OnTop_of_Poo

With the_Nodder. Oh my GOD!

BTW, it's still not that bad, but there is better. Did she have a snug bottom? and maybe even a snugcrop... have you seen her?

BTW, it's still not that bad, but there is better. But still better than your mom's. Or your sister's for that matter. How unoriginal. But from a Steve Perry fan, what can you expect.

Dude, it's all this "new mandate" that we're living under. You sound so "un-american."

BTW, it's still not that bad, but there is better.

I was just adding the snaffle PooTop forgot. You'll notice that I'm always on top, trickling down...

Ok, the marmot qualifies... First human/marmot to courageously find booty.

Evidence please? You know I saw that one coming... Proves nothing! Any other officials there to verify?

Evidence please?

Can you believe it?

And if whoever wins does a mediocre (or worse) job, then toss them on their ass in 4 years. Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once is stupid; twice is a judgement problem. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Since we're signed up for another 4 years, are you saying America has a judgment problem?

Well it's good that you're establishing yourslf as the authority of Thread Drift.

Since we're signed up for another 4 years, are you saying America has a judgment problem?

If CG wins the recount this time, does she have to win 2 more for a best of 5 series?

Not sure about the vehicle, but glad you're ok.

Inside the mind of a potential avalanche victim By Brett Prettyman The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Tribune Flawed decision-making has been the folly of even the most experienced backcountry Traveler Mind traps Six decision-making traps in recreational avalanche accidents identified by Utah researcher Ian McCammon: Familiarity - If the geography is familiar, we tend to do things we did before, despite changing risk factors. Acceptance - A tendency to engage in activities that will get us liked or accepted. Commitment - Focusing on an objective or goal to the exclusion of important hazard information. Expert Halo - Placing decision-making and responsibility on a person perceived to be the most knowledgeable in the group even if the person isn't a true expert. Tracks/Scarcity - If fresh, untracked powder is scarce, it is perceived to have more value and be worth the potential risk. Social Facilitation - People who believe they have good avalanche skills are more likely to take risks in the presence of other people; people who feel less skilled take fewer risks. Source: "Heuristic Traps in Recreational Avalanche Accidents: Evidence and Implications" by Ian McCammon before he started writing avalanche research papers with lofty titles, Ian McCammon was a mechanical engineer working on robotics and machines. "Now he is trying to turn people into machines," jokes Bruce Tremper, director of the USDA Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center and a friend of McCammon. But helping backcountry travelers act more like machines and less like human beings may be the only way to avoid the inherent and obvious dangers of avalanches. The human mind has a tendency to make too many shortcuts. In papers with titles such as "Heuristic Traps in Recreation Avalanche Accidents: Evidence and Implications" (published in The Avalanche Review in December 2003 and February 2004), McCammon has delved into the psyche of backcountry winter travelers. After losing a close friend he knew to be well-trained in avalanche education, he wondered why seemingly knowledgeable people get caught in snowslides. "There are patterns embedded in our humanity. To understand them could help us get a better understanding of ourselves and what we do in the face of certain events," said McCammon, a Salt Lake City resident who travels the nation sharing his research with avalanche experts. Research on more than 700 accidents between 1972 and 2003 led McCammon to identify several "heuristic" traps, or situational cues, that can lead to poor decision-making by rookies and experts, even in the face of unequivocal avalanche indicators. McCammon is not the first to explore the human factor in avalanche tragedies, but he has approached the subject in a different way. "It's a paradigm shift in the way we think about avalanche education. Every time Ian gives a talk I just go 'wow.' We have . . . [been] preaching the avalanche gospel for years, but the accidents just keep going up and up. . . . Ian's research shows there is more to safe travel in the backcountry than just being able to recognize avalanche danger; it is being able to recognize when you are ignoring that danger," Tremper said. McCammon found the advertising world a fertile field for ideas about the effect of human factors on decision-making. "They want people to make a decision to buy their product and they use the same mental traps we fall into in the face of avalanche danger to make those products more desirable even when the product is not exactly what the person might want," McCammon said. "This kind of advertising has been around for thousands of years." Which makes it all the more difficult to recognize. Like consumers falling for products they don't need, potential avalanche victims are unaware they are making life-and-death decisions based on subconscious factors. See AVALANCHE, E2 McCammon and Tremper, both seasoned backcountry winter travelers, admit they still fall prey to these errors in thinking even though they talk to people about ways to avoid them. The mental "traps" identified by McCammon in his research on avalanche victims include: Familiarity: Cameron Carpenter felt safe, at least initially, the day his best friend died in an avalanche near Guardsman Pass in Big Cottonwood Canyon in 1986. "It was one of our favorite places to go. We had been in that same spot a lot, even during that winter," said Carpenter, who lost his friend Brad Lindsey when they were both caught in the avalanche. "It wasn't until we were on the mountain for the second time that we realized we could be in trouble." McCammon explains the familiarity heuristic this way: Rather than figuring out what behavior is appropriate each time we visit the backcountry, we tend to rely on past actions in that same place. Familiarity can help with decision-making, but it becomes dangerous when the avalanche hazard increases. McCammon found that 71 percent of the accidents he researched happened on slopes known to victims. When people travel in familiar places, they appear willing to expose themselves to almost four times as much avalanche hazard than when they travel in unfamiliar places. Familiarity also apparently negated the advantage of avalanche education. Acceptance: The theory here is that people tend to engage in activities they think will earn them notice and/or respect. Call it the "bragging rights" or "testosterone" heuristic. "Men, in the presence of women, will behave more competitively, aggressively or engage in riskier behaviors than when women are absent," McCammon writes. Tremper says he understands the acceptance heuristic all too well. "When I'm by myself I'm very cautious. Add a trusted partner and I'm willing to go places I probably wouldn't before. Add a group of six people and a couple of attractive females and I'll do just about anything," Tremper said. McCammon reports that groups that include women appear to expose themselves to greater risk than those without, but not because women take more risks. Of the 1,355 individuals present in accidents McCammon studied, only 10 percent were female. And only 9.1 percent of the avalanche victims were women. Commitment: When he first heard about the commitment heuristic, Carpenter said it probably did not play into his accident, but the more he talked about that fatal day, the more he realized how it had affected his and Lindsey's decisions. "It was snowing hard. One of the other guys got cold and went back to the car. We were pretty committed to making another run," Carpenter said. "We made an effort to get up the canyon and weren't going to sit in the car." McCammon found that people who were highly committed to enter the avalanche path that eventually caught them took more risks than those less committed to a certain goal or objective. Expert halo: People appointed as "backcountry experts" by the group tend to expose the party to greater avalanche hazards than groups that make decisions based on consensus. McCammon found that leaders with the expert halo appear to make riskier decisions as the size of the group increases. Individuals appointed as experts may suffer from a false sense of confidence in their avalanche awareness skills even if they are actually quite knowledgeable in the backcountry. Tracks/scarcity: This may be among the most dangerous heuristics because the desire to find fresh powder increases along with the avalanche hazard. New and deep snow has a tendency to make many people ignore obvious dangers. The thrill of being the first to make tracks on fresh snow tempts many backcountry travelers into terrain they would otherwise avoid. Social facilitation: McCammon found that groups who met other people before their accident exposed themselves to more hazards than those who had not encountered other groups that day. Parties of three and four people appeared more prone to this phenomenon than groups of other sizes. McCammon theorizes that people who are good at something believe they will do it better with an audience. But unskilled people believe they will perform even more poorly. The trap is that people with some avalanche avoidance skills take more risks. The question for avalanche educators now is how to incorporate McCammon's research into effective prevention. "The Europeans have had some great success with rule-based decision-making. There are certain rules they follow in certain situations," Tremper said. "That makes a lot of sense, but it still does not address the ability by people to justify certain risks, many times without even realizing they are doing it."

