NO TIME FOR MORE ECONOMIC STRESS
Idaho Delegation Fights Forest Service for Seniors, Disabled
UPDATED, March 17:As Congress increases budgets for managing National Forests, the Forest Service not only increases the cost of using public land with runaway recreation fees, but also turns key facilities over to private companies that charge even more--and definitely don't want discounts enjoyed for decades by seniors and disabled Americans cutting into their bottom line.
By Bill Schneider, 3-17-10
UPDATED, 2:30 pm, March 17: I’ve just learned that later today or tomorrow, the F0rest Service will announce that the agency has thrown in the towel on the proposed administrative rule to renege on “lifetime” passes and discounts promised to the elderly and disabled. The agency receive extensive negative feedback on the idea, included a stern pushback from the entire Idaho congressional delegation. Apparently, the agency has gotten the message--Don’t mess with Geezers! I’ll provide more details as they become available.--Bill Schneider
UPDATED, 3 pm, March 17: I’ve posted the entire Forest Service press release at the end of this article.__Bill Schneider
As reported here on NewWest.Net on January 28, the Forest Service (FS) has decided to take back discounts promised to elderly and disabled public land users.
To that, all four members of the Idaho Congressional delegation say, whoa, partner, not so fast on that one.
Or more specifically: “In this economic climate,” the delegation wrote in their official letter to FS Chief Tom Tidwell, “we cannot eliminate the opportunity for our senior and permanently disabled citizens to enjoy our public lands.”
The delegation specifically opposed the FS plan to cut discounts for “senior citizens and disabled Americans” under the Interagency Pass Program, which now provides discounted rates for activities such as camping in National Forests. The FS has proposed a new rule that would reduce the discounts from 50 percent to 10 percent in campgrounds and other facilities operated by private concessionaires.
In recent years, the FS has been rapidly privatizing the management of National Forest campgrounds. Now, private companies, large and small, operate about half of all campgrounds and 82 percent of those that can be reserved, which are often the most popular campgrounds.
“As the recession has gone on,” the delegation told Tidwell, “more American families have turned to our public lands for vacationing and recreation purposes than they had in the past. In part to address this rising demand, Congress has provided funding increases for the National Forest System activity in recent appropriations bills. Furthermore, the Forest Service received $650 million for capital improvement and maintenance in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As such, we are confused as to why the Forest Service would find it necessary or appropriate to levy increased fees on seniors and the disabled.”
Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) along with his colleague Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) have introduced a bill, S. 868, to repeal the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which is the authority the FS is using to institute and raise recreation fees and, in this case, to take back discounts given to seniors and the disabled.
To view NewWest.Net’s extensive coverage of the recreation fee issue, click here.
Here is the complete text of the letter, signed by Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and Congressmen Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick:
The Honorable Tom Tidwell
Chief, U.S. Forest Service
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
Dear Chief Tidwell:
We are writing to express concern with a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) proposal to allow a decrease in discounts for senior citizens and the physically disabled on USFS lands, as proposed in the Federal Register on December 1, 2009.
As you know, the USFS is a participant in the Interagency Pass Program, authorized by Congress in December 2004. Congressional intent in establishing this pass program was to continue the multiple benefits of an earlier fee program (Fee Demo Program) by simplifying and standardizing the fee types and providing for public input in establishing fee locations and amounts, among other things. However, that authorization also provided the Forest Service with authorities – unused up to this point – to reduce discounts for senior citizens and the disabled in some circumstances.
Under the aforementioned proposed regulations, some pass holders will find the cost of recreation on their public lands prohibitive. Of equal concern to the actual economic impact is the demographic groups that it will effect; the recession has been especially hard on senior citizens and the disabled, who already must shoulder the burden of high healthcare costs and depleted retirement savings.
As the recession has gone on, more American families have turned to our public lands for vacationing and recreation purposes than they had in the past. In part to address this rising demand, Congress has provided funding increases for the National Forest System activity in recent appropriations bills. Furthermore, the Forest Service received $650 million for capital improvement and maintenance in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As such, we are confused as to why the Forest Service would find it necessary or appropriate to levy increased fees on seniors and the disabled.
We urge you to maintain these discounts at their current levels. In this economic climate, we cannot eliminate the opportunity for our senior and permanently disabled citizens to enjoy our public lands.
March 17 Forest Service Press Release:
USDA Forest Service Continues Discounts at Campgrounds
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2010--USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today his decision not to implement proposed changes to fees charged to holders of passes at Forest Service campgrounds operated by private businesses. The Chief’s decision means Seniors and people with disabilities will continue to receive a discount at Forest Service campgrounds run by private concessions.
The Forest Service had proposed changes to discounts provided to holders of Golden Age and Golden Access Passports and Senior and Access Passes. Under the proposal, discounts at concession-operated campgrounds would have changed from the current 50 percent to 10 percent. After considering many public comments, the Chief determined the proposed changes are not the best way to address growing challenges regarding services provided by private businesses at Forest Service recreation facilities.
“Each year more than 175 million people enjoy recreational opportunities on National Forests and Grasslands, and that includes more than 15 million visits to our campgrounds,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Particularly in these difficult economic times, it is very important to maintain affordable access to our National Forests and Grasslands, giving people easy ways to recreate and find respite in the great outdoors.”
The Chief’s decision leaves in place a 50 percent discount at campgrounds run by private concessions for holders of Golden Age and Golden Access Passports and Interagency Senior and Access Passes. Concessioners are not required to accept passes at day use sites. Seniors age 62 and older pay a one-time $10 fee for the Senior Pass. Lifetime Access Passes for people with disabilities are free.
The Forest Service conducted a 60-day public notice and comment period on the proposed changes. More than 4,000 comments were received.
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of National Forest System land, provides stewardship assistance to non-federal forest landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. For more information, visit: www.fs.fed.us
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Now it is paved and wired for the convenience of Seniors, Disabled.
Idaho was once a naturally beautiful state; but now it is only beautiful when you stray into federal wilderness.
The last time I was at Redfish it was paved--and there were electic plugins on the trees.
For my part, I'll take pine beetles any day!
I paid $0.35 for a cup of coffee and about the same for a chocolate malt.
A hunting license or a combination fishing and hunting license seemed excessive at $5.00.
A night in a motel usually cost less than $24.00; and a Ford or a Chevy went for less than five thousand.
The point is that all prices have gone up--including camping on Federal land.
By the way--for anybody who cares:
That wasn't a second cup of coffee I had with my malt. It was a cheeseburger; but I had a senior moment while typing it out.
Honoring "lifetime" commitments is a good thing, but I can't help but feel this "negotiation" does more to cement the idea of fee for access than it does to help seniors.
Like the old joke about "will you sleep with me for a million dollars?", we've agreed on what we are, now we're just negotiating the price. (Straining the analogy, but the picture--and end result--are the same.)