This is an archive of press releases issued by the WSNFC prior to switching to an automated distribution process in 2010. For more recent releases, please see our Email Archive.
2010 04 23 Risch Signs On To Fee Repeal
Idaho Senator Jim Risch signs on as a co-sponsor of S.868 The Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act.
2010 04 23 Risch Signs On To Fee Repeal
2010 04 05 Concessionaire Issues Analysis
Press release announcing the availability of our analysis of the public response to the Forest Service proposal to eliminate senior and disabled discounts at concessionaire managed National Forest campgrounds.
2010 04 05 Concessionaire Issues Analysis
2010 01 13 Comment Letter re Concession Policy Changes
Comment letter submitted to the Forest Service regarding the proposed policy changes in regard to concessionaire managed recreations facilities.
2010 01 13 Comment Letter re Concession Policy Changes
2009 12 02 FS To Eliminate Sr and Disabled Camping Discounts
Press release from WSNFC announcing (because the Forest Service did not) that they will be eliminating the 50% discount on camping fees for Senior and Access lifetime passholders.
2009 12 02 FS To Eliminate Sr and Disabled Camping Discounts
2008 11 18 Forest Visits Plummet
Forest Service report reveals dramatic drop in visits between 2000 and 2007.
2008 11 18 Forest Visits Plummet
2008 09 24 The Fix Is In Press Release
Western Slope No Fee Coalition report charges Forest Service and BLM with obstructing public participation in fee decisions.
2008 09 24 The Fix Is In Press Release
2008 06 22 Fees Under Fire In Washington
US House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands holds hearing on implementation of fees by the Forest Service, Park Service, and BLM
2008 06 22 Fees Under Fire In Washington
2008 05 05 Lawsuits Filed Against Mt Lemmon and Mt Evans Fees
Lawsuits filed in federal court challenging fee programs at Mt Lemmon and Mt Evans.
2008 05 05 Lawsuits Filed Against Mt Lemmon and Mt Evans Fees
2007 05 20 Forest Service Report Under Wraps
Press release calling on the Forest Service to release their task force\’s report on public participation in Recreation Site Facility Master Planning. The report had been kept under wraps since it was submitted on April 1, 2007.
2007 05 20 Forest Service Report Under Wraps
2006 04 14 75% of Forest Service Sites Charging Fees Illegally
Data obtained by the Senate shows that 75% of fee sites within High Impact Recreation Areas (HIRAs)lack the legal requirements to charge fees but are doing so anyway
2006 04 14 75% of Forest Service Sites Charging Fees Illegally
2006 04 12 Idaho Calls For Repeal of Fee Law
Idaho legislature passes measure calling for repeal of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
2006 04 12 Idaho Calls For Repeal of Fee Law
2006 03 07 Idaho House Opposes Fees
Resolution opposing fees passes Idaho House of Representatives
2006 03 07 Idaho House Opposes Fees
2005 10 26 Survey Report Reveals Disregard For Law
Survey report released showing widespread disregard of the legal requirements for fee sites
2005 10 26 Survey Report Reveals Disregard For Law
2005 10 15 Senate Schedules Hearing on Fees
Senate schedules hearing on Forest Service and BLM implementation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, better known as the Recreation Access Tax or RAT
2005 10 15 Senate Schedules Hearing on Fees
2005 06 20 Dropped Site List is Bogus
Forest Service List of 480 sites dropped from the day-use fee program as a result of increased legal requirements is bogus.
2005 06 20 Dropped Site List is Bogus
2005 06 15 Fees Continue in Region 2
The Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region plans to continue fees even though they are not in compliance with the new law
2005 06 15 Fees Continue in Region 2
2005 05 03 Forest Service Guidelines Released
Forest Service releases guidelines for implementation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act that instruct managers on how to circumvent the law
2005 05 03 Forest Service Guidelines Released
2005 04 23 Deschutes Does About Face
Local Deschutes NF managers, who admit their fee sites dont qualify under the new law and planned to drop them, are overruled by their superiors
2005_04_23_Bend_Bulletin_Deschutes_Reinstates_Fees
2005 04 20 Escalante Fee Plan Dropped
Local opposition stops fee plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
2005 04 20 Escalante Fee Plan Dropped
2005 02 27 Montana and Colorado Call For Fee Repeal
Elected bodies in Montana and Colorado call for repeal of the Recreation Access Tax (RAT)
2005 02 27 Montana and Colorado Call For Fee Repeal
2005 02 15 Outrage In The West Over RAT
Outrage growing in western states over the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, aka the Recreation Access Tax or RAT
2005 02 15 Outrage In The West Over RAT
2004 12 06 Fee Bill Enacted
Fee bill remained attached to 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill and was enacted into law
2004 12 06 Fee Bill Enacted
2004 11 30 Delete Fee Bill From Omnibus
Press release calling for Regula fee measure to be removed from spending bill
2004 11 30 Delete Fee Bill From Omnibus
2004 11 20 Regula Rams Fee Law Through Congress
Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula succeeds in attaching the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to omnibus bill over objections by westerners
2004 11 20 Regula Rams Fee Law Through Congress
2004 10 08 Utah Assn and Montrose County Oppose Fees
The Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments and Montrose County Colorado come out in opposition to fees.
