H. R. 6492 

One Hundred Eighteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four 

An Act 

To improve recreation opportunities on, and facilitate greater access to, Federal 

public land, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Expanding 

Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act’’ or the 

‘‘EXPLORE Act’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

TITLE I—OUTDOOR RECREATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE 

Subtitle A—Outdoor Recreation Policy 

Sec. 111. Congressional declaration of policy. 

Sec. 112. Identifying opportunities for recreation. 

Sec. 113. Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation. 

Sec. 114. Recreation budget crosscut. 

Subtitle B—Public Recreation on Federal Recreational Lands and Waters 

Sec. 121. Biking on long-distance trails. 

Sec. 122. Protecting America’s rock climbing. 

Sec. 123. Range access. 

Sec. 124. Restoration of overnight campsites. 

Sec. 125. Federal interior land media. 

Sec. 126. Cape and antler preservation enhancement. 

Sec. 127. Motorized and nonmotorized access. 

Sec. 128. Aquatic resource activities assistance. 

Subtitle C—Supporting Gateway Communities and Addressing Park Overcrowding 

Sec. 131. Gateway communities. 

Sec. 132. Improved recreation visitation data. 

Sec. 133. Monitoring for improved recreation decision making. 

Subtitle D—Broadband Connectivity on Federal Recreational Lands and Waters 

Sec. 141. Connect Our Parks. 

Sec. 142. Broadband internet connectivity at developed recreation sites. 

Sec. 143. Public lands telecommunications cooperative agreements. 

Subtitle E—Public–Private Parks Partnerships 

Sec. 151. Authorization for lease of forest service administrative sites. 

Sec. 152. Partnership agreements creating tangible savings. 

Sec. 153. Partnership agreements to modernize federally owned campgrounds, resorts, cabins, and visitor centers on Federal recreational lands and 

waters. 

Sec. 154. Parking and Restroom opportunities for Federal recreational lands and 

waters. 

Sec. 155. Pay-for-performance projects. 
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Sec. 156. Outdoor recreation legacy partnership program. 

Sec. 157. American battlefield protection program enhancement. 

TITLE II—ACCESS AMERICA 

Sec. 201. Definitions. 

Subtitle A—Access for People With Disabilities 

Sec. 211. Accessible recreation inventory. 

Sec. 212. Trail inventory. 

Sec. 213. Trail pilot program. 

Sec. 214. Accessible trails. 

Sec. 215. Accessible recreation opportunities. 

Sec. 216. Assistive technology. 

Sec. 217. Savings clause. 

Subtitle B—Military and Veterans in Parks 

Sec. 221. Promotion of outdoor recreation for military servicemembers and veterans. Sec. 222. Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaisons. 

Sec. 223. Partnerships to promote military and veteran recreation. 

Sec. 224. National strategy for military and veteran recreation. 

Sec. 225. Recreation resource advisory committees. 

Sec. 226. Career and volunteer opportunities for veterans. 

Subtitle C—Youth Access 

Sec. 231. Increasing youth recreation visits to Federal land. 

Sec. 232. Every Kid Outdoors Act extension. 

TITLE III—SIMPLIFYING OUTDOOR ACCESS FOR RECREATION 

Sec. 301. Definitions. 

Subtitle A—Modernizing Recreation Permitting 

Sec. 311. Special recreation permit and fee. 

Sec. 312. Permitting process improvements. 

Sec. 313. Permit flexibility. 

Sec. 314. Permit administration. 

Sec. 315. Service First Initiative; Permits for multijurisdictional trips. 

Sec. 316. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management temporary special recreation permits for outfitting and guiding. 

Sec. 317. Reviews for long-term permits. 

Sec. 318. Adjustment of allocated visitor-use days. 

Sec. 319. Liability. 

Sec. 320. Cost recovery reform. 

Sec. 321. Availability of Federal, State, and local recreation passes. 

Sec. 322. Online purchases and establishment of a digital version of America the 

Beautiful—The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes. 

Sec. 323. Savings provision. 

Subtitle B—Making Recreation a Priority 

Sec. 331. Extension of seasonal recreation opportunities. 

Subtitle C—Maintenance of Public Land 

Sec. 341. Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Lands Act. 

Sec. 342. Reference. 

Subtitle D—Recreation Not Red Tape 

Sec. 351. Good neighbor authority for recreation. 

Sec. 352. Permit relief for picnic areas. 

Sec. 353. Interagency report on special recreation permits for underserved communities. 

Sec. 354. Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act amendments. 

Sec. 355. Savings provision. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal land management agency’’ has the meaning given the 

term in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801). 
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(2) FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS AND WATERS.—The term 

‘‘Federal recreational lands and waters’’ has the meaning given 

the term in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801). 

(3) GATEWAY COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘gateway community’’ 

means a community that serves as an entry point, or is adjacent, to a recreation destination on Federal recreational lands 

and waters or non-Federal land at which there is consistently 

high, in the determination of the Secretaries, seasonal or yearround visitation. 

(4) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ has the 

meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

(5) LAND USE PLAN.—The term ‘‘land use plan’’ means— 

(A) a land use plan prepared by the Secretary pursuant 

to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712); and 

(B) a land management plan prepared by the Forest 

Service for a unit of the National Forest Service pursuant 

to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 

Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604). 

(6) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means each of— 

(A) the Secretary; and 

(B) the Secretary of Agriculture. 

(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of the Interior. 

(8) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means— 

(A) the Secretary, with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; or 

(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land 

managed by the Forest Service. 

(9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the several 

States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the 

United States. 

TITLE I—OUTDOOR RECREATION AND 

INFRASTRUCTURE 

Subtitle A—Outdoor Recreation Policy 

SEC. 111. CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF POLICY. 

Congress declares that it is the policy of the Federal Government to foster and encourage recreation on Federal recreational 

lands and waters, to the extent consistent with the laws applicable 

to specific areas of Federal recreational lands and waters, including 

multiple-use mandates and land management planning requirements. 

SEC. 112. IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION. 

(a) INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall— 

(A) conduct an inventory and assessment of recreation 

resources for Federal recreational lands and waters; 
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(B) develop the inventory and assessment with support 

from public comment; and 

(C) update the inventory and assessment as the Secretary concerned determines appropriate. 

(2) UNIQUE RECREATION VALUES.—An inventory and assessment conducted under paragraph (1) shall— 

(A) recognize— 

(i) any unique recreation values and recreation 

opportunities; and 

(ii) areas of concentrated recreational use; and 

(B) identify, list, and map recreation resources by— 

(i) type of recreation opportunity and type of natural or artificial recreation infrastructure; 

(ii) to the extent available, the level of use of 

the recreation resource as of the date of the inventory; 

and 

(iii) identifying, to the extent practicable, any trend 

relating to recreation opportunities or use at a recreation resource identified under subparagraph (A). 

(3) ASSESSMENTS.—For any recreation resource inventoried 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall assess— 

(A) the maintenance needs of, and expenses necessary 

to administer, the recreation resource; 

(B) the suitability for developing, expanding, or 

enhancing the recreation resource; and 

(C) the adequacy of the current management of the 

recreation resource. 

(b) EXISTING EFFORTS.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary 

concerned shall use or incorporate existing applicable research and 

planning decisions and processes in carrying out this section. 

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 200103 of title 54, 

United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by striking subsection (d); and 

(2) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) 

as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively. 

SEC. 113. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON OUTDOOR RECREATION. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 200102 of title 54, United States 

Code, is amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs 

(4) and (5) respectively; and 

(2) by inserting before paragraph (4), as so redesignated, 

the following: 

‘‘(1) COUNCIL.—The term ‘Council’ means the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation established under section 

200104. 

‘‘(2) FEDERAL LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT AGENCY.— 

The term ‘Federal land and water management agency’ means 

the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, Forest Service, Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

‘‘(3) FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS AND WATERS.—The term 

‘Federal recreational lands and waters’ has the meaning given 

the term in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation 
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Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) and also includes Federal 

lands and waters managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 

Corps of Engineers, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration.’’. 

(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL.—Section 200104 of title 54, 

United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘§ 200104. Federal interagency council on outdoor recreation 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish an interagency council, to be known as the ‘Federal Interagency Council 

on Outdoor Recreation’. 

‘‘(b) COMPOSITION.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be composed of representatives of each of the following agencies, to be appointed 

by the head of the respective agency: 

‘‘(A) The National Park Service. 

‘‘(B) The Bureau of Land Management. 

‘‘(C) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 

‘‘(D) The Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

‘‘(E) The Bureau of Reclamation. 

‘‘(F) The Forest Service. 

‘‘(G) The Army Corps of Engineers. 

‘‘(H) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS.—In addition to the members of the Council appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary may invite participation in the Council’s meetings or 

other activities from representatives of the following: 

‘‘(A) The Council on Environmental Quality. 

‘‘(B) The Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

‘‘(C) Rural development programs of the Department 

of Agriculture. 

‘‘(D) The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 

‘‘(E) The Environmental Protection Agency. 

‘‘(F) The Department of Transportation, including the 

Federal Highway Administration. 

‘‘(G) The Tennessee Valley Authority. 

‘‘(H) The Department of Commerce, including— 

‘‘(i) the Bureau of Economic Analysis; 

‘‘(ii) the National Travel and Tourism Office; and 

‘‘(iii) the Economic Development Administration. 

‘‘(I) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 

‘‘(J) An applicable State agency or office. 

‘‘(K) An applicable agency or office of a local government. 

‘‘(L) Other organizations or interests, as determined 

appropriate by the Secretary. 

‘‘(3) STATE COORDINATION.—In determining additional 

participants under this subsection, the Secretary shall seek 

to ensure that States are invited and represented in the Council’s meetings or other activities. 

‘‘(4) LEADERSHIP.—The leadership of the Council shall 

rotate every 2 years among the Council members appointed 

under paragraph (1), or as otherwise determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture, 

Defense, and Commerce. 
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‘‘(5) FUNDING.—Notwithstanding section 708 of title VII 

of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 

(Public Law 117–328), the Council members appointed under 

paragraph (1) may enter into agreements to share the management and operational costs of the Council. 

‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—The Council shall meet as frequently as 

appropriate for the purposes of coordinating on issues related to 

outdoor recreation, including— 

‘‘(1) recreation programs and management policies across 

Federal land and water management agencies, including activities associated with the implementation of the Federal Lands 

Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.), as appropriate; 

‘‘(2) the response by Federal land and water management 

agencies to public health emergencies or other emergencies, 

including those that result in disruptions to, or closures of, 

Federal recreational lands and waters; 

‘‘(3) investments relating to outdoor recreation on Federal 

recreational lands and waters, including funds made available 

under section 40804(b)(7) of the Infrastructure Investment and 

Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592a(b)(7)); 

‘‘(4) management of emerging technologies on Federal recreational lands and waters; 

‘‘(5) research activities, including quantifying the economic 

impacts of recreation; 

‘‘(6) dissemination to the public of recreation-related 

information, in a manner that ensures the recreation-related 

information is easily accessible with modern communication 

devices; 

‘‘(7) the improvement of access to Federal recreational lands 

and waters; and 

‘‘(8) the identification and engagement of partners outside 

the Federal Government— 

‘‘(A) to promote outdoor recreation; 

‘‘(B) to facilitate collaborative management of outdoor 

recreation; and 

‘‘(C) to provide additional resources relating to 

enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities; and 

‘‘(9) any other outdoor recreation-related issues that the 

Council determines necessary. 

‘‘(d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section affects the authorities, 

regulations, or policies of any Federal agency described in paragraph 

(1) or (2) of subsection (b).’’. 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter 

2001 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking the 

item relating to section 200104 and inserting the following: 

‘‘200104. Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation’’. 

SEC. 114. RECREATION BUDGET CROSSCUT. 

Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 2025, the Director of the Office of Management 

and Budget shall submit to Congress and make public online a 

report that describes and itemizes the total amount of funding 

relating to outdoor recreation that was obligated in the preceding 

fiscal year in accounts in the Treasury for the Department of 

the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. 
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Subtitle B—Public Recreation on Federal 

Recreational Lands and Waters 

SEC. 121. BIKING ON LONG-DISTANCE TRAILS. 

(a) IDENTIFICATION OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAILS.—Not later than 

18 months after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretaries shall identify— 

(1) not fewer than 10 long-distance bike trails that make 

use of trails and roads in existence on the date of the enactment 

of this title; and 

(2) not fewer than 10 areas in which there is an opportunity 

to develop or complete a trail that would qualify as a longdistance bike trail. 

(b) PUBLIC COMMENT.—The Secretaries shall— 

(1) develop a process to allow members of the public to 

comment regarding the identification of trails and areas under 

subsection (a); and 

(2) consider the identification, development, and completion 

of long-distance bike trails in a geographically equitable 

manner. 

(c) MAPS, SIGNAGE, AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS.—For any 

long-distance bike trail identified under subsection (a), the Secretary 

concerned may— 

(1) publish and distribute maps, install signage, and issue 

promotional materials; and 

(2) coordinate with stakeholders to leverage any non-Federal resources necessary for the stewardship, development, or 

completion of trails. 

(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the 

enactment of this title, the Secretaries, in partnership with 

interested organizations, shall prepare and publish a report that 

lists the trails identified under subsection (a), including a summary 

of public comments received in accordance with the process developed under subsection (b). 

(e) CONFLICT AVOIDANCE WITH OTHER USES.—Before identifying a long-distance bike trail under subsection (a), the Secretary 

concerned shall ensure the long-distance bike trail— 

(1) minimizes conflict with— 

(A) the uses, before the date of the enactment of this 

title, of any trail or road that is part of that long-distance 

bike trail; 

(B) multiple-use areas where biking, hiking, horseback 

riding, or use by pack and saddle stock are existing uses 

on the date of the enactment of this title; 

(C) the purposes for which any trail was or is established under the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 

1241 et seq.); and 

(D) any area managed under the Wilderness Act (16 

U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and 

(2) complies with land use and management plans of the 

Federal recreational lands and waters that are part of that 

long-distance bike trail. 

(f) EMINENT DOMAIN OR CONDEMNATION.—In carrying out this 

section, the Secretaries may not use eminent domain or condemnation. 

(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) LONG-DISTANCE BIKE TRAIL.—The term ‘‘long-distance 

bike trail’’ means a continuous route, consisting of 1 or more 

trails or rights-of-way, that— 

(A) is not less than 80 miles in length; 

(B) primarily makes use of dirt or natural surface 

trails; 

(C) may require connections along paved or other 

improved roads; 

(D) does not include Federal recreational lands where 

mountain biking or related activities are not consistent 

with management requirements for those Federal recreational lands; and 

(E) to the maximum extent practicable, makes use 

of trails and roads that were on Federal recreational lands 

on or before the date of the enactment of this title. 

(2) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 

jointly. 

SEC. 122. PROTECTING AMERICA’S ROCK CLIMBING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date 

of the enactment of this title, each Secretary concerned shall issue 

guidance for recreational climbing activities on covered Federal 

land. 

(b) APPLICABLE LAW.—The guidance issued under subsection 

(a) shall ensure that recreational climbing activities comply with 

the laws (including regulations) applicable to the covered Federal 

land. 

(c) WILDERNESS AREAS.—The guidance issued under subsection 

(a) shall recognize that recreational climbing (including the use, 

placement, and maintenance of fixed anchors) is an appropriate 

use within a component of the National Wilderness Preservation 

System, if undertaken— 

(1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 

et seq.) and other applicable laws (including regulations); and 

(2) subject to any terms and conditions determined by 

the Secretary concerned to be appropriate. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION.—The guidance issued under subsection (a) 

shall describe the requirements, if any, for the placement and 

maintenance of fixed anchors for recreational climbing in a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, including 

any terms and conditions determined by the Secretary concerned 

to be appropriate, which may be issued programmatically or on 

a case-by-case basis. 

(e) EXISTING ROUTES.—The guidance issued under subsection 

(a) shall include direction providing for the continued use and 

maintenance of recreational climbing routes (including fixed anchors 

along the routes) in existence as of the date of the enactment 

of this title, in accordance with this Act. 

(f) PUBLIC COMMENT.—Before finalizing the guidance issued 

under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall provide 

opportunities for public comment with respect to the guidance. 

(g) COVERED FEDERAL LAND DEFINED.—In this section, the 

term ‘‘covered Federal land’’— 

(1) means the lands described in subparagraphs (A) and 

(B) of paragraph (2); and 
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(2) includes components of the National Wilderness 

Preservation System. 

SEC. 123. RANGE ACCESS. 

(a) DEFINITION OF TARGET SHOOTING RANGE.—In this section, 

the term ‘‘target shooting range’’ means a developed and managed 

area that is authorized or operated by the Forest Service, a concessioner of the Forest Service, or the Bureau of Land Management 

(or their lessee) specifically for the purposeful discharge by the 

public of legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or other associated activities. 

(b) ASSESSMENT; IDENTIFICATION OF TARGET SHOOTING RANGE

LOCATIONS.— 

(1) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall 

make available to the public a list that— 

(A) identifies each National Forest and each Bureau 

of Land Management district that has a target shooting 

range that meets the requirements described in paragraph 

(3)(B); 

(B) identifies each National Forest and each Bureau 

of Land Management district that does not have a target 

shooting range that meets the requirements described in 

paragraph (3)(B); and 

(C) for each National Forest and each Bureau of Land 

Management district identified under subparagraph (B), 

provides a determination of whether applicable law or the 

applicable land use plan prevents the establishment of 

a target shooting range that meets the requirements 

described in paragraph (3)(B). 

(2) IDENTIFICATION OF TARGET SHOOTING RANGE LOCATIONS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall identify at least 1 suitable location for a target shooting range 

that meets the requirements described in paragraph (3)(B) 

within each National Forest and each Bureau of Land 

Management district with respect to which the Secretary 

concerned has determined under paragraph (1)(C) that the 

establishment of a target shooting range is not prevented 

by applicable law or the applicable land use plan. 

(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretaries, in consultation 

with the entities described in subsection (d), shall, for 

purposes of identifying a suitable location for a target 

shooting range under subparagraph (A)— 

(i) consider the proximity of areas frequently used 

by recreational shooters; 

(ii) ensure that the target shooting range would 

not adversely impact a shooting range operated on 

non-Federal land; and 

(iii) consider other nearby recreational uses, 

including proximity to units of the National Park 

System, to minimize potential conflict and prioritize 

visitor safety. 

(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW TARGET SHOOTING RANGES.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after the 

date of the enactment of this title, at 1 or more suitable 

locations identified on each eligible National Forest and 
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Bureau of Land Management district under paragraph 

(2)(A), the Secretary concerned shall— 

(i) subject to the availability of appropriations for 

such purpose, construct a target shooting range that 

meets the requirements described in subparagraph (B) 

or modify an existing target shooting range to meet 

the requirements described in subparagraph (B); or 

(ii) enter into an agreement with an entity 

described in subsection (d)(1), under which the entity 

shall establish or maintain a target shooting range 

that meets the requirements described in subparagraph (B). 

(B) REQUIREMENTS.—A target shooting range established under this paragraph— 

(i)(I) shall be able to accommodate rifles and pistols; 

(II) may include skeet, trap, or sporting clay infrastructure; and 

(III) may accommodate archery; 

(ii) shall include appropriate public safety designs 

and features, including— 

(I) significantly modified landscapes, including 

berms, buffer distances, or other public safety 

designs or features; and 

(II) a designated firing line; and 

(iii) may include— 

(I) shade structures; 

(II) trash containers; 

(III) restrooms; 

(IV) benches; and 

(V) any other features that the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary. 

(C) RECREATION AND PUBLIC PURPOSES ACT.—For purposes of subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned may 

consider a target shooting range that is located on land 

transferred or leased pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1926 

(commonly known as the ‘‘Recreation and Public Purposes 

Act’’) (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), 

as a target shooting range that meets the requirements 

described in subparagraph (B). 

(c) RESTRICTIONS.— 

(1) MANAGEMENT.—The management of a target shooting 

range shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary 

concerned determines are necessary for the safe, responsible 

use of— 

(A) the target shooting range; and 

(B) the adjacent land and resources. 

(2) CLOSURES.—Except in emergency situations, the Secretary concerned shall seek to ensure that a target shooting 

range that meets the requirements described in subsection 

(b)(3)(B), or an equivalent shooting range adjacent to a National 

Forest or Bureau of Land Management district, is available 

to the public prior to closing Federal recreational lands and 

waters administered by the Chief of the Forest Service or 

the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to recreational 

shooting, in accordance with section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, 
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Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 

7913). 

