrisburg Illinois Daily Register
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2007 12 13 Poker Night
2007 12 11 Energy and Environment Daily re Intro of Repeal Bill
Article from a Washington insider newsletter about the introduction of a bill to repeal the FLREA by Senators Baucus, Crapo, and Tester
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2007 12 11 Energy and Environment Daily re Intro of Repeal Bill
2007 12 06 Schneider New West re Repeal Bill Intro
Bill Schneider of NewWest.net was the first to publish news of the introduction of a bill to repeal the FLREA by Senator Max Baucus.
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2007 12 07 Schneider New West re Repeal Bill Intro
2007 11 12 Day Use Fee Planned at Timberline Lodge
Mt Hood National Forest considers charging a day use fee to visit Timberline Lodge, as well as many closures and reduced facilities and services at developed recreation sites.
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2007 11 12 Day Use Fee Planned at Timberline Lodge
2007 10 11 Funkhouser Was Unsung Hero
Missoula Independent political columnist George Ochenski on what the loss of Robert Funkouser means for the no-fee movement
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2007 10 11 Funkhouser Was Unsung Hero
2007 10 05 Hoodoo Letter re Camping Fees
The CEO of Forest Service concessionaire Hoodoo Recreation makes the case that low fees in agency managed campgrounds make him look greedy. No, it is the high fees he charges that make him look greedy.
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2007 10 05 Hoodoo Letter re Camping Fees
2007 10 05 Colo Spgs Gazette Editorial
Editorial from the October 5, 2007 Colorado Springs Gazette on why nobody celebrates Public Lands Day any more.
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2007 10 05 Colo Spgs Gazette Editorial
2007 09 14 Los Padres NF May Close Sites
Ventura County Star on Los Padres National Forest plan to close sites according to their Recreation Facilities Analysis plan, with little or no public input.
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2007 09 14 Los Padres NF May Close Sites
2007 06 12 TV Reporter Ticketed on Mt Evans
Denver TV reporter ticketed at overlook on Mt Evans for not paying $10 fee.
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2007 06 12 TV Reporter Ticketed on Mt Evans
2007 05 06 NPS Fees Headed Up
Denver Post on NPS Entrance fee increases.
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2007 05 06 NPS Fees headed up
2007 04 29 USA Today Fees Up Visits Down
USA Today on declining visitation to National Parks as entrance fees rise.
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2007 04 29 Fees Up Visits Down
2007 04 29 Denver Post re Mt Evans
Denver Post on the Forest Service fee program at Mt Evans. After a tussle with the state transportation department, vehicles traveling non-stop no longer have to pay. But you would have trouble figuring that out from the signs.
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2007 04 29 Denver Post re Mt Evans
2007 04 21 Baucus Berates Fees
Bill Schneider of NewWest.net on Senator Max Baucus intent to introduce legislation to repeal the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
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2007 04 21 Baucus Berates Fees
2007 03 21 Sequoia NF Takes Campground Back From Community Group
Sequoia National Forest takes the Camp 9 Campground back from a local community group, which plans to appeal the decision.
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2007 03 21 Sequoia NF Takes Campground Back From Community Group
2007 02 14 Willamette Week Fee Fi Foe Dumb
Article from the Willamette (OR) Week about Congressman Peter DeFazios opposition to forest service recreation fees.
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2007 02 14 Willamette Week Fee Fi Foe Dumb
2007 01 30 Bosworth Calls Pause In Campground Closure Plans
Casper Tribune on Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth calling a hiatus on the Recreation Site Facility Management Planning process due to adverse publicity about campgrounds closing.
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2007 01 30 Bosworth Calls Pause In Campground Closure Plans
2006 12 17 San Juan NF May Lose Six Sites
San Juan National Forest making plans to close six recreation sites, but refuses to name them. Their Recreation Facility Analysis 5 Year Plan was not released until more than a year after this article appeared.
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2006 12 17 San Juan NF May Lose Six Sites
2006 11 24 No Partner No Potty
Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada wants partners for their developed recreation sites or they will close them down.
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2006 11 24 No Partner No Potty
2006 11 19 Hundreds of Campsites May Close
Front page story from the Denver Post about Recreation Site Facility Master Planning, since renamed Recreation Facility Analysis.
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2006 11 19 Hundreds of Campsites May Close
2006 10 26 Medicine Bow-Routt NF Trail Fees
Casper Star-Tribune on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest plan to charge a fee for use of hiking trails.
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2006_10_26 Medicine Bow-Routt NF Trail Fees
2006 10 25 Trail Users Will Pay Fee
Jackson Hole Star-Tribune on U.S. vs Chris Wallace
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2006 10 25 Trail Users Will Pay Fee
2006 10 11 Locals Concerned About GMUG Closures
A good article from the Delta County (CO) Independent about the lack of public input into the Recreation Site Facilities Master Planning process on the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Gunnison National Forests
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2006 10 11 Locals Concerned About GMUG Closures
2006 10 06 Fee Fight
Tucson Weekly on U.S. vs Chris Wallace
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2006 10 06 Fee Fight
2006 04 22 RSFMP To Close Campgrounds
Casper Tribune on the Forest Service policy that will close campgrounds and other developed facilities across the nation.