2004 10 08 Utah Assn and Montrose County Oppose Fees
2004 07 26 Ouray County Opposes Fees
Ouray County, home of the notorious Yankee Boy Basin protests, comes out in opposition to recreation fees
2004 07 26 Ouray County Opposes Fees
2004 06 24 San Juan County Utah Opposes Fees
San Juan County Utah commissioners vote to oppose fees
2004 06 24 San Juan County Utah Opposes Fees
2004 05 20 Senate Passes Parks Only Fee Bill
By unanimous consent, the Senate passes a bill to allow fees to continue in the National Parks only
2004 05 20 Senate Passes Parks Only Fee Bill
2004 03 09 Escalante Fee Meets Opposition
A plan to charge a fee for backcounty use in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument meets local opposition
2004 03 09 Escalante Fee Meets Opposition
2004 02 18 Two More Colorado Counties Oppose Fees
Jackson and Pitkin Counties oppose fees
2004 02 18 Two More Colorado Counties Oppose Fees
2004 02 04 Candidate Scorecard
Candidates for Colorado 3rd House District declare their opposition to Fee Demo
2004 02 04 Candidate Scorecard
2003 09 02 Little Molas Lake Plan Appealed
Appeal filed against a plan by the San Juan National Forest to develop Little Molas Lake and begin charging a fee for both day use and camping
2003 09 02 Little Molas Lake Plan Appealed
2003 06 06 Flag Day Demonstration Held
Flag Day demonstration in Montrose Colorado was a big success
2003_06_06_Flag_Day_Demonstration
2003 06 06 Flag Day Demonstration Planned
Flag Day demonstration announced in front of the BLM office in Montrose, Colorado
2003 06 06 Flag Day Demonstration Planned
2003 03 07 Forest Service Plans National Pass
An early effort by the Forest Service to implement a national pass for access to National Forests
2003 03 07 Forest Service Plans National Pass
2003 01 09 Firefighting Funds Must Be Repaid
WSNFC calls on Congress to repay 100% of funds borrowed from other budgets to fight fires.
2003 01 09 Firefighting Funds Must Be Repaid
2002 07 12 Colorado Congressionals Oppose Fee Demo
More members of Colorado congressional delegation come out in opposition to Fee Demo
2002 07 12 Colorado Congressionals Oppose Fee Demo
2002 06 11 TP Drive Kicks Off
Campaign to send rolls of toilet paper to the Chairman of the House Resources Committee kicks off at the Durango post office.
2002 06 11 TP Drive Kicks Off
2002 05 29 Rally and TP Drive
Rally and toilet paper drive to demonstrate Congressional failure to fund basic needs on public lands.
2002_05_29_Rally_and_TP_Drive
2002 04 02 Campbell Opposes Fee Demo
Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell takes position opposing Fee Demo
2002 04 02 Campbell Opposes Fee Demo
2002 01 15 Eighth County Opposes Fee Demo
Another Colorado County opposes Fee Demo. Trial date set for Yankee Boy Protesters.
2002 01 15 Eighth County Opposes Fee Demo
2001 10 25 Sixth Colorado County Opposes Fee Demo
Gunnison County becomes the sixth county in Colorado to oppose Fee Demom
2001 10 25 Sixth Colorado County Opposes Fee Demo
2001 09 06 Yankee Boy Protesters Given Court Date
Hinsdale County Colorado passes resolution opposing Fee Demo and court date set for Yankee Boy Protesters
2001 09 06 Yankee Boy Protesters Given Court Date
2001 08 26 Protesters Denied Day In Court
Faced with the third protest of the summer, Forest Service managers at Yankee Boy Basin declare a Fee Free Day
2001 08 26 Protesters Denied Day In Court
2001 08 13 Protesters Undeterred by Tickets
Yankee Boy Basin protesters plan another event
2001 08 13 Protesters Undeterred by Tickets
2001 07 08 Protesters Meet Armed Roadblock
Protesters at Yankee Boy Basin meet armed Forest Service roadblock
2001 07 08 Protesters Meet Armed Roadblock
2001 06 25 WSNFC Formed; Protest Planned
Press release announcing the formation of the Western Slope No Fee Coalition
2001 06 25 WSNFC Formed; Protest Planned
2001 05 17 Yankee Boy Basin Protest Planned
Announcement of planned protest at Yankee Boy Basin in Ouray County, Colorado
2001 05 17 Yankee Boy Basin Protest Planned