(d) COORDINATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, the Secretaries shall coordinate with— 

(A) State, Tribal, and local governments; 

(B) nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations, 

including organizations that are signatories to the memorandum of understanding entitled ‘‘Federal Lands Hunting, 

Fishing, and Shooting Sports Roundtable Memorandum of 

Understanding’’ and signed by the Forest Service and the 

Bureau of Land Management on August 17, 2006; 

(C) shooting clubs; 

(D) Federal advisory councils relating to hunting and 

shooting sports; and 

(E) individuals or entities with authorized leases or 

permits in an area under consideration for a target shooting 

range. 

(2) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretaries may— 

(A) coordinate with an entity described in paragraph 

(1) to assist with the construction, modification, operation, 

or maintenance of a target shooting range; and 

(B) explore opportunities to leverage funding to maximize non-Federal investment in the construction, modification, operation, or maintenance of a target shooting range. 

(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title and annually thereafter through 

fiscal year 2033, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee 

on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee 

on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report 

describing the progress made with respect to the implementation 

of this section. 

(f) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section affects the 

authority of the Secretary concerned to administer a target shooting 

range that is in addition to the target shooting ranges that meet 

the requirements described in subsection (b)(3)(B) on Federal recreational lands and waters administered by the Secretary concerned. 

SEC. 124. RESTORATION OF OVERNIGHT CAMPSITES. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) RECREATION AREA.—The term ‘‘Recreation Area’’ means 

the recreation area and grounds associated with the recreation 

area on the map entitled ‘‘Ouachita National Forest Camping 

Restoration’’ and dated November 30, 2023, on file with the 

Forest Service. 

(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of Agriculture. 

(b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 

(1) not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment 

of this title, identify 54 areas within the Recreation Area that 

may be suitable for overnight camping; and 

(2) not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 

of this title— 

(A) review each area identified under paragraph (1); 

and 
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(B) from the areas so identified, select and establish 

at least 27 campsites and related facilities within the Recreation Area for public use. 

(c) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO CAMPSITES AND RELATED FACILITIES.—The Secretary shall— 

(1) ensure that at least 27 campsites are available under 

subsection (b), of which not less than 8 shall have electric 

and water hookups; and 

(2) ensure that each campsite and related facility identified 

or established under subsection (b) is located outside of the 

1 percent annual exceedance probability flood elevation. 

(d) REOPENING OF CERTAIN SITES.—Not later than 30 days 

after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall 

open each campsite within the Recreation Area that— 

(1) exists on the date of the enactment of this title; 

(2) is located outside of the 1 percent annual exceedance 

probability flood elevation; 

(3) was in operation on June 1, 2010; and 

(4) would not interfere with any current (as of the date 

of the enactment of this title) day use areas. 

(e) DAY USE AREAS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall take such actions 

as are necessary to rehabilitate and make publicly accessible the 

areas in the Recreation Area identified for year-round day use, 

including the following: 

(1) Loop A. 

(2) Loop B. 

(3) The covered, large-group picnic pavilion in Loop D. 

(4) The parking lot in Loop D. 

SEC. 125. FEDERAL INTERIOR LAND MEDIA. 

(a) FILMING IN NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM UNITS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1009 of title 54, United States 

Code, is amended by striking section 100905 and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘§ 100905. Filming and still photography in System units 

‘‘(a) FILMING AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHY.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure that a filming 

or still photography activity or similar project in a System 

unit (referred to in this section as a ‘filming or still photography 

activity’) and the authorizing or permitting of a filming or 

still photography activity are carried out consistent with— 

‘‘(A) the laws and policies applicable to the Service; 

and 

‘‘(B) an applicable general management plan. 

‘‘(2) NO PERMITS REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall not 

require an authorization or a permit or assess a fee, if a 

fee for a filming or still photography activity is not otherwise 

required by law, for a filming or still photography activity 

that— 

‘‘(A)(i) involves fewer than 6 individuals; and 

‘‘(ii) meets each of the requirements described in paragraph (5); or 

‘‘(B) is merely incidental to, or documenting, an activity 

or event that is allowed or authorized at the System unit, 

regardless of— 
H. R. 6492—13 

‘‘(i) the number of individuals participating in the 

allowed or authorized activity or event; or 

‘‘(ii) whether any individual receives compensation 

for any products of the filming or still photography 

activity. 

‘‘(3) FILMING AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHY AUTHORIZATIONS FOR

DE MINIMIS USE.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a de 

minimis use authorization for certain filming or still 

photography activities that meets the requirements 

described in subparagraph (F). 

‘‘(B) POLICY.—For a filming or still photography 

activity that meets the requirements described in subparagraph (F), the Secretary— 

‘‘(i) may require a de minimis use authorization; 

and 

‘‘(ii) shall not require a permit. 

‘‘(C) NO FEE.—The Secretary shall not charge a fee 

for a de minimis use authorization under this paragraph. 

‘‘(D) ACCESS.—The Secretary shall enable members of 

the public to apply for and obtain a de minimis use 

authorization under this paragraph— 

‘‘(i) through the website of the Service; and 

‘‘(ii) in person at the field office of the applicable 

System unit. 

‘‘(E) ISSUANCES.—The Secretary shall— 

‘‘(i) establish a procedure— 

‘‘(I) to automate the approval of an application 

submitted through the website of the Service under 

subparagraph (D)(i); and 

‘‘(II) to issue a de minimis use authorization 

under this paragraph immediately on receipt of 

an application that is submitted in person at the 

field office of the applicable System unit under 

subparagraph (D)(ii); and 

‘‘(ii) if an application submitted under subparagraph (D) meets the requirements of this paragraph, 

immediately on receipt of the application issue a de 

minimis use authorization for the filming or still 

photography activity. 

‘‘(F) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall only issue 

a de minimis use authorization under this paragraph if 

the filming or still photography activity— 

‘‘(i) involves a group of not fewer than 6 individuals 

and not more than 8 individuals; 

‘‘(ii) meets each of the requirements described in 

paragraph (5); and 

‘‘(iii) is consistent with subsection (c). 

‘‘(G) CONTENTS.—A de minimis use authorization 

issued under this paragraph shall list the requirements 

described in subparagraph (F). 

‘‘(4) REQUIRED PERMITS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph 

(2)(B), the Secretary may require a permit application and, 

if a permit is issued, assess a reasonable fee, as described 

in subsection (b)(1), for a filming or still photography 

activity that— 
H. R. 6492—14 

‘‘(i) involves more than 8 individuals; or 

‘‘(ii) does not meet each of the requirements 

described in paragraph (5). 

‘‘(B) WILDERNESS ACT CLARIFICATION.—No provision of 

this subsection is intended to or shall be construed to 

conflict with the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964 

(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). 

‘‘(5) REQUIREMENTS FOR FILMING OR STILL PHOTOGRAPHY

ACTIVITY.—The requirements referred to in paragraphs 

(2)(A)(ii), (3)(F)(ii), (4)(B), and (7)(C) are as follows: 

‘‘(A) A person conducts the filming or still photography 

activity in a manner that— 

‘‘(i) does not impede or intrude on the experience 

of other visitors to the applicable System unit; 

‘‘(ii) except as otherwise authorized, does not disturb or negatively impact— 

‘‘(I) a natural or cultural resource; or 

‘‘(II) an environmental or scenic value; and 

‘‘(iii) allows for equitable allocation or use of facilities of the applicable System unit. 

‘‘(B) The person conducts the filming or still photography activity at a location in which the public is allowed. 

‘‘(C) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity does not require the exclusive use of a site 

or area. 

‘‘(D) The person does not conduct the filming or still 

photography activity in a localized area that receives a 

very high volume of visitation. 

‘‘(E) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity does not use a set or staging equipment, 

subject to the limitation that handheld equipment (such 

as a tripod, monopod, and handheld lighting equipment) 

shall not be considered staging equipment for the purposes 

of this subparagraph. 

‘‘(F) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity complies with and adheres to visitor use 

policies, practices, and regulations applicable to the 

applicable System unit. 

‘‘(G) The filming or still photography activity is not 

likely to result in additional administrative costs being 

incurred by the Secretary with respect to the filming or 

still photography activity, as determined by the Secretary. 

‘‘(H) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity complies with other applicable Federal, State 

(as such term is defined in section 3 of the EXPLORE 

Act), and local laws (including regulations), including laws 

relating to the use of unmanned aerial equipment. 

‘‘(6) CONTENT CREATION.—Regardless of distribution platform, any video, still photograph, or audio recording for 

commercial or noncommercial content creation in a System 

unit shall be considered to be a filming or still photography 

activity under this subsection. 

‘‘(7) EFFECT.— 

‘‘(A) PERMITS REQUESTED THOUGH NOT REQUIRED.—On 

the request of a person intending to carry out a filming 

or still photography activity, the Secretary may issue a 

permit for the filming or still photography activity, even 
H. R. 6492—15 

if a permit for the filming or still photography activity 

is not required under this section. 

‘‘(B) NO ADDITIONAL PERMITS, COMMERCIAL USE

AUTHORIZATIONS, OR FEES FOR FILMING AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHY AT AUTHORIZED EVENTS.—A filming or still photography activity at an activity or event that is allowed or 

authorized, including a wedding, engagement party, family 

reunion, or celebration of a graduate, shall be considered 

merely incidental for the purposes of paragraph (2)(B). 

‘‘(C) MONETARY COMPENSATION.—The receipt of monetary compensation by the person conducting the filming 

or still photography activity shall not affect the permissibility of the filming or still photography activity. 

‘‘(b) FEES AND RECOVERY COSTS.— 

‘‘(1) FEES.—The reasonable fees referred to in subsection 

(a)(4) shall meet each of the following criteria: 

‘‘(A) The reasonable fee shall provide a fair return 

to the United States. 

‘‘(B) The reasonable fee shall be based on the following 

criteria: 

‘‘(i) The number of days of the filming or still 

photography activity. 

‘‘(ii) The size of the film or still photography crew 

present in the System unit. 

‘‘(iii) The quantity and type of film or still photography equipment present in the System unit. 

‘‘(iv) Any other factors that the Secretary determines to be necessary. 