Jason, Nice info, I posted this info yesterday... it may be of use here... It is EXTREMELY unlikely that the House will address fee demo again. This bill is not going to back to the Senate, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is holding the omnibus up to gain some political hay over the IRS issue (that all the R's are quickly distancing themselves from). Unless there is a miracle, fee demo is a done deal. For future reference, when trying to make a difference, contact your represenative directly. It's also important to contact the COMMITTEE's that over see these issues. Here is a link to the Senate committee on Energy and Natural Resources. These types of bills live and die in committee's. http://energy.senate.gov or the members at: http://energy.senate.gov/contact/contact_members.html Here is the link to the House Committees that generally oversee land use issues. http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/ http://agriculture.house.gov/ You are correct, this was added fee demo to the omnibus, b/c there is no way it would have passed solo (well, no way the USFS fee demo would have, the NPS version was viewed more favorably.) Seems like the Departments were in concert to do this together from the begining, sort of an all the agencys/bureaus or none. Senators Thomas, Craig and Domenici were opposed to the USFS getting in on the permanent fee authoriy (Thomas passed legislation enabling the NPS to have a permanent fee authority), but Senator Stevens (R-AK), chair of Appropiations (a very powerful position) seems to have made a deal with Secretaries at the Department of Agriculture and Interior and left the legislation in. Seems odd that a R-Senator would oppose other western state R-Senators. The Secretaries must have pitched a great position, or another deal.

As climbers, we particularly know that life isn't fair, but we deal and move on. Like a bad call at a sports game that causes your team to lose, Chris lost. You can count and count and count until you get what you want, but 2 counts are good enough for me. How long must the STATE endure? I read this today, though I'm a dem at heart, I wish Chris would step down and let the state move forward. By JOHN CARLSON GUEST COLUMNIST What's the difference between Christine Gregoire and me? I lost one count for governor. Gregoire has now lost two. Yes, it was close -- a photo finish. But it was not, as she is telling people, a tie. Dino Rossi won it fairly, he won it squarely and he won it twice. Yet Gregoire is calling for a third count done by hand because she wants "accuracy." Actually, she wants 43 votes. And a hand count is easier to get there, because hand counts are less accurate than machines. Those who understand the process of running an election, including our two previous secretaries of state, agree with Democrat Dean Logan, the head of King County's elections office, who said, "When you're talking about close to 900,000 pieces of paper, I think the machine count is going to be more accurate than a manual count." By the way, though no one's saying it out loud, it's also easier to cheat with hand counts. Are machines perfect? No, which is why a recount was necessary in the first place. Yet after nearly 2.9 million votes were recounted, the results were almost the same. The main reason Rossi's margin slipped from 261 to 42 is that King County "enhanced" votes rejected by the machines. In 38 of the state's 39 counties, only 208 net votes were added to either Rossi or Gregoire in the recount. Then came King County, which represents a third of the electorate. Gregoire netted a gain of 245 votes -- more than the rest of the state for both candidates combined. Gregoire is no longer acting like someone who wants "every vote counted"; she's acting like someone who wants the votes counted again and again, in different ways if necessary, to produce the results she's almost but not quite getting. More than a political race is at stake here. Washington long has been known as a clean place in which to do politics, but that reputation evaporates if Rossi becomes the only candidate in state history (and one of the only ones in U.S. history) to win an election on the first count, win it again on the second and then be denied the oath of office by a third count that used a less reliable method for counting the ballots. The anger would extend far beyond the Republican Party. A KING-5 poll shows that 66 percent of the people believe Rossi is the winner. Only 24 percent -- less than the Democrat base vote in Washington -- believe Gregoire won the race. Even some newspapers that endorsed her are now calling on her to put the state's interests ahead of her own and concede the race. That's not too surprising. Former Secretary of State Ralph Munro said last week that he would have urged Rossi to concede and unify the state if he, rather than Gregoire, lost both counts. I would have done the same. It's not like he or she isn't there to fight another day. John Thune lost a U.S. Senate race by 513 (suspicious) votes in South Dakota in 2002, only to come back this year and defeat Tom Daschle. Maria Cantwell was bounced out of Congress in 1994 after one term. She came back in 2000 and now sits in the Senate. But never mind the candidates for a moment. A third count won't erase doubts about the results, it will raise them, and that hurts Washington State. It means lawyers and judges ultimately decide the winner, not the voters. Gregoire should do what a real leader would do: Instruct her party that the race is over, concede the race to Rossi so he can form a government and then regroup and re-emerge later. There's life after losing a governor's race, I promise. John Carlson hosts an afternoon talk show on KVI radio in Seattle. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 2000.