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RSFMP To Close Campgrounds
2006 04 18 Green Mountain Fee Increase Nixed
Green Mountain Fee increase denied until citizen advisory committe reviews proposal
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2006 04 18 Green Mountain Fee Increase Nixed
2006 03 20 Fee Policy Primer
Bryan Faehner on Fee Policy on public lands
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2006 03 20 Fee Policy Primer
2006 03 07 Summit Daily on Green Mountain
Summit Daily News on the Green Mountain management plan
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2006 03 07 Summit Daily on Green Mountain
2006 03 07 Green Mountain Editorial and Response
Editorial in favor of fee increase at Green Mountain Reservoir, and WSNFC response
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2006 03 07 Green Mountain Editorial and Response
2006 01 11 Coronado NF Closing Campgrounds
Coronado National Forest to close campgrounds under Recreation Facility Management program
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2006 01 11 Coronado NF Closing Campgrounds
2005 10 29 Provo Herald on Senate Hearing
Provo Herald on hearing in Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
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2005 10 29 Provo Herald on Senate Hearing
2005 10 19 Summit Daily re Senate Hearing
Summit County Daily re hearing in Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
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2005 10 19 Summit Daily re Senate Hearing
2005 09 11 Green Mountain Users Hit FS Head On
Summit County News re contentious meeting between Green Mountain Reservoir users and Arapaho National Forest
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2005 09 11 Green Mountain Users Hit FS Head On
2005 07 16 Provo Herald re American Fork Canyon
Provo Herald on the continuing highly legally questionable fee for American Fork Canyon
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2005 07 16 Provo Herald re American Fork Canyon
2005 07 02 Provo Herald re American Fork Canyon
Provo Herald on the continuing highly legally questionable fee for American Fork Canyon
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2005 07 02 Provo Herald re American Fork Canyon
2005 06 23 Provo Herald re American Fork Canyon
Provo Herald on the continuing highly legally questionable fee for American Fork Canyon
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2005 06 23 Provo Herald re American Fork Canyon
2005 04 24 Billings Gazette MT Reso
Article from the Billings Gazette re resolutions passed by states opposing the FLREA
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2005 04 24 Billings Gazette MT Reso
2005 04 23 Bend Bulletin Deschutes Reinstates Fees
Article from the Bend (OR) Bulletin about the Deschutes National Forest reversing its earlier announcement that it would be dropping most recreation fees.
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2005 04 23 Bend Bulletin Deschutes Reinstates Fees
2005 03 09 Montrose Wants Fees Repealed
Montrose (CO) Daily Press on county resolution calling for repeal of fee bill
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2005 03 09 Montrose Wants Fees Repealed
2004 12 20 WSNFC Challenges Regula
WSNFC opposes Ralph Regula for Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He did not get the job.
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2004 12 20 WSNFC Challenges Regula
2004 12 19 Quillen Denver Post
Columnist Ed Quillen on passage of the RAT
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2004 12 19 Quillen Denver Post
2004 12 15 Regula Statement re FLREA
Congressman Ralph Regula official statement on why he rammed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act through Congress without a vote. Regula has no federal public land in his district. Every one of the promises he made in this statement has been broken.
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2004 12 15 Regula Statement re FLREA
2004 12 14 LA Times
LA Times on the passage of the RAT
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2004 12 14 LA Times
2004 12 07 Refuse to Pay Fees
Why you should refuse to pay fees
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2004 12 07 Refuse to Pay Fees
2004 12 02 Grand Junction Sentinel
Grand Junction Sentinel on passage of the RAT
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2004 12 02 Grand Junction Sentinel
2004 11 28 Denver Post Editorial
Denver Post editorial on passage of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
2004 11 26 Durango Herald Editorial
Durango Herald editorial on the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
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2004 11 26 Durango Herald Editorial
2004 11 28 Denver Post Editorial
2004 11 19 House Passes Fee Bill
Press release from the House Resources Committee on passage of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. What it fails to say is that the FLREA was buried a 3,000 page appropriations bill and never received a standalone vote
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2004 11 19 House Passes Fee Bill
2004 09 22 Pombo and Walden Statements
Press release from the House Resources Committee on why they passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act over the objections of thousands of Americans. Statements included from Richard Pombo (R-CA) and Greg Walden (R-OR)
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2004 09 22 Pombo and Walden Statements
2004 06 01 Fee Demo Sucks
Feature article and personal manifesto by Western Slope No-Fee Coalition President Robert Funkhouser. This appeared in the June-July 2004 issue of the Canyon Country Zephyr.
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2004 06 01 Fee Demo Sucks
2004 02 23 Summit Daily re Fee Opposition
Summit Daily about opposition to recreation fees
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2004 02 23 Summit Daily re Fee Opposition
2000 06 02 Forest Service Recreation Strategy
Another revealing internal memo about the dependence on concessionaires and fees for recreation on the National Forests.
2000 06 02 Forest Service Recreation Strategy
2000 02 14 Land of the Fee
High Country News feature article about the broken promises, unintended consequences, unaccountability and general all around failure of Fee Demo.
2000 02 14 Land of the Fee
2000 01 12 FS Fails Bookkeeping 101
Idaho Mountain Express on the Forest Service inept bookkeeping
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