‘‘(2) RECOVERY OF COSTS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall collect from the 

applicant for the applicable permit any costs incurred by 

the Secretary related to a filming or still photography 

activity subject to a permit under subsection (a)(4), 

including— 

‘‘(i) the costs of the review or issuance of the 

permit; and 

‘‘(ii) related administrative and personnel costs. 

‘‘(B) EFFECT ON FEES COLLECTED.—All costs recovered 

under subparagraph (A) shall be in addition to the fee 

described in paragraph (1). 

‘‘(3) USE OF PROCEEDS.— 

‘‘(A) FEES.—All fees collected under this section shall— 

‘‘(i) be available for expenditure by the Secretary, 

without further appropriation; and 

‘‘(ii) remain available until expended. 

‘‘(B) COSTS.—All costs recovered under paragraph 

(2)(A) shall— 

‘‘(i) be available for expenditure by the Secretary, 

without further appropriation, at the System unit at 

which the costs are collected; and 

‘‘(ii) remain available until expended. 

‘‘(c) PROTECTION OF RESOURCES.—The Secretary shall not allow 

a person to undertake a filming or still photography activity if 

the Secretary determines that— 

‘‘(1) there is a likelihood that the person would cause 

resource damage at the System unit, except as otherwise 

authorized; 
H. R. 6492—16 

‘‘(2) the person would create an unreasonable disruption 

of the use and enjoyment by the public of the System unit; 

or 

‘‘(3) the filming or still photography activity poses a health 

or safety risk to the public. 

‘‘(d) PROCESSING OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a process 

to ensure that the Secretary responds in a timely manner 

to an application for a permit for a filming or still photography 

activity required under subsection (a)(4). 

‘‘(2) COORDINATION.—If a permit is required under this 

section for 2 or more Federal agencies or System units, the 

Secretary and the head of any other applicable Federal agency, 

as applicable, shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate permit processing procedures, including through the use 

of identifying a lead agency or lead System unit— 

‘‘(A) to review the application for the permit; 

‘‘(B) to issue the permit; and 

‘‘(C) to collect any required fees.’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 

chapter 1009 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by 

striking the item relating to section 100905 and inserting the 

following: 

‘‘100905. Filming and still photography in System units.’’. 

(b) FILMING ON OTHER FEDERAL LAND.—Public Law 106–206 

(16 U.S.C. 460l–6d) is amended by striking section 1 and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘SEC. 1. FILMING AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHY. 

‘‘(a) FILMING AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHY.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall ensure 

that a filming or still photography activity or similar project 

at a Federal land management unit (referred to in this section 

as a ‘filming or still photography activity’) and the authorizing 

or permitting of a filming or still photography activity are 

carried out consistent with— 

‘‘(A) the laws and policies applicable to the Secretary 

concerned; and 

‘‘(B) an applicable general management plan. 

‘‘(2) NO PERMITS REQUIRED.—The Secretary concerned shall 

not require an authorization or a permit or assess a fee, if 

a fee for a filming or still photography activity is not otherwise 

required by law, for a filming or still photography activity 

that— 

‘‘(A)(i) involves fewer than 6 individuals; and 

‘‘(ii) meets each of the requirements described in paragraph (5); or 

‘‘(B) is merely incidental to, or documenting, an activity 

or event that is allowed or authorized at the Federal land 

management unit, regardless of— 

‘‘(i) the number of individuals participating in the 

allowed or authorized activity or event; or 

‘‘(ii) whether any individual receives compensation 

for any products of the filming or still photography 

activity. 

‘‘(3) FILMING AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHY AUTHORIZATIONS FOR

DE MINIMIS USE.— 
H. R. 6492—17 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall 

establish a de minimis use authorization for certain filming 

or still photography activities that meets the requirements 

described in subparagraph (F). 

‘‘(B) POLICY.—For a filming or still photography 

activity that meets the requirements described in subparagraph (F), the Secretary concerned— 

‘‘(i) may require a de minimis use authorization; 

and 

‘‘(ii) shall not require a permit. 

‘‘(C) NO FEE.—The Secretary concerned shall not 

charge a fee for a de minimis use authorization under 

this paragraph. 

‘‘(D) ACCESS.—The Secretary concerned shall enable 

members of the public to apply for and obtain a de minimis 

use authorization under this paragraph— 

‘‘(i) through the website of the Department of the 

Interior or the Forest Service, as applicable; and 

‘‘(ii) in person at the field office for the Federal 

land management unit. 

‘‘(E) ISSUANCES.—The Secretary concerned shall— 

‘‘(i) establish a procedure— 

‘‘(I) to automate the approval of an application 

submitted through the website of the Department 

of the Interior or the Forest Service, as applicable, 

under subparagraph (D)(i); and 

‘‘(II) to issue a de minimis use authorization 

under this paragraph immediately on receipt of 

an application that is submitted in person at the 

field office for the Federal land management unit 

under subparagraph (D)(ii); and 

‘‘(ii) if an application submitted under subparagraph (D) meets the requirements of this paragraph, 

immediately on receipt of the application issue a de 

minimis use authorization for the filming or still 

photography activity. 

‘‘(F) TERMS.—The Secretary concerned shall only issue 

a de minimis use authorization under this paragraph if 

the filming or still photography activity— 

‘‘(i) involves a group of not fewer than 6 individuals 

and not more than 8 individuals; 

‘‘(ii) meets each of the requirements described in 

paragraph (5); and 

‘‘(iii) is consistent with subsection (c). 

‘‘(G) CONTENTS.—A de minimis use authorization 

issued under this paragraph shall list the requirements 

described in subparagraph (F). 

‘‘(4) REQUIRED PERMITS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph 

(2)(B), the Secretary concerned may require a permit 

application and, if a permit is issued, assess a reasonable 

fee, as described in subsection (b)(1), for a filming or still 

photography activity that— 

‘‘(i) involves more than 8 individuals; or 

‘‘(ii) does not meet each of the requirements 

described in paragraph (5). 
H. R. 6492—18 

‘‘(B) WILDERNESS ACT CLARIFICATION.—No provision of 

this subsection is intended to or shall be construed to 

conflict with the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964 

(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). 

‘‘(5) REQUIREMENTS FOR FILMING OR STILL PHOTOGRAPHY

ACTIVITY.—The requirements referred to in paragraphs 

(2)(A)(ii), (3)(F)(ii), (4)(B), and (7)(C) are as follows: 

‘‘(A) A person conducts the filming or still photography 

activity in a manner that— 

‘‘(i) does not impede or intrude on the experience 

of other visitors to the Federal land management unit; 

‘‘(ii) except as otherwise authorized, does not disturb or negatively impact— 

‘‘(I) a natural or cultural resource; or 

‘‘(II) an environmental or scenic value; and 

‘‘(iii) allows for equitable allocation or use of facilities of the Federal land management unit. 

‘‘(B) The person conducts the filming or still photography activity at a location in which the public is allowed. 

‘‘(C) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity does not require the exclusive use of a site 

or area. 

‘‘(D) The person does not conduct the filming or still 

photography activity in a localized area that receives a 

very high volume of visitation. 

‘‘(E) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity does not use a set or staging equipment, 

subject to the limitation that handheld equipment (such 

as a tripod, monopod, and handheld lighting equipment) 

shall not be considered staging equipment for the purposes 

of this subparagraph. 

‘‘(F) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity complies with and adheres to visitor use 

policies, practices, and regulations applicable to the Federal 

land management unit. 

‘‘(G) The filming or still photography activity is not 

likely to result in additional administrative costs being 

incurred by the Secretary concerned with respect to the 

filming or still photography activity, as determined by the 

Secretary concerned. 

‘‘(H) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity complies with other applicable Federal, State 

(as such term is defined in section 3 of the EXPLORE 

Act), and local laws (including regulations), including laws 

relating to the use of unmanned aerial equipment. 

‘‘(6) CONTENT CREATION.—Regardless of distribution platform, any video, still photograph, or audio recording for 

commercial or noncommercial content creation at a Federal 

land management unit shall be considered to be a filming 

or still photography activity under this subsection. 

‘‘(7) EFFECT.— ‘‘(A) PERMITS REQUESTED THOUGH NOT REQUIRED.—On 

the request of a person intending to carry out a filming 

or still photography activity, the Secretary concerned may 

issue a permit for the filming or still photography activity, 

even if a permit for the filming or still photography activity 

is not required under this section. 
H. R. 6492—19 

‘‘(B) NO ADDITIONAL PERMITS, COMMERCIAL USE

AUTHORIZATIONS, OR FEES FOR FILMING AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHY AT AUTHORIZED EVENTS.—A filming or still photography activity at an activity or event that is allowed or 

authorized, including a wedding, engagement party, family 

reunion, or celebration of a graduate, shall be considered 

merely incidental for the purposes of paragraph (2)(B). 

‘‘(C) MONETARY COMPENSATION.—The receipt of monetary compensation by the person engaged in the filming 

or still photography activity shall not affect the permissibility of the filming or still photography activity. 

‘‘(b) FEES AND RECOVERY COSTS.— 

‘‘(1) FEES.—The reasonable fees referred to in subsection 

(a)(4) shall meet each of the following criteria: 

‘‘(A) The reasonable fee shall provide a fair return 

to the United States. 

‘‘(B) The reasonable fee shall be based on the following 

criteria: 

‘‘(i) The number of days of the filming or still 

photography activity. 

‘‘(ii) The size of the film or still photography crew 

present at the Federal land management unit. 

‘‘(iii) The quantity and type of film or still photography equipment present at the Federal land management unit. 

‘‘(iv) Any other factors that the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary. 

‘‘(2) RECOVERY OF COSTS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall collect from the applicant for the applicable permit any costs 

incurred by the Secretary concerned related to a filming 

or still photography activity subject to a permit under 

subsection (a)(4), including— 

‘‘(i) the costs of the review or issuance of the 

permit; and 

‘‘(ii) related administrative and personnel costs. 

‘‘(B) EFFECT ON FEES COLLECTED.—All costs recovered 

under subparagraph (A) shall be in addition to the fee 

described in paragraph (1). 

‘‘(3) USE OF PROCEEDS.— 

‘‘(A) FEES.—All fees collected under this section shall— 

‘‘(i) be available for expenditure by the Secretary 

concerned, without further appropriation; and 

‘‘(ii) remain available until expended. 