BTW Scott, thanks for starting yet another Nodder thread.

Oh My God

H. R. 3283 To improve recreational facilities and visitor opportunities on Federal recreational lands by reinvesting receipts from fair and consistent recreational fees and passes, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 8, 2003 Mr. REGULA (for himself, Mr. WAMP, Mr. SHERWOOD, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. PETRI, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, and Mr. HOBSON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A BILL To improve recreational facilities and visitor opportunities on Federal recreational lands by reinvesting receipts from fair and consistent recreational fees and passes, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act'. (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. Sec. 2. Purposes and principles. Sec. 3. Definitions. Sec. 4. General recreation fee authority. Sec. 5. Basic recreation fee. Sec. 6. Expanded recreation fee. Sec. 7. Special recreation permit fee. Sec. 8. General recreation pass authority. Sec. 9. America the Beautiful--the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Sec. 10. Other recreation passes. Sec. 11. Miscellaneous administrative provisions regarding recreation fees and recreation passes. Sec. 12. Volunteers. Sec. 13. Special accounts and distribution of recreation fees and recreation pass revenues. Sec. 14. Expenditures from special accounts. Sec. 15. Enforcement and protection of receipts. Sec. 16. Repeal of superseded admission and use fee authorities. Sec. 17. Relation to other laws and fee collection authorities. SEC. 2. PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES. (a) PURPOSES- The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to enhance visitor opportunities regarding Federal public lands by creating a seamless Federal system of recreation opportunities; (2) to enhance the visitor experience by investing recreation fees in improving recreation opportunities regarding Federal public lands; (3) to reduce the huge deferred maintenance backlog that adversely affects visitor use and enjoyment of Federal recreational facilities and lands, by focused use of visitor fee revenues; (4) to help protect and enhance the natural resource, historic, cultural, and other special values of Federal public lands and National Parks that attract hundreds of millions of visitors every year; (5) to establish a permanent recreation fee program that allows the fees to be used primarily at the site of collection; (6) to establish a permanent recreation fee program so that important investments in technology may be made; (7) to streamline, simplify, and improve the recreation fee program; and (8) to streamline, simplify, and improve the interagency national recreation pass program. (b) PRINCIPLES- The following principles apply to the recreation fee program authorized by this Act: (1) BENEFICIAL TO THE VISITING PUBLIC- A majority of the revenue generated by recreation fees should be retained and used at the site where the fees are collected to benefit the visiting public by enhancing the resources, facilities, activities, services, and programs used by the visiting public. Recreation fees should be designed to provide the sites with adequate resources to enhance and supply visitor services, reduce the backlog of deferred maintenance, and restore and enhance impacted or endangered resources. (2) FAIR AND EQUITABLE- Recreation fees should also be affordable for the visiting public and not significantly impact visitation levels. Recreation fees should be reasonable and based on a consistent and sound rationale. Recreation fee systems should consider and address the relationship between who pays the fee and who benefits from the resources, facilities, activities, services, and programs provided by a recreation program. (3) EFFICIENT- Recreation fees should be collected and administered in a cost efficient, enforceable, and business-like manner. (4) COLLABORATIVE- Recreation fees should be developed with input from local communities and other interested persons. Wherever possible or appropriate, Federal land management agencies should coordinate fees with private entities and local, State, and other Federal agencies so as to minimize overlapping costs and simplify fees for the visiting public. (5) CONVENIENT- Recreation fees should be convenient to pay and recreation passes should be easy to obtain. A variety of payment and purchase location options (including credit card, internet, automated fee machines, and vendor sales) should be available as appropriate and feasible. (6) ACCOUNTABLE- Federal land management agencies should collect data and publish annually public documentation showing how the recreation fee program is administered. Agencies should evaluate the recreation fee program to consider cost of collection, adherence to policy, use of revenues, fiscal safeguards, and how well the program achieves organizational, site, and community goals. (7) CONSISTENT- The visiting public should expect a similar fee for similar resources, facilities, activities, services, and programs across Federal land management agencies or in a given geographic area. The costs and benefits associated with a recreation fee or recreation pass should be clearly illustrated and easily understood by the visiting public. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) BASIC RECREATION FEE- The term `basic recreation fee' means the fee authorized by section 5. (2) EXPANDED RECREATION FEE- The term `expanded recreation fee' means the fee authorized by section 6. (3) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY- The term `Federal land management agency' means the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, or the Forest Service. (4) NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASS - The term `National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass' means the interagency national pass authorized by section 9. (5) PASSHOLDER- The term `passholder' means a person who purchases or otherwise holds a recreation pass. (6) RECREATION FEE- The term `recreation fee' means the basic recreation fee, expanded recreation fee, or special recreation permit fee. (7) RECREATION PASS- The term `recreation pass' means the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or one of the recreation passes available as authorized by section 10. (8) SECRETARY CONCERNED- The term `Secretary concerned' means-- (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation; and (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to the Forest Service. (9) SECRETARIES- The term `Secretaries' means the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture acting jointly. (10) SPECIAL ACCOUNT- The term `special account' means the special account established in the Treasury under section 13 for a Federal land management agency. (11) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT FEE- The term `special recreation permit fee' means the fee authorized by section 7. SEC. 4. GENERAL RECREATION FEE AUTHORITY. (a) AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH- The Secretary concerned shall provide for the establishment of basic recreation fees, expanded recreation fees, and special recreation permit fees that are fair and equitable. (b) ESTABLISHMENT GUIDELINES- The Secretary concerned shall establish guidelines identifying the process by which a Federal land management agency shall establish and change the amount charged for a basic recreation fee, expanded recreation fee, or special recreation permit fee. The guidelines shall contain a provision requiring that Federal land management agencies coordinate with each other, to the extent practicable, when establishing and changing such fees. © CONSIDERATIONS- Before establishing and setting a price for a recreation fee, the Secretary concerned shall take into consideration the following: (1) The benefits and services provided to visitors paying