For Immediate Release
September 22, 2003

Contact: Bill Kresnak
Phone: (614) 856-1900

AMA CALLS FOR MORE TRAIL MAINTENANCE IN U.S. FOREST SERVICE USE OF RECREATION FEES

The American Motorcyclist Association told a congressional subcommittee that the U.S. Forest Service needs to spend more money it raises from recreation fees on trail maintenance.

In testimony before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health on Wednesday, September 17, AMA Senior Legislative Assistant Patrick Holtz pointed out that land managers in some national forests are using the fee money for operations and services rather than spending it on much-needed trail rehabilitation.

He was testifying on a proposal to make the Recreation Fee Demonstration program, which involves collecting fees for using public federal land, a permanent program. The demonstration project is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2004.

Congress authorized the Recreation Fee Demonstration program in 1996 for the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, federal Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The purpose was to collect money to maintain and improve natural resources, recreation facilities and services on federal land.

The U.S. Forest Service is currently collecting fees in 114 national forests and grasslands in 36 states and Puerto Rico.

Holtz told the committee that a U.S. General Accounting Office report this year noted that the Angeles and San Bernardino national forests spend 80 percent of their recreation fee money on visitor services, operations, maintenance of facilities, and for providing interpretive services, rather than addressing deferred trail maintenance needs.

"This is meritorious, but shouldn't land managers address the specific long-term needs of those who are paying the fees?" Holtz asked.

He said the AMA could support making the Recreation Fee Demonstration program a permanent program provided certain conditions are met. The fees must be collected to recover costs, and must be used at the area where they are collected, he said. Also, the administrative costs must be held down, paying the fees must be convenient for the land users, and federal, state and local fees should be combined where appropriate.

"The Recreational Fee Demonstration Program has enormous potential to enhance recreation opportunities," Holtz testified. "But, to be successful, it has to receive full public support. In order to receive that support, the Forest Service must think boldly and implement a fee system that efficiently accounts for its deferred maintenance needs, rewards land managers who work on those needs, and provide a coherent and integrated experience for the user."

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