‘‘(B) COSTS.—All costs recovered under paragraph 

(2)(A) shall— 

‘‘(i) be available for expenditure by the Secretary 

concerned, without further appropriation, at the Federal land management unit at which the costs are 

collected; and 

‘‘(ii) remain available until expended. 

‘‘(c) PROTECTION OF RESOURCES.—The Secretary concerned shall 

not allow a person to undertake a filming or still photography 

activity if the Secretary concerned determines that— 

‘‘(1) there is a likelihood that the person would cause 

resource damage at the Federal land management unit, except 

as otherwise authorized; 
H. R. 6492—20 

‘‘(2) the person would create an unreasonable disruption 

of the use and enjoyment by the public of the Federal land 

management unit; or 

‘‘(3) the filming or still photography activity poses a health 

or safety risk to the public. 

‘‘(d) PROCESSING OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall establish 

a process to ensure that the Secretary concerned responds 

in a timely manner to an application for a permit for a filming 

or still photography activity required under subsection (a)(4). 

‘‘(2) COORDINATION.—If a permit is required under this 

section for 2 or more Federal agencies or Federal land management units, the Secretary concerned and the head of any other 

applicable Federal agency, as applicable, shall, to the maximum 

extent practicable, coordinate permit processing procedures, 

including through the use of identifying a lead agency or lead 

Federal land management unit— 

‘‘(A) to review the application for the permit; 

‘‘(B) to issue the permit; and 

‘‘(C) to collect any required fees. 

‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT UNIT.—The term ‘Federal 

land management unit’ means— 

‘‘(A) Federal land (other than National Park System 

land) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior; 

and 

‘‘(B) National Forest System land. 

‘‘(2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘Secretary concerned’ means— 

‘‘(A) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land 

described in paragraph (1)(A); and 

‘‘(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land 

described in paragraph (1)(B).’’. 

SEC. 126. CAPE AND ANTLER PRESERVATION ENHANCEMENT. 

Section 104909(c) of title 54, United States Code, is amended 

by striking ‘‘meat from’’ and inserting ‘‘meat and any other part 

of an animal removed pursuant to’’. 

SEC. 127. MOTORIZED AND NONMOTORIZED ACCESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall seek to have, 

not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this 

title, in a printed and publicly available format that is compliant 

with the format for geographic information systems— 

(1) for each district administered by the Director of the 

Bureau of Land Management, a ground transportation linear 

feature map authorized for public use or administrative use; 

and 

(2) for each unit of the National Forest System, a motor 

vehicle use map, in accordance with existing law. 

(b) OVER-SNOW VEHICLE-USE MAPS.—The Secretary concerned 

shall seek to have, not later than 10 years after the date of the 

enactment of this title, in a printed and publicly available format 

that is compliant with the format for geographic information systems, an over-snow vehicle-use map for each unit of Federal recreational lands and waters administered by the Chief of the Forest 

Service or Director of the Bureau of Land Management on which 

over-snow vehicle-use occurs, in accordance with existing law. 
H. R. 6492—21 

(c) OUT-OF-DATE MAPS.—Not later than 20 years after the 

date on which the Secretary concerned adopted or reviewed, through 

public notice and comment, a map described in subsection (a) or 

(b), the Secretary concerned shall seek to review, through public 

notice and comment, and update, as necessary, the applicable map. 

(d) MOTORIZED AND NONMOTORIZED ACCESS.—The Secretaries 

shall seek to create additional opportunities, as appropriate, and 

in accordance with existing law, for motorized and nonmotorized 

access and opportunities on Federal recreational lands and waters 

administered by the Chief of the Forest Service or the Director 

of the Bureau of Land Management. 

(e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section prohibits a lawful 

use, including authorized motorized or nonmotorized uses, on Federal recreational lands and waters administered by the Chief of 

the Forest Service or the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, if the Secretary concerned fails to meet a timeline established 

under this section. 

SEC. 128. AQUATIC RESOURCE ACTIVITIES ASSISTANCE. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES TASK FORCE.—The term 

‘‘Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force’’ means the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force established by section 1201(a) of 

the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control 

Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4721(a)). 

(2) DECONTAMINATION.—The term ‘‘decontamination’’ 

means actions to remove aquatic nuisance species to prevent 

introduction or spread into new aquatic ecosystems. 

(3) FEDERAL LAND AND WATER.—The term ‘‘Federal land 

and water’’ means Federal land and water operated and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Forest 

Service, or the National Park Service, as applicable. 

(4) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ has the 

meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

(5) INSPECTION.—The term ‘‘inspection’’ means actions to 

find aquatic nuisance species to prevent introduction or spread 

into new aquatic ecosystems. 

(6) PARTNER.—The term ‘‘partner’’ means— 

(A) a Reclamation State; 

(B) an Indian Tribe in a Reclamation State; 

(C) an applicable nonprofit organization in a Reclamation State; 

(D) a unit of local government in a Reclamation State; 

or 

(E) a private entity. 

(7) RECLAMATION STATE.—The term ‘‘Reclamation State’’ 

includes any of the following States: 

(A) Alaska. 

(B) Arizona. 

(C) California. 

(D) Colorado. 

(E) Idaho. 

(F) Kansas. 

(G) Montana. 

(H) Nebraska. 
H. R. 6492—22 

(I) Nevada. 

(J) New Mexico. 

(K) North Dakota. 

(L) Oklahoma. 

(M) Oregon. 

(N) South Dakota. 

(O) Texas. 

(P) Utah. 

(Q) Washington. 

(R) Wyoming. 

(8) RECLAMATION PROJECT.—The term ‘‘reclamation project’’ 

has the meaning given such term in section 2803(3) of the 

Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 

(16 U.S.C. 460l-32(3)). 

(9) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means each of 

the following: 

(A) The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 

Bureau of Land Management, the Commissioner of Reclamation, and the Director of the National Park Service. 

(B) The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 

Chief of the Forest Service. 

(10) VESSEL.—The term ‘‘vessel’’ means any watercraft or 

other contrivance used or designed for transportation or navigation on, under, or immediately above, water. 

(b) AUTHORITY OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, BUREAU

OF RECLAMATION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND FOREST SERVICE

WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN AQUATIC RESOURCE ACTIVITIES ON FEDERAL LAND AND WATERS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of each Federal land management agency is authorized to carry out inspections and decontamination of vessels entering or leaving Federal land and 

waters under the jurisdiction of the respective Federal land 

management agency. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretaries shall— 

(A) in carrying out an inspection and decontamination 

under paragraph (1), coordinate with 1 or more partners; 

(B) consult with the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task 

Force to identify potential improvements and efficiencies 

in the detection and management of aquatic nuisance species on Federal land and water; and 

(C) to the maximum extent practicable, inspect and 

decontaminate vessels in a manner that minimizes disruptions to public access for boating and recreation in noncontaminated vessels. 

(3) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretaries may enter into a partnership to lead, collaborate with, or provide technical assistance 

to a partner— 

(A) to carry out an inspection or decontamination of 

vessels; or 

(B) to establish an inspection and decontamination station for vessels. 

(4) LIMITATION.—The Secretaries shall not prohibit access 

to vessels due solely to the absence of a Federal, State, or 

partner’s inspection program or station. 

(5) EXCEPTIONS.— 

(A) AUTHORITY TO REGULATE VESSELS.—Nothing in this 

section shall be construed to limit the authority of the 
H. R. 6492—23 

Commandant of the Coast Guard to regulate vessels provided under any other provision of law. 

(B) APPLICABILITY.—Authorities granted in this subsection shall not apply at locations where inspection or 

decontamination activities would duplicate efforts by the 

Coast Guard. 

(6) DATA SHARING.—The Secretaries shall make available 

to a Reclamation State any relevant data gathered related 

to inspections or decontaminations carried out under this subsection in such State. 

(c) GRANT PROGRAM FOR RECLAMATION STATES FOR VESSEL

INSPECTION AND DECONTAMINATION STATIONS.— 

(1) VESSELS INSPECTIONS IN RECLAMATION STATES.—Subject 

to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary, acting 

through the Commissioner of Reclamation, shall establish a 

competitive grant program to provide financial assistance to 

partners to conduct inspections and decontamination of vessels 

operating in Reclamation projects, including to purchase, establish, operate, or maintain a vessel inspection and decontamination station. 

(2) COST SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost of a grant 

under paragraph (1), including personnel costs, shall not exceed 

75 percent. 

(3) STANDARDS.—Before awarding a grant under paragraph 

(1), the Secretary shall determine that the project is technically 

and financially feasible. 

(4) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this subsection, the 

Secretary shall coordinate with— 

(A) each of the Reclamation States; 

(B) affected Indian Tribes; and 

(C) the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. 

Subtitle C—Supporting Gateway Communities and Addressing Park Overcrowding 

SEC. 131. GATEWAY COMMUNITIES. 

(a) ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS AND NEEDS IN GATEWAY COMMUNITIES.—The Secretaries— 

(1) shall collaborate with State and local governments, 

Indian Tribes, housing authorities, applicable trade associations, nonprofit organizations, private entities, and other relevant stakeholders to identify needs and economic impacts 

in gateway communities, including— 

(A) housing shortages; 

(B) demands on existing municipal infrastructure; 

(C) accommodation and management of sustainable 

visitation; and 

(D) the expansion and diversification of visitor experiences by bolstering the visitation at— 

(i) existing developed locations that are underutilized on nearby Federal recreational lands and waters 

that are suitable for developing, expanding, or 

enhancing recreation use, as identified by the Secretaries; or 
H. R. 6492—24 

(ii) existing developed and suitable lesser-known 

recreation sites, as identified under section 5(b)(1)(B), 

on nearby land managed by a State agency or a local 

agency; and 

(2) may address a need identified under paragraph (1) 

by— 

(A) providing financial or technical assistance to a 

gateway community under an existing program; 

(B) entering into an agreement, right-of-way, or easement, in accordance with applicable laws; or 

(C) issuing an entity referred to in paragraph (1) a 

special use permit (other than a special recreation permit 

(as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801)), in accordance with 

applicable laws. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture (acting 

through the Administrator of the Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service), in coordination with the Secretary and the Secretary 

of Commerce, shall provide to businesses in gateway communities the assistance described in paragraph (2) to establish, 

operate, or expand infrastructure to accommodate and manage 

sustainable visitation, including hotels, campgrounds, and restaurants. 