the recreation fee. (2) The public policy or management objectives served. (3) The effect of multiple fees charged to the public. (4) The direct and indirect cost to the Government. (5) The revenue benefits to the Government. (6) Fees charged at comparable sites or by other public agencies. (7) The economic and administrative feasibility of fee collection. (8) The price of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. (d) FEES FOR CERTAIN ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED- The Secretary concerned may not charge a basic recreation fee, expanded recreation fee, or special recreation permit fee-- (1) for travel by private, noncommercial vehicles over any national parkway or any road or highway established as a part of the National Highway System (as defined in section 101 of title 23, United States Code) that is commonly used by the public as a means of travel between two places either or both of which are outside any unit or area of a Federal land management agency at which fees are charged under this Act; (2) for travel by a person using a private, noncommercial vehicle over any road or highway to any land in which the person has any property right, if the land is within any unit or area of a Federal land management agency at which fees are charged under this Act; (3) for any person who has a right of access for hunting or fishing privileges under a specific provision of law or treaty; or (4) for any person who is engaged in the conduct of official Federal, State, or local government business. (e) WAIVER OR DISCOUNT OF FEES- The Secretary concerned may waive or discount a basic recreation fee, expanded recreation fee, or special recreation permit fee, as considered appropriate by the Secretary concerned. (f) FEE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS- Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act), the Secretary concerned may enter into fee management agreements, including contracts, that provide for reasonable commissions, discounts, or reimbursements, with any governmental or nongovernmental entities to provide fee collection and processing services, including visitor reservation services. SEC. 5. BASIC RECREATION FEE. (a) FEE AUTHORIZED- Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary concerned may charge a basic recreation fee for the following locations: (1) Units of the National Park System. (2) National Conservation Areas. (3) National Recreation Areas. (4) National Monuments. (5) National Volcanic Monuments. (6) National Scenic Areas. (7) Areas of substantial investment by a Federal land management agency, which refers to Federal lands or waters under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned that are not specified in paragraphs (1) through (6), but that-- (A) are managed for recreation purposes or contain at least one major visitor attraction; and (B) have had substantial investments, as determined by the Secretary concerned, made in their facilities or services, in restoring resource degradation in areas of concentrated public use, including a visitor or interpretive center, a trailhead facility, or a developed parking lot, or in requiring the presence of personnel of a Federal land management agency. (b) LIMITATIONS ON FEES FOR CERTAIN PERSONS, ACTIVITIES, AND LOCATIONS- The Secretary concerned may not charge a basic recreation fee with respect to any of the following: (1) A person under 16 years of age. (2) Outings conducted for noncommercial educational purposes by schools or bonafide academic institutions. (3) The following National Park System units: (A) U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. (B) Independence National Historical Park. © Statue of Liberty National Monument. (D) National Park System units in the District of Columbia. (E) The Arlington House-Robert E. Lee National Memorial. (F) Any National Park System unit covered by section 203 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 410hh-2), other than Denali National Park and Preserve. (G) Any National Park System unit containing a deed restriction on charging entrance fees. (4) For entrance on other routes into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or any part thereof, unless a basic recreation fee is charged for entrance into that park on main highways and thoroughfares. (5) For any person who visits a unit or area under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and is the holder of a valid migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp issued under section 2 of the Act of March 16, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 718b; commonly known as the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act or Duck Stamp Act). (6) For any person engaged in a nonrecreational activity authorized under a valid permit issued under any other Act, including a valid grazing permit. © FEE-FREE DAY- At every unit or area of a Federal land management area that charges a basic recreation fee, that Secretary concerned shall designate at least one day annually during periods of high visitation as a `Fee-Free Day' when no basic recreation fee is charged. SEC. 6. EXPANDED RECREATION FEE. (a) FEE AUTHORIZED- The Secretary concerned may charge an expanded recreation fee, either in addition to a basic recreation fee or by itself, at Federal lands or waters under the jurisdiction of a Federal land management agency when the Secretary concerned determines that the visitor to those lands or waters-- (1) receives or is provided a direct service; (2) uses a specific or specialized facility or equipment in association with the recreation activity; (3) requires additional attention by staff, representatives or contractors of the Federal land management agency; or (4) participates in an activity that involves more costs to the Federal land management agency than the costs associated with the basic recreation fee. (b) LIMITATIONS ON FEES FOR CERTAIN PERSONS, ACTIVITIES, AND LOCATIONS- The Secretary concerned may not charge an expanded recreation fee with respect to any of the following: (1) For general access to any Federal lands or waters under the jurisdiction of a Federal land management agency. (2) For access to any of the following: (A) A visitor center. (B) A dispersed area with low or no investment. © A scenic overlook. (D) A basic, core interpretive program. (E) A backcountry byway. (F) A wayside. (G) A drinking fountain. (H) A restroom. (I) An undeveloped parking area. (J) an individual picnic table. (3) For special attention or extra services necessary to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. (4) For any person engaged in a nonrecreational activity authorized under a valid permit issued under any other Act, including a valid grazing permit. © FACILITIES AND SERVICES- In accordance with subsection (a), but subject to subsection (b), an expanded recreation fee may be charged for facilities and services, including any of the following: (1) A developed campground. (2) A developed boat ramp. (3) A facility rental. (4) An equipment rental. (5) An enhanced interpretive program. (6) A reservation service. (7) A transportation service. (8) A special amenity. SEC. 7. SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT FEE. (a) FEE AUTHORIZED- The Secretary concerned may require a special recreation permit, and charge a special recreation permit fee, for a recreation use, including any of the following: (1) A group activity. (2) A commercial tour, including commercial aircraft tour. (3) A recreation event. (4) Use of a motorized recreation vehicle. (5) A competitive event. (6) An outfitting and guiding activity. (7) An activity requiring an allocation of use. (8) An activity for which a permit is required to ensure public safety. (b) PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES- If the Secretary concerned requires a special recreation permit for a recreation use, or charges a special recreation permit fee, the Secretary concerned shall establish procedures