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Organizational Framework
for National Recreation Resource Advisory
Councils Announced
 Pursuant to the controversial Federal Land
Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) and U.S.D.A. Forest
Service (FS) have announced the development of
an organizational framework for the Recreation
Resource Advisory Councils (Recreation RACs).
The framework was based on public input during
11 meetings held in Idaho, Oregon, California,
Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and
Washington, D.C.
The Recreation RACs will provide
recommendations on implementing or eliminating
standard amenity fees, expanded amenity fees and
non-commercial individual special recreation
permit fees; expanding or limiting the
recreation fee program; and fee level changes
(increases or decreases.)
Recreation RACs do not make recommendations
on recreation fee sites operated by a
concessionaire or contractor, commercial permits
such as outfitting and guiding, or Forest
Service special use permits and BLM special
recreation permits issued for group events such
as bike races.
According to an update released yesterday the
agencies, the BLM and FS Recreation RAC
structure will be:
- Both agencies will use existing BLM
Resource Advisory Councils (BLM RACs) in states
where appropriate. These states include:
Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah.
- Both agencies will use new Recreation RACs,
chartered by the FS, for the Pacific Northwest
Region (Oregon and Washington), the Pacific
Southwest Region (California), the State of
Colorado, and for the Eastern and Southern
Regions (these represent most States east of the
Rockies).
- The FS will use an existing FS Advisory
Board for the Black Hills National Forest in
South Dakota.
- Neither the FS nor the BLM will use
Recreation RACs where the Secretaries of
Agriculture and the Interior, in consultation
with the Governor of individual States, have
determined that sufficient interest does not
exist in forming a FS-chartered Recreation RAC
or using a BLM RAC as allowed in the Recreation
Enhancement Act (REA). Those States that are not
establishing Recreation RACs are Alaska, Wyoming
and Nebraska.
- Any of the above described FS-chartered
Recreation RACs or BLM RACs may choose to
develop subcommittees to better address local
community or recreation interests.
- BLM RACs and FS-chartered Recreation RACs
will be providing recommendations for both BLM
and FS recreation fees where applicable.
For a more detailed description of the
organization, please visit:
http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac-map.shtml
or
www.blm.gov/rac.
The FS will soon begin accepting nominations
for membership on the new Recreation RACs. If
you are interested in nominating yourself or a
member of your organization, please visit the FS
Recreation RAC website at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac.shtml
All nomination information as well as regional
contacts will be posted to this site.
New Recreation RACs, which will occur in the
Forest Service's Eastern, Southern, Pacific
Northwest, Pacific Southwest and Alaska Regions
will consist of 11 members who represent the
following interests as indicated in REA:
* Five people who represent recreation users and
include as appropriate:
- Winter motorized
- Winter non-motorized
- Summer motorized
- Summer non-motorized
- Hunting and fishing
* Three people who represent interest groups
that include as appropriate:
- Motorized outfitters and guides
- Non-motorized outfitter and guides
- Local environmental groups
* Three people, one in each position:
- State tourism official
- A person who represents affected local
government interests
- A person who represents affected Indian
tribes' issues
BLM RACs are already formed and members are
in place; however the BLM periodically solicits
nominations for vacant positions. These BLM
RAC's may consider establishing subcommittees
specifically to address recreation fees.
If you are interested in serving on a BLM RAC,
please visit www.blm.gov/racfor local
information about becoming a member of
individual BLM RACs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please
do not hesitate to contact us at BRC.
Thanks,
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102
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