(2) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Agriculture may provide 

assistance under paragraph (1) through the use of existing, 

or the establishment of new, entrepreneur and vocational 

training programs, technical assistance programs, low-interest 

business loan programs, and loan guarantee programs. 

(c) PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out this section, the Secretaries 

may, in accordance with applicable laws, enter into a public-private 

partnership, cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, or similar agreement with a gateway community or a 

business in a gateway community. 

SEC. 132. IMPROVED RECREATION VISITATION DATA. 

(a) CONSISTENT VISITATION DATA.— 

(1) ANNUAL VISITATION DATA.—The Secretaries shall establish a single visitation data reporting system to report accurate 

annual visitation data, in a consistent manner, for— 

(A) each unit of Federal recreational lands and waters; 

and 

(B) land held in trust for an Indian Tribe, on request 

of the Indian Tribe. 

(2) CATEGORIES OF USE.—Within the visitation data 

reporting system established under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall— 

(A) establish multiple categories of different recreation 

activities that are reported consistently across agencies; 

and 

(B) provide an estimate of the number of visitors for 

each applicable category established under subparagraph 

(A) for each unit of Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(b) REAL-TIME DATA PILOT PROGRAM.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, using existing funds available 
H. R. 6492—25 

to the Secretaries, the Secretaries shall carry out a pilot program, to be known as the ‘‘Real-Time Data Pilot Program’’ 

(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Pilot Program’’), to make 

available to the public, for each unit of Federal recreational 

lands and waters selected for participation in the Pilot Program 

under paragraph (2)— 

(A) real-time or predictive data on visitation (including 

data and resources publicly available from existing nongovernmental platforms) at— 

(i) the unit of Federal recreational lands and 

waters; 

(ii) to the extent practicable, areas within the unit 

of Federal recreational lands and waters; and 

(iii) to the extent practicable, recreation sites managed by any other Federal agency, a State agency, 

or a local agency that are located near the unit of 

Federal recreational lands and waters; and 

(B) through multiple media platforms, information 

about lesser-known recreation sites located near the unit 

of Federal recreational lands and waters (including recreation sites managed by any other Federal agency, a State 

agency, or a local agency), in an effort to encourage visitation among recreational sites. 

(2) LOCATIONS.— 

(A) INITIAL NUMBER OF UNITS.—On establishment of 

the Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall select for participation in the Pilot Program— 

(i) 10 units of Federal recreational lands and 

waters managed by the Secretary; 

(ii) 5 units of Federal recreational lands and waters 

managed by the Secretary of Agriculture (acting 

through the Chief of the Forest Service); 

(iii) 1 unit of Federal recreational lands and waters 

managed by the Secretary of Commerce (acting through 

the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration); and 

(iv) 1 unit of Federal recreational lands and waters 

managed by the Assistant Secretary of Army for Civil 

Works. 

(B) REPORT.—Not later than 6 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretaries shall submit 

a report to Congress regarding the implementation of the 

pilot program, including policy recommendations to expand 

the pilot program to additional units managed by the Secretaries. 

(C) FEEDBACK; SUPPORT OF GATEWAY COMMUNITIES.— 

The Secretaries shall— 

(i) solicit feedback regarding participation in the 

Pilot Program from communities adjacent to units of 

Federal recreational lands and waters and the public; 

and 

(ii) in carrying out subparagraphs (A) and (B), 

select a unit of Federal recreation lands and waters 

to participate in the Pilot Program only if the community adjacent to the unit of Federal recreational lands 

and waters is supportive of the participation of the 
H. R. 6492—26 

unit of Federal recreational lands and waters in the 

Pilot Program. 

(3) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—The Secretaries may 

disseminate the information described in paragraph (1) directly 

or through an entity or organization referred to in subsection 

(c). 

(4) INCLUSION OF CURRENT ASSESSMENTS.—In carrying out 

the Pilot Program, the Secretaries may, to the extent practicable, rely on assessments completed or data gathered prior 

to the date of enactment of this title. 

(c) COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS.—For 

purposes of carrying out this section, the Secretary concerned may— 

(1) coordinate and partner with— 

(A) communities adjacent to units of Federal recreational lands and waters; 

(B) State and local outdoor recreation and tourism 

offices; 

(C) local governments; 

(D) Indian Tribes; 

(E) trade associations; 

(F) local outdoor recreation marketing organizations; 

(G) permitted facilitated recreation providers; or 

(H) other relevant stakeholders; and 

(2) coordinate or enter into agreements, as appropriate, 

with private sector and nonprofit partners, including— 

(A) technology companies; 

(B) geospatial data companies; 

(C) experts in data science, analytics, and operations 

research; or 

(D) data companies. 

(d) EXISTING PROGRAMS.—The Secretaries may use existing 

programs or products of the Secretaries to carry out this section. 

(e) PRIVACY CLAUSES.—Nothing in this section provides 

authority to the Secretaries— 

(1) to monitor or record the movements of a visitor to 

a unit of Federal recreational lands and waters; 

(2) to restrict, interfere with, or monitor a private communication of a visitor to a unit of Federal recreational lands 

and waters; or 

(3) to collect— 

(A) information from owners of land adjacent to a 

unit of Federal recreational lands and waters; or 

(B) information on non-Federal land. 

(f) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this title, and annually thereafter, the Secretaries shall 

publish on a website of the Secretaries a report that describes 

the annual visitation of each unit of Federal recreational lands 

and waters, including, to the maximum extent practicable, visitation 

categorized by recreational activity. 

(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

(1) FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS AND WATERS.—The term 

‘‘Federal recreational lands and waters’’— 

(A) has the meaning given the term in section 802 

of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

U.S.C. 6801); and 
H. R. 6492—27 

(B) includes Federal lands and waters managed by 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

(2) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means— 

(A) the Secretary, with respect to lands under the 

jurisdiction of the Secretary; 

(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 

Chief of the Forest Service, with respect to lands under 

the jurisdiction of the Forest Service; 

(C) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 

Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, with respect to Federal waters under the 

jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration; and 

(D) the Assistant Secretary of Army for Civil Works, 

with respect to lakes and reservoirs under the jurisdiction 

of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

SEC. 133. MONITORING FOR IMPROVED RECREATION DECISION 

MAKING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall seek to capture comprehensive recreation use data to better understand and inform 

decision making by the Secretaries. 

(b) PILOT PROTOCOLS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of the enactment of this title, and after public notice and comment, 

the Secretaries shall establish pilot protocols at not fewer than 

10 land management units under the jurisdiction of each of the 

Secretaries to model recreation use patterns (including low-use 

recreation activities and dispersed recreation activities) that may 

not be effectively measured by existing general and opportunistic 

survey and monitoring protocols. 

(c) SECRETARIES DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means— 

(1) the Secretary, with respect to lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; 

(2) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief 

of the Forest Service, with respect to lands under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service; 

(3) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

with respect to Federal waters under the jurisdiction of the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and 

(4) the Assistant Secretary of Army for Civil Works, with 

respect to lakes and reservoirs under the jurisdiction of the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Subtitle D—Broadband Connectivity on 

Federal Recreational Lands and Waters 

SEC. 141. CONNECT OUR PARKS. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—The term 

‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means— 

(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

of the Senate; 
H. R. 6492—28 

(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate; 

(C) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

of Representatives; and 

(D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 

House of Representatives. 

(2) BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE.—The term 

‘‘broadband internet access service’’ has the meaning given 

the term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). 

(3) CELLULAR SERVICE.—The term ‘‘cellular service’’ has 

the meaning given the term in section 22.99 of title 47, Code 

of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). 

(4) NATIONAL PARK.—The term ‘‘National Park’’ means a 

unit of the National Park System. 

(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 

Park Service. 

(b) ASSESSMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall complete 

an assessment of National Parks to identify— 

(A) locations in National Parks in which there is the 

greatest need for broadband internet access service, based 

on the considerations described in paragraph (2)(A); and 

(B) areas in National Parks in which there is the 

greatest need for cellular service, based on the considerations described in paragraph (2)(B). 

(2) CONSIDERATIONS.— 

(A) BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE.—For purposes of identifying locations in National Parks under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider, with respect 

to each National Park, the availability of broadband internet access service in— 

(i) housing; 

(ii) administrative facilities and related structures; 

(iii) lodging; 

(iv) developed campgrounds; and 

(v) any other location within the National Park 

in which broadband internet access service is determined to be necessary by the superintendent of the 

National Park. 

(B) CELLULAR SERVICE.—For purposes of identifying 

areas in National Parks under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall consider, with respect to each National Park, 

the availability of cellular service in any developed area 

within the National Park that would increase— 

(i) the access of the public to emergency services 

and traveler information technologies; or 

(ii) the communications capabilities of National 

Park Service employees. 

(3) REPORT.—On completion of the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make available on the website of the 

Department of the Interior, a report describing the results 

of the assessment. 

(c) PLAN.— 
H. R. 6492—29 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall develop a 

plan, based on the results of the assessment completed under 

subsection (b) and subject to paragraph (4)— 

(A) to install broadband internet access service infrastructure in certain locations in National Parks; and 

(B) to install cellular service equipment and infrastructure in certain areas of National Parks. 

(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing the plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with— 

(A) affected Indian Tribes; and 

(B) local stakeholders that the superintendent of the 

applicable National Park determines to be appropriate. 

(3) REQUIREMENTS.—The plan developed under paragraph 

(1) shall— 

(A) provide for avoiding or minimizing impacts to— 

(i) National Park viewsheds; 

(ii) cultural and natural resources; 

(iii) the visitor experience; 

(iv) historic properties and the viewsheds of historic properties; and 

(v) other resources or values of the National Park. 

(B) provide for infrastructure providing broadband 

internet access service or cellular service to be located 

in— 

(i) previously disturbed or developed areas; or 

(ii) areas zoned for uses that would support the 

infrastructure; 

(C) provide for the use of public-private partnerships— 

(i) to install broadband internet access service or 

cellular service equipment; and 

(ii) to provide broadband internet access service 

or cellular service; 

(D) be technology neutral; and 

(E) in the case of broadband internet access service, 

provide for broadband internet access service of at least— 

(i) a 100–Mbps downstream transmission capacity; 

and 

(ii) a 20–Mbps upstream transmission capacity. 