or guidelines to address the application and approval process for the special recreation permit and the special recreation permit fee levels. SEC. 8. GENERAL RECREATION PASS AUTHORITY. (a) EFFECT AND USE OF RECREATION PASSES- A recreation pass shall cover the basic recreation fee at any unit or area of a Federal land management agency that charges a basic recreation fee for the passholder and-- (1) all persons traveling with the passholder in a noncommercial motorized vehicle; (2) up to three persons accompanying the passholder and traveling by means other than a motorized vehicle; or (3) up to three persons accompanying the passholder at walk-up units or areas of a Federal land management agency. (b) NONTRANSFERABLE- A recreation pass is nontransferable. © CONSIDERATIONS- Before establishing and setting a price for a recreation pass, the Secretary concerned shall take into consideration the following: (1) The considerations specified in section 4©. (2) The visitor services and recreation opportunities to be covered by the recreation pass. (3) The price of, and impact on, other recreation passes. (4) Visitor confusion with respect to other recreation passes. (5) The impact on the incentive of a Federal land management agency to sell the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. (6) The impact on the overall collection of recreation fees authorized by this Act. (7) The basic recreation fees charged at units or areas of the Federal land management agencies covered by the recreation pass and the impact of the recreation pass on those fees. (d) PUBLIC NOTICE- The Secretaries shall jointly take such steps as may be necessary to provide to the public information on the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass and other available recreation passes. SEC. 9. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL--THE NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASS. (a) RECREATION PASS AUTHORIZED- (1) AVAILABILITY AND USE- The Secretaries shall jointly establish, and may charge a fee for, an interagency national pass to be known as the `America the Beautiful--the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass', which shall cover the basic recreation fee at all units and areas of the Federal land management agencies for which a basic recreation fee is charged. (2) IMAGE COMPETITION FOR RECREATION PASS- The Secretaries shall jointly hold an annual competition to select the image to be used on the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for a year. The competition shall be-- (A) open to the public; and (B) used as a means to educate the American people about units and areas of the Federal land management agencies. (3) NOTICE OF ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretaries shall jointly publish a notice in the Federal Register when the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is first established and available for purchase. (b) DURATION- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass shall be valid for a period of 12 months from the date of the issuance of the recreation pass to a passholder. © PRICE- The Secretaries shall jointly establish the price at which the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass will be sold to the public. (d) SALES LOCATIONS AND MARKETING- (1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary concerned shall sell the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass at all units or areas of the Federal land management agencies at which a basic recreation fee is charged and at such other locations as the Secretaries consider appropriate and feasible. (2) USE OF VENDORS- The Secretary concerned may enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with private vendors to sell the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. (3) MARKETING- The Secretaries shall jointly take such actions as are appropriate to provide for the active marketing of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. (e) DISCOUNTED PASSES- (1) AGE DISCOUNT- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass shall be available, at a 50 percent discount, to any citizen of, or person domiciled in, the United States who is 62 years of age or older, provides adequate proof of age, and provides adequate proof of citizenship or residency. (2) DISABILITY DISCOUNT- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass shall be available, without charge, to any citizen of, or person domiciled in, the United States who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of the person's major life activities, as required by section 7(20)(B)(i) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701(20)(B)(i)), provides adequate documentation of the such disability, and provides adequate proof of citizenship or residency. (f) ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES- The Secretaries shall jointly issue guidelines on administration of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which shall include agreement on price, the distribution of revenues between the Federal land management agencies, the sharing of costs, benefits provided, marketing and design, adequate documentation for age and disability discounts, and the issuance of that recreation pass to volunteers. The Secretaries shall take into consideration all relevant visitor and sales data available in establishing the guidelines. (g) DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENTS- The Secretaries may jointly enter into cooperative agreements with governmental and nongovernmental entities for the development and implementation of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program. (h) PROHIBITION ON OTHER NATIONAL RECREATION PASSES- The Secretary concerned may not establish any national recreation pass, except as provided in this section. SEC. 10. OTHER RECREATION PASSES. (a) SITE-SPECIFIC AGENCY PASSES- The Secretary concerned may establish and charge a fee for a site-specific pass that will cover the basic recreation fee for a particular unit or area of a Federal land management agency for a specified period not to exceed 12 months. (b) REGIONAL MULTIENTITY PASSES- (1) PASSES AUTHORIZED- The Secretary concerned may establish and charge a fee for a regional multientity pass that will be accepted by one or more Federal land management agencies or by one or more governmental or nongovernmental entities for a specified period not to exceed 12 months. To include a Federal land management agency or governmental or nongovernmental entity over which the Secretary concerned does not have jurisdiction, the Secretary concerned shall obtain the consent of the head of such agency or entity. (2) REGIONAL MULTIENTITY PASS AGREEMENT- In order to establish a regional multientity pass under this subsection, the Secretary concerned shall enter into a regional multientity pass agreement with all the participating agencies or entities on price, the distribution of revenues between participating agencies or entities, the sharing of costs, benefits provided, marketing and design, and the issuance of the pass to volunteers. The Secretary concerned shall take into consideration all relevant visitor and sales data available when entering into this agreement. SEC. 11. MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS REGARDING RECREATION FEES AND RECREATION PASSES. (a) NOTICE OF BASIC RECREATION FEES AND PASSES- The Secretary concerned shall post clear notice of the basic recreation fee and available recreation passes at appropriate locations in each unit or area of a Federal land management agency where a basic recreation fee is charged. The Secretary concerned shall include such notice in publications distributed at the unit or area. (b) NOTICE OF RECREATION FEE PROJECTS- To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall post clear notice of locations where work is performed using recreation fee or recreation pass revenues collected under this Act. SEC. 