updates on your fee demo program...

[Mike_Gauthier]

i just got this... it applies to the NPS fee demo, and doesn't mention the USFS...

 

Subject: NAT. PARK FEE DEMO

Author: Beth Goudey

Date: 05/21/2002 11:20 AM

 

For Immediate Release:

May 21, 2002

THOMAS WORKS TO EXTEND SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL PARKS PROGRAM FEE DEMONSTRATION FUELS VISITOR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS

 

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Craig Thomas introduced legislation

recently that would expand and reform the successful Recreation Fee

Demonstration Program for the National Park Service.

 

Under the current law, Congress allows up to 100 national parks to

experiment with new or increased fees with at least 80% of the revenues to be

spent at that site. In FY 2000 the Park Service raised $133.6 million from the

fee program with a majority of the receipts going directly to fund critical

repair and maintenance of visitor services.

 

The Thomas legislation permanently extends the demonstration program across

the 385 national parks, makes state and national park passes interchangeable and

requires each unit to develop a business plan before full implementation.

 

The current Fee Demonstration Program is set to expire October 1, 2004.

 

Thomas, Ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, said

the key to the program's success is to establish a fair fee and then show the

public how the additional resources are spent to benefit the park experience.

 

"The demonstration program has proven over the last 7 years to be worthy of

making permanent," Thomas said. "The supplemental funds have been critical to

parks who need the money to protect the resources and improve visitor services."

 

"While it hasn't been without some controversy, studies have shown that at

parks that have taken the lead, the program has been successful in meeting unmet

needs for high priority projects without discouraging visitors," Thomas said.

 

-more-

 

According to a General Accounting Office (GAO) report Thomas requested in

1999, the Demonstration Fee Program has had no major adverse effect on

visitation.

 

Thomas said he is also interested in addressing some of the issues raised by

other studies done during the demonstration period.

 

For example, many visitors frequent national and state parks, but are not

allowed to use state and national passes interchangeably. Under the Thomas

bill, the Secretary of Interior in cooperation with state agencies, will be

authorized to enter into revenue sharing agreements to accept state and national

park passes at sites within that state - providing a cost savings and

convenience for the visitor.

 

Thomas said he is also concerned with "nickel and dime" circumstances in the

parks where visitors can be charged multiple times for various activities such

as boat ramps and back country camping.

 

To prevent poor planning, under the Thomas bill each park would be required

to perform a market analysis to consider benefits and services provided to the

visitor, cumulative effect of fees, and feasibility of fee collection. The

review would serve as a business plan, Thomas said, so that managers will avoid

multiple fee structures.

 

"Our National Park System is a tremendous bargain for families that visit

them and that should remain as it is," Thomas said. "I'm encouraged by the

early results of the fee program for giving the parks an extra boost that can be

duplicated across the country in units that can support it."

 

S. 2473, the "Recreational Fee Authority Act of 2002" was reported to the

Senate Energy Committee. Thomas said he has already held consultation meetings

with the Bush Administration regarding the bill. A copy can be found at

http://thomas.loc.gov.

[vegetablebelay]

Seems kinda funny to hear him call it "our" fee demo program, but I guess it is....

[payaso]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mike Gauthier:

"Our National Park System is a tremendous bargain for families that visit

them and that should remain as it is," Thomas said. "I'm encouraged by the

early results of the fee program for giving the parks an extra boost that can be

duplicated across the country in units that can support it."

 

[/url]

---

What the heck is that supposed to mean? They'd better not cut back on the hand sanitizer up at Muir!