(4) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a plan 

developed under that paragraph shall not be required to address 

broadband internet access service or cellular service in any 

National Park with respect to which the superintendent of 

the National Park determines that there is adequate access 

to broadband internet access service or cellular service, as 

applicable. 

SEC. 142. BROADBAND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AT DEVELOPED 

RECREATION SITES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary and the Chief of the Forest 

Service shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Commerce to foster the installation or construction of broadband internet 

infrastructure at developed recreation sites on Federal recreational 

lands and waters to establish broadband internet connectivity— 

(1) subject to the availability of appropriations; and 

(2) in accordance with applicable law. 
H. R. 6492—30 

(b) IDENTIFICATION.—Not later than 3 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, and annually thereafter through 

fiscal year 2031, the Secretary and the Chief of the Forest Service, 

in coordination with States and local communities, shall make 

publicly available— 

(1) a list of the highest priority developed recreation sites, 

as determined under subsection (c), on Federal recreational 

lands and waters that lack broadband internet; 

(2) to the extent practicable, an estimate of— 

(A) the cost to equip each of those sites with broadband 

internet infrastructure; and 

(B) the annual cost to operate that infrastructure; and 

(3) a list of potential— 

(A) barriers to operating the infrastructure described 

in paragraph (2)(A); and 

(B) methods to recover the costs of that operation. 

(c) PRIORITIES.—In selecting developed recreation sites for the 

list described in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary and the Chief 

of the Forest Service shall give priority to developed recreation 

sites— 

(1) at which broadband internet infrastructure has not 

been constructed due to— 

(A) geographic challenges; or 

(B) the location having an insufficient number of 

nearby permanent residents, despite high seasonal or daily 

visitation levels; or 

(2) that are located in an economically distressed county 

that could benefit significantly from developing the outdoor 

recreation economy of the county. 

SEC. 143. PUBLIC LANDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE 

AGREEMENTS. 

(a) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE

INTERIOR.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements 

to carry out activities related to communications sites on lands 

managed by Federal land management agencies, including— 

(1) administering communications use authorizations; 

(2) preparing needs assessments or other programmatic 

analyses necessary to establish communications sites and 

authorize communications uses on or adjacent to Federal recreational lands and waters managed by a Federal land management agency; 

(3) developing management plans for communications sites 

on or adjacent to Federal recreational lands and waters managed by a Federal land management agency on a competitively 

neutral, technology neutral, nondiscriminatory basis; 

(4) training for management of communications sites on 

or adjacent to Federal recreational lands and waters managed 

by a Federal land management agency; 

(5) obtaining, improving access to, or establishing communications sites on or adjacent to Federal recreational lands 

and waters managed by a Federal land management agency; 

and 

(6) any combination of purposes described in subparagraphs 

(1) through (5). 
H. R. 6492—31 

(b) CLARIFICATION OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AUTHORITY FOR

THE FOREST SERVICE.—Section 8705(f) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1761a(f)) is amended by adding at 

the end the following: 

‘‘(6) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AUTHORITY.—Subject to the 

availability of appropriations made in advance for such purposes, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements 

to carry out the activities described in subparagraphs (A) 

through (D) of paragraph (4).’’. 

(c) ASSESSMENT OF RENTAL FEE RETENTION AUTHORITY.—Not 

later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this title, 

the Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive assessment to evaluate 

the potential benefits of rental fee retention whereby any fee collected for the occupancy and use of Federal lands and waters 

authorized by a communications use authorization would be deposited into a special account and used solely for activities related 

to communications sites on lands and waters managed by the 

Secretary. 

Subtitle E—Public–Private Parks 

Partnerships 

SEC. 151. AUTHORIZATION FOR LEASE OF FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE SITES. 

Section 8623 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (16 

U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 115–334) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)(2)(D), by striking ‘‘dwelling;’’ and 

inserting ‘‘dwelling or multiunit dwelling;’’; 

(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ in the middle 

of the sentence and inserting ‘‘Chief of the Forest Service, 

or their designee’’; 

(3) in subsection (e)— 

(A) in paragraph (3)(B)(ii)— 

(i) in subclause (I), by inserting ‘‘such as housing,’’ 

after ‘‘improvements,’’; 

(ii) in subclause (II), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(iii) in subclause (III), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end 

and inserting ‘‘and’’; and 

(iv) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(IV) services occurring off the administrative 

site that— 

‘‘(aa) occur at another administrative site 

in the same unit in which the administrative 

site is located or a different unit of the 

National Forest System; 

‘‘(bb) benefit the National Forest System; 

and 

‘‘(cc) support activities occurring within 

the unit of the National Forest System in 

which the administrative site is located; or’’; 

and 

(B) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) LEASE TERM.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term of a lease of an administrative site under this section shall be not more than 100 

years. 
H. R. 6492—32 

‘‘(B) REAUTHORIZATION OF USE.—A lease of an administrative site under this section shall include a provision 

for reauthorization of the use if the— 

‘‘(i) use of the administrative site, at the time 

of reauthorization, is still being used for the purposes 

authorized; 

‘‘(ii) use to be authorized under the new lease 

is consistent with the applicable land management 

plan; and 

‘‘(iii) lessee is in compliance with all the terms 

of the existing lease.’’ 

‘‘(C) SAVINGS.—A reauthorization of use under subparagraph (B) may include new terms in the use, as determined 

by the Chief of the Forest Service, or their designee.’’; 

(4) in subsection (g), by— 

(A) striking ‘‘to a leaseholder’’ after ‘‘payments’’; and 

(B) inserting ‘‘or constructed’’ after ‘‘improved’’; and 

(5) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘2023’’ each place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘2028’’. 

SEC. 152. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS CREATING TANGIBLE SAVINGS. 

Section 101703 of title 54, United States Code, is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘§ 101703. Cooperative management agreements 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To facilitate the administration of the 

System, the Secretary, under such terms and conditions as the 

Secretary considers advisable, may enter into an agreement with 

an eligible entity managing lands and waters located near a System 

unit to provide for cooperative management of either a System 

unit or the lands and waters located near a System unit to promote 

more effective and efficient management of a System unit. The 

Secretary may not transfer administration responsibilities for any 

System unit under this paragraph. 

‘‘(b) PROVISION OF GOODS AND SERVICES.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Under a cooperative management agreement, the Secretary may acquire by purchase, donation, or 

exchange from and provide to an eligible entity on a reimbursable basis goods and services to be used by the Secretary 

or the eligible entity in the cooperative management of land 

and waters. 

‘‘(2) RETENTION OF FUNDS.—Reimbursements received 

under this section may be credited to the appropriation current 

at the time reimbursements are received. 

‘‘(c) CO-LOCATION.—Under the cooperative management agreement, the Secretary and an eligible entity may co-locate in offices 

and facilities owned or leased by either party. 

‘‘(d) EMPLOYEES.— ‘‘(1) ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEE.—The Secretary may 

arrange an assignment under section 3372 of title 5 of a Federal 

employee or an employee of an eligible entity as mutually 

agreed upon, for work on any Federal, State, local, or Tribal 

land. 

‘‘(2) EXTENSION OF ASSIGNMENT.—The assignment provided 

in paragraph (1) may be extended for any period of time determined by the Secretary and the eligible entity to be mutually 

beneficial. 
H. R. 6492—33 

‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible entity’ means a 

State or local entity or any political subdivision thereof, or 

an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization. 

‘‘(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’ has the 

meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian SelfDetermination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 

5304(e)). 

‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of the several 

States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the 

United States. 

‘‘(4) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘Tribal organization’ 

has the meaning given the term in section 4(l) of the Indian 

Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 

5304(1)).’’. 

SEC. 153. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS TO MODERNIZE FEDERALLY 

OWNED CAMPGROUNDS, RESORTS, CABINS, AND VISITOR 

CENTERS ON FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS AND 

WATERS. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) COVERED ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘covered activity’’ 

means— 

(A) a capital improvement, including the construction, 

reconstruction, and nonroutine maintenance of any structure, infrastructure, or improvement, relating to the operation of, or access to, a covered recreation facility; and 

(B) any activity necessary to operate or maintain a 

covered recreation facility. 

(2) COVERED RECREATION FACILITY.—The term ‘‘covered 

recreation facility’’ means a federally owned campground, 

resort, cabin, or visitor center that is— 

(A) in existence on the date of the enactment of this 

title; and 

(B) located on Federal recreational lands and waters 

administered by— 

(i) the Chief of the Forest Service; or 

(ii) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. 

(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— 

(A) a unit of State, Tribal, or local government; 

(B) a nonprofit organization; and 

(C) a private entity. 

(b) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretaries shall establish a pilot 

program under which the Secretary concerned may enter into an 

agreement with, or issue or amend a land use authorization to, 

an eligible entity to allow the eligible entity to carry out covered 

activities relating to a covered recreation facility, subject to the 

requirements of this section and the terms of any relevant land 

use authorization, regardless of whether the eligible entity holds, 

on the date of the enactment of this title, an authorization to 

be a concessionaire for the covered recreation facility. 

(c) MINIMUM NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS OR LAND USE

AUTHORIZATIONS.—Not later than 3 years after the date of the 

enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall enter into 

at least 1 agreement or land use authorization under subsection 

(b) in— 
H. R. 6492—34 

(1) a unit of the National Forest System in each region 

of the National Forest System; and 

(2) Federal recreational lands and waters administered 

by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management in not 

fewer than 5 States in which the Bureau of Land Management 

administers Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(d) REQUIREMENTS.— 

(1) DEVELOPMENT PLANS.—Before entering into an agreement or issuing a land use authorization under subsection 

(b), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary concerned 

a development plan that— 

(A) describes investments in the covered recreation 

facility to be made by the eligible entity during the first 

3 years of the agreement or land use authorization; 

(B) describes annual maintenance spending to be made 

by the eligible entity for each year of the agreement or 

land use authorization; and 

(C) includes any other terms and conditions determined 

to be necessary or appropriate by the Secretary concerned. 