12. VOLUNTEERS. (a) AUTHORITY TO USE VOLUNTEERS- The Secretary concerned may use volunteers, as appropriate, to collect recreation fees and sell recreation passes. (b) WAIVER OR DISCOUNT OF FEES; SITE-SPECIFIC AGENCY PASS- In exchange for volunteer services, the Secretary concerned may waive or discount a recreation fee that would otherwise apply to the volunteer or issue to the volunteer a site-specific agency pass authorized under section 10(a). © NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASS- In accordance with the guidelines issued under section 9(f), the Secretaries may jointly issue a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass to a volunteer in exchange for significant volunteer services performed by the volunteer. (d) REGIONAL MULTIENTITY PASSES- The Secretary concerned may issue a regional multientity pass authorized under section 10(b) to a volunteer in exchange for significant volunteer services performed by the volunteer, if the regional multientity pass agreement under which the regional multientity pass was established provides for the issuance of the pass to volunteers. SEC. 13. SPECIAL ACCOUNTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF RECREATION FEES AND RECREATION PASS REVENUES. (a) SPECIAL ACCOUNT- The Secretary of the Treasury shall establish a special account in the Treasury for each Federal land management agency. (b) DEPOSITS- Subject to subsections ©, (d), and (e), revenues collected by each Federal land management agency under this Act shall-- (1) be deposited in its special account; and (2) remain available for expenditure, without further appropriation, until expended. © DISTRIBUTION OF RECREATION FEES AND SINGLE-SITE AGENCY PASS REVENUES- (1) LOCAL DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS- (A) RETENTION OF REVENUES- Not less than 80 percent of the recreation fees and site-specific agency pass revenues collected at a specific unit or area of a Federal land management agency shall remain available for expenditure, without further appropriation, until expended at that unit or area. (B) REDUCTION- The Secretary concerned may reduce the percentage allocation otherwise applicable under subparagraph (A) to a unit or area of a Federal land management agency, but not below 60 percent, for a fiscal year if the Secretary concerned determines that the revenues collected at the unit or area exceed the reasonable needs of the unit or area for which expenditures may be made under section 14 for that fiscal year. (2) AGENCY-WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS- The balance of the recreation fees and site-specific agency pass revenues collected at a specific unit or area of a Federal land management and not distributed in accordance with paragraph (1) shall remain available to that Federal land management agency for expenditure on an agency-wide basis, without further appropriation, until expended. (d) DISTRIBUTION OF NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASS REVENUES- Revenues collected from the sale of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass shall be deposited in the special accounts established for the Federal land management agencies in accordance with the guidelines issued under section 9(f). (e) DISTRIBUTION OF REGIONAL MULTIENTITY PASS REVENUES- Revenues collected from the sale of a regional multientity pass authorized under section 10(b) shall be deposited in each participating Federal land management agency's special account in accordance with the terms of the multientity agreement for the regional multientity pass. SEC. 14. EXPENDITURES FROM SPECIAL ACCOUNTS. (a) TRANSFER AND USE OF FUNDS- On request of the Secretary concerned, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary concerned from the special account for a Federal land management agency such amounts as the Secretary concerned considers necessary and appropriate. The Secretary concerned shall accept and use the transferred amounts in accordance with this section. (b) USE OF FEES AT SPECIFIC UNIT OR AREA- (1) AUTHORIZED USES- Amounts available under section 13©(1) for expenditure at a specific unit or area of a Federal land management agency may be used for the following purposes: (A) Backlogged repair and maintenance projects, including projects relating to health and safety, and other maintenance. (B) Interpretation and signage. © Habitat or facility enhancement. (D) Resource preservation. (E) Law enforcement related to public use. (F) Bonding of volunteers. (G) Direct operating or capital costs associated with the imposition and collection of recreation fees and the issuance of recreation passes. (2) SEPARATE ACCOUNTING- Amounts available under section 13©(1) for expenditure at a specific unit or area of a Federal land management agency shall be accounted for separately from amounts available under section 13©(2). © USE OF FEES AGENCY-WIDE- Amounts available under section 13©(2) to a Federal land management agency for expenditure agency-wide may be used for the purposes described in subsection (b)(1) at units or areas selected by the Federal land management agency. (d) USE OF FEES FOR RECREATION PASS PROGRAMS- (1) ADMINISTRATION AND MARKETING COSTS- Not more than 15 percent of the revenues collected from the sale of a recreation pass may be used to fund administration and marketing costs associated with that recreation pass. (2) TRANSITIONAL EXCEPTION- Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, the Secretary concerned may use amounts available in the special account of a Federal land management agency to supplement administration and marketing costs associated with-- (A) the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass during the five-year period beginning on the date the joint guidelines are issued under section 9(f); and (B) a regional multientity pass authorized under section 10(b) during the five-year period beginning on the date the regional multientity pass agreement for that recreation pass takes effect. SEC. 15. ENFORCEMENT AND PROTECTION OF RECEIPTS. (a) ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY- The Secretary concerned shall enforce payment of the fees authorized by this Act. (b) EVIDENCE OF NONPAYMENT- If the display of proof of payment of a recreation fee, or the payment of a recreation fee within a certain time period is required, failure to display such proof as required or to pay the recreation fee within the time period specified shall be considered prima facia evidence of nonpayment. © JOINT LIABILITY- The registered owner and any occupant of a vehicle charged with a nonpayment violation involving the vehicle shall be jointly liable for penalties imposed under this section, unless the registered owner can show that the vehicle was used without the registered owner's express or implied permission. (d) PENALTIES- Failure to pay a required recreation fee shall be punishable as a Class B misdemeanor. (e) THEFT OF FEES- (1) IN GENERAL- It is unlawful to break into forcibly, to attempt to break into forcibly, or to tamper with any device used to collect or store recreation fees, or any structure used in whole or in part to collect or store fees, with intent to commit larceny. (2) PENALTIES- Any violation under paragraph (1) involving a loss to the United States of less than $1,000 shall be punishable as a Class B misdemeanor. Any violation under paragraph (1) involving a loss to the United States of $1,000 or more, but less than $5,000, shall be punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. Any violation under paragraph (1) involving a loss to the United States of $5,000 or more shall be punishable as a Class D felony. SEC. 16. REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED ADMISSION AND USE FEE AUTHORITIES. (a) LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND ACT- Section 4 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6a) is repealed, except that the Secretary concerned may continue to issue Golden Eagle Passports, Golden Age Passports, and Golden Access Passports under such section until the date the notice required by section 9(a)(3) is published in the Federal Register regarding the establishment of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. (b) RECREATIONAL FEE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM- Section 315 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (as contained in section 101© of Public Law 104-134; 16 U.S.C. 460l-6a), is repealed. © ADMISSION PERMITS FOR REFUGE UNITS- Section 201 of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 3911) is repealed. (d) NATIONAL PARK PASSPORT, GOLDEN EAGLE PASSPORT, GOLDEN AGE PASSPORT, AND GOLDEN ACCESS PASSPORT- Effective on the date the notice required by section 9(a)(3) is published in the Federal Register, the following provisions of law authorizing the establishment of a national park passport program or the establishment and sale of a national park passport, Golden Eagle Passport, Golden Age Passport, or Golden Access Passport are repealed: (1) Section 502 of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391; 16 U.S.C. 5982). (2) Title VI of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391; 16 U.S.C. 5991-5995). (e) EFFECT ON EXISTING PASSPORTS AND PERMITS- (1) EXISTING PASSPORTS- A passport issued under section 4 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6a) or title VI of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391; 16 U.S.C. 5991-5995) that was valid on the day before the publication of the Federal Register notice required under section 9(a)(3) shall be valid in accordance with the terms agreed to at the time of issuance of the passport, to the extent practicable, and remain in effect until expired, lost, or stolen. (2) PERMITS- A permit issued under section 4 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 that was valid on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be valid and remain in effect until expired, revoked, or suspended. (f) TREATMENT OF UNOBLIGATED FUNDS- (1) LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND SPECIAL ACCOUNTS- Amounts in the special accounts established under section 4(i)(1) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6a(i)(1)) for Federal land management agencies that are unobligated on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be transferred to the appropriate special account established under section 13 and shall be available to the Secretary concerned in accordance with this Act. A special account established under section 4(i)(1) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 for a Federal agency that is not a Federal land management area, and the use of such special account, is not affected by the repeal of section 4 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 by subsection (a). (2) NATIONAL PARKS PASSPORT- Any funds collected under title VI of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391; 16 U.S.C. 5991-5995) that are unobligated on the day before the publication of the Federal Register notice required under section 9(a)(3) shall be transferred to the special account of the National Park Service for use in accordance with this Act. The Secretary of the Interior may use amounts available in that special account to pay any outstanding administration, marketing, or close-out costs associated with the national parks passport. (3) RECREATIONAL FEE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM- Any funds collected in accordance with section 315 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (as contained in section 101© of Public Law 104-134; 16 U.S.C. 460l-6a), that are unobligated on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be transferred to the appropriate special account and shall be available to the Secretary concerned in accordance with this Act. (4) ADMISSION PERMITS FOR REFUGE UNITS- Any funds collected in accordance with section 201 of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 3911) that are available as provided in subsection ©(A) of such section and are unobligated on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be transferred to the special account of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for use in accordance with this Act. (g) EFFECT OF REGULATIONS- A regulation or policy issued under a provision of law repealed by this section shall remain in effect to the extent such a regulation or policy is consistent with the provisions of this Act until the Secretary concerned issues a regulation, guideline, or policy under this Act that supersedes the earlier regulation. SEC. 17. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS AND FEE COLLECTION AUTHORITIES. (a) FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS UNAFFECTED- Nothing in this Act shall authorize Federal hunting or fishing licenses or fees or charges for commercial or other activities not related to recreation, affect any rights or authority of the States with respect to fish and wildlife, or repeal or modify any provision of law that permits States or political subdivisions of States to share in the revenues from Federal lands or, except as provided in section 16, any provision of law that provides that any fees or charges collected at particular Federal areas be used for or credited to specific purposes or special funds as authorized by that provision of law. (b) RELATION TO REVENUE ALLOCATION LAWS- Amounts collected under this Act may not be taken into account for the purposes of any of the following laws: (1) The sixth paragraph under the heading `FOREST SERVICE' in the Act of May 23, 1908 (16 U.S.C. 500). (2) Section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U.S.C. 500; commonly known as the Weeks Act). (3) The fourteenth paragraph under the heading `FOREST SERVICE' in the Act of March 4, 1913 (16 U.S.C. 501). (4) Section 33 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1012). (5) Title II of the Act of August 8, 1937, and the Act of May 24, 1939 (43 U.S.C. 1181f et seq.). (6) Section 6 of the Act of June 14, 1926 (43 U.S.C. 869-4). (7) Chapter 69 of title 31, United States Code. (8) Section 401 of the Act of June 15, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 715s; commonly known as the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act). (9) The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393; 16 U.S.C. 500 note). (10) Section 2 of the Boulder Canyon Project Adjustment Act (43 U.S.C. 618a). (11) The Federal Water Project Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460l-12 et seq.). (12) The first section of the Act of June 17, 1902, as amended or supplemented (43 U.S.C. 391). (13) The Act of February 25, 1920 (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.; commonly known as the Mineral Leasing Act). (14) Section 4(e) of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-263; 31 U.S.C. 6901 note). (15) Section 5(a) of the Lincoln County Land Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-298; 114 Stat. 1047). (16) Any other provision of law relating to revenue allocation. © CONSIDERATION OF OTHER FUNDS COLLECTED- Amounts collected under any other law may not be disbursed under this Act. (d) SOLE RECREATION FEE AUTHORITY- Recreation fees charged under this Act shall be in lieu of fees charged for the same purposes under any other provision of law. (e) FEES CHARGED BY THIRD PARTIES- Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a third party may charge a fee for providing a good or service to a visitor of a unit or area of the Federal land management agencies in accordance with any other applicable law or regulation. (f) MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING STAMP ACT- Revenues from the stamp established under the Act of March 16, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 718 et seq.; commonly known as the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act or Duck Stamp Act ), shall not be covered by this Act.

Seems like the Departments were in concert to do this together from the begining, sort of an all the agencys/bureaus or none. Senators Thomas, Craig and Domenici were opposed to the USFS getting in on the permanent fee authoriy (Thomas passed legislation enabling the NPS to have a permanent fee authority), but Senator Stevens (R-AK), chair of Appropiations (a very powerful position) seems to have made a deal with Secretaries at the Department of Agriculture and Interior and left the legislation in. Seems odd that a R-Senator would oppose other western state R-Senators. The Secretaries must have pitched a great position, or another deal.

I also recommend calling the staffers for the committee's listed above. Let me dig around some more. I know that the bill wasn't popular with all of the Senators (esp the western state Senators), I'm wondering if the agency's (USFS) propped it up, or other lawmakers?

It is EXTREMELY unlikely that the House will address fee demo again. This bill is not going to back to the Senate, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is holding the omnibus up to gain some political hay over the IRS issue (that all the R's are quickly distancing themselves from). Unless there is a miracle, fee demo is a done deal. For future reference, when trying to make a difference, contact your represenative directly. It's also important to contact the COMMITTEE's that over see these issues. Here is a link to the Senate committee on Energy and Natural Resources. These types of bills live and die in committee's. http://energy.senate.gov or the members at: http://energy.senate.gov/contact/contact_members.html Here is the link to the House Committees that generally oversee land use issues. http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/ http://agriculture.house.gov/ You are correct, this was added fee demo to the omnibus, b/c there is no way it would have passed solo (well, no way the USFS fee demo would have, the NPS version was viewed more favorably.) Lastly, the front page of the House Committee on Natural Resources had this to say about Fee Demo... Recreation Fee Demonstration Bill Passes House Washington, DC - Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3283, the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, introduced by Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH). The bill will improve recreational facilities and visitor opportunities on federal recreational lands by reinvesting receipts from fair and consistent recreational fees and passes. "This legislation ensures continued access to recreational opportunites on our federal land while protecting the public's pocketbook," said House Committee on Resources Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA). "We have given federal land managers the ability to assess reasonable fees for specific activities and uses. This bill will put an end to fears that fees will be misused by federal land managers since we have laid out very specific circumstances under which these fees can be collected and subsequently reinvested." More... One last link, if you want to follow bills, legislation or get the actual text of a law, try this site, it's GREAT! If you're not into this stuff, it will be incredibly BORING. http://thomas.loc.gov/