(2) AGREEMENTS AND LAND USE AUTHORIZATIONS.—An 

agreement or land use authorization under subsection (b) 

shall— 

(A) be for a term of not more than 30 years, commensurate with the level of investment; 

(B) require that, not later than 3 years after the date 

on which the Secretary concerned enters into the agreement 

or issues or amends the land use authorization, the 

applicable eligible entity shall expend, place in an escrow 

account for the eligible entity to expend, or deposit in 

a special account in the Treasury for expenditure by the 

Secretary concerned, without further appropriation, for covered activities relating to the applicable covered recreation 

facility, an amount or specified percentage, as determined 

by the Secretary concerned, which shall be equal to not 

less than $500,000, of the anticipated receipts for the term 

of the agreement or land use authorization; 

(C) require the eligible entity to operate and maintain 

the covered recreation facility and any associated infrastructure designated by the Secretary concerned in a 

manner acceptable to the Secretary concerned and the 

eligible entity; 

(D) include any terms and conditions that the Secretary 

concerned determines to be necessary for a special use 

permit issued under section 7 of the Act of April 24, 1950 

(commonly known as the ‘‘Granger-Thye Act’’) (64 Stat. 

84, chapter 97; 16 U.S.C. 580d), including the payment 

described in subparagraph (E) or the Federal Land Policy 

and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), 

as applicable; 

(E) provide for payment to the Federal Government 

of a fee or a sharing of revenue— 

(i) consistent with— 

(I) the land use fee for a special use permit 

authorized under section 7 of the Act of April 

24, 1950 (commonly known as the ‘‘Granger-Thye 

Act’’) (64 Stat. 84, chapter 97; 16 U.S.C. 580d); 

or 
H. R. 6492—35 

(II) the value to the eligible entity of the rights 

provided by the agreement or land use authorization, taking into account the capital invested by, 

and obligations of, the eligible entity under the 

agreement or land use authorization; and 

(ii) all or part of which may be offset by the work 

to be performed at the expense of the eligible entity 

that is separate from the routine costs of operating 

and maintaining the applicable covered recreation 

facility and any associated infrastructure designated 

by the Secretary concerned, as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary concerned; 

(F) include provisions stating that— 

(i) the eligible entity shall obtain no property 

interest in the covered recreation facility pursuant to 

the expenditures of the eligible entity, as required 

by the agreement or land use authorization; 

(ii) all structures and other improvements constructed, reconstructed, or nonroutinely maintained by 

that entity under the agreement or land use authorization on land owned by the United States shall be 

the property of the United States; and 

(iii) the eligible entity shall be solely responsible 

for any cost associated with the decommissioning or 

removal of a capital improvement, if needed, at the 

conclusion of the agreement or land use authorization; 

and 

(G) be subject to any other terms and conditions determined to be necessary or appropriate by the Secretary 

concerned. 

(e) LAND USE FEE RETENTION.—A land use fee paid or revenue 

shared with the Secretary concerned under an agreement or land 

use authorization under this section shall be available for expenditure by the Secretary concerned for recreation-related purposes 

on the unit or area of Federal recreational lands and waters at 

which the land use fee or revenue is collected, without further 

appropriation. 

SEC. 154. PARKING AND RESTROOM OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL 

RECREATIONAL LANDS AND WATERS. 

(a) PARKING OPPORTUNITIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall seek to increase 

and improve parking opportunities for persons recreating on 

Federal recreational lands and waters— 

(A) in accordance with existing laws and applicable 

land use plans; 

(B) in a manner that minimizes any increase in maintenance obligations on Federal recreational lands and waters; 

and 

(C) in a manner that does not impact wildlife habitat 

that is critical to the mission of a Federal agency responsible for managing Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(2) AUTHORITY.—To supplement the quantity of parking 

spaces available at units of Federal recreational lands and 

waters on the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretaries 

may— 
H. R. 6492—36 

(A) enter into a public-private partnership for parking 

opportunities on non-Federal land; 

(B) enter into contracts or agreements with State, 

Tribal, or local governments for parking opportunities using 

non-Federal lands and resources; or 

(C) provide alternative transportation systems for a 

unit of Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(b) RESTROOM OPPORTUNITIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall seek to increase 

and improve the function, cleanliness, and availability of restroom facilities for persons recreating on Federal recreational 

lands and waters, including by entering into partnerships with 

non-Federal partners, including State, Tribal, and local governments and volunteer organizations. 

(2) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit a report to 

Congress that identifies— 

(A) challenges to maintaining or improving the function, cleanliness, and availability of restroom facilities on 

Federal recreational lands and waters; 

(B) the current state of restroom facilities on Federal 

recreational lands and waters and the effect restroom facilities have on visitor experiences; and 

(C) policy recommendations that suggest innovative 

new models or partnerships to increase or improve the 

function, cleanliness, and availability of restroom facilities 

for persons recreating on Federal recreational lands and 

waters. 

SEC. 155. PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROJECTS. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR.—The term ‘‘independent 

evaluator’’ means an individual or entity, including an institution of higher education, that is selected by the pay-for-performance beneficiary and pay-for-performance investor, as 

applicable, or by the pay-for-performance project developer, in 

consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to make the 

determinations and prepare the reports required under subsection (e). 

(2) NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND.—The term ‘‘National 

Forest System land’’ means land in the National Forest System 

(as defined in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a))). 

(3) PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘payfor-performance agreement’’ means a mutual benefit agreement 

(excluding a procurement contract, grant agreement, or cooperative agreement described in chapter 63 of title 31, United 

States Code) for a pay-for-performance project— 

(A) with a term of— 

(i) not less than 1 year; and 

(ii) not more than 20 years; and 

(B) that is executed, in accordance with applicable 

law, by— 

(i) the Secretary of Agriculture; and 

(ii) a pay-for-performance beneficiary or pay-forperformance project developer. 
H. R. 6492—37 

(4) PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE BENEFICIARY.—The term ‘‘payfor-performance beneficiary’’ means a State or local government, 

an Indian Tribe, or a nonprofit or for-profit organization that— 

(A) repays capital loaned upfront by a pay-for-performance investor, based on a project outcome specified in a 

pay-for-performance agreement; or 

(B) provides capital directly for costs associated with 

a pay-for-performance project. 

(5) PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE INVESTOR.—The term ‘‘pay-forperformance investor’’ means a State or local government, an 

Indian Tribe, or a nonprofit or for-profit organization that provides upfront loaned capital for a pay-for-performance project 

with the expectation of a financial return dependent on a project 

outcome. 

(6) PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROJECT.—The term ‘‘pay-forperformance project’’ means a project that— 

(A) would provide or enhance a recreational opportunity; 

(B) is conducted on— 

(i) National Forest System land; or 

(ii) other land, if the activities would benefit 

National Forest System land (including a recreational 

use of National Forest System land); and 

(C) would use an innovative funding or financing model 

that leverages— 

(i) loaned capital from a pay-for-performance 

investor to cover upfront costs associated with a payfor-performance project, with the loaned capital repaid 

by a pay-for-performance beneficiary at a rate of return 

dependent on a project outcome, as measured by an 

independent evaluator; or 

(ii) capital directly from a pay-for-performance 

beneficiary to support costs associated with a payfor-performance project in an amount based on an 

anticipated project outcome. 

(7) PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROJECT DEVELOPER.—The term 

‘‘pay-for-performance project developer’’ means a nonprofit or 

for-profit organization that serves as an intermediary to assist 

in developing or implementing a pay-for-performance agreement or a pay-for-performance project. 

(8) PROJECT OUTCOME.—The term ‘‘project outcome’’ means 

a measurable, beneficial result (whether economic, environmental, or social) that is attributable to a pay-for-performance 

project and described in a pay-for-performance agreement. 

(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a pilot program in accordance with this 

section to carry out 1 or more pay-for-performance projects. 

(c) PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROJECTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Using funds made available through a 

pay-for-performance agreement or appropriations, all or any 

portion of a pay-for-performance project may be implemented 

by— 

(A) the Secretary of Agriculture; or 

(B) a pay-for-performance project developer or a third 

party, subject to the conditions that— 
H. R. 6492—38 

(i) the Secretary of Agriculture shall approve the 

implementation by the pay-for-performance project 

developer or third party; and 

(ii) the implementation is in accordance with 

applicable law. 

(2) RELATION TO LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS.—A pay-forperformance project carried out under this section shall be 

consistent with any applicable land management plan developed under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 

Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604). 

(3) OWNERSHIP.— 

(A) NEW IMPROVEMENTS.—The United States shall 

have title to any improvements installed on National Forest 

System land as part of a pay-for-performance project. 

(B) EXISTING IMPROVEMENTS.—Investing in, conducting, or completing a pay-for-performance project on 

National Forest System land shall not affect the title of 

the United States to— 

(i) any federally owned improvements involved in 

the pay-for-performance project; or 

(ii) the underlying land. 

(4) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—The carrying out of any action for 

a pay-for-performance project does not provide any right to 

any party to a pay-for-performance agreement. 

(5) POTENTIAL CONFLICTS.—Before approving a pay-forperformance project under this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall consider and seek to avoid potential conflicts 

(including economic competition) with any existing written 

authorized use. 

(d) PROJECT AGREEMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the Act of June 30, 1914 

(38 Stat. 430, chapter 131; 16 U.S.C. 498), or subtitle C of 

title XX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397n et seq.), 

in carrying out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may enter into a pay-for-performance 

agreement under which a pay-for-performance beneficiary, payfor-performance investor, or pay-for-performance project developer agrees to pay for or finance all or part of a pay-forperformance project. 

(2) SIZE LIMITATION.—The Secretary of Agriculture may 

not enter into a pay-for-performance agreement under the pilot 

program under this section for a pay-for-performance project 

valued at more than $15,000,000. 

(3) FINANCING.— (A) IN GENERAL.—A pay-for-performance agreement 

shall specify the amounts that a pay-for-performance beneficiary or a pay-for-performance project developer agrees 

to pay to a pay-for-performance investor or a pay-forperformance project developer, as appropriate, in the event 

of an independent evaluator determining pursuant to subsection (e) the degree to which a project outcome has been 

achieved. 

(B) ELIGIBLE PAYMENTS.—An amount described in 

subparagraph (A) shall be— 

(i) based on— 

(I) the respective contributions of the parties 

under the pay-for-performance agreement; and 
H. R. 6492—39 

(II) the economic, environmental, or social 

benefits derived from the project outcomes; and 

(ii)(I) a percentage of the estimated value of a 

project outcome; 

(II) a percentage of the estimated cost savings 

to the pay-for-performance beneficiary or the Secretary 

of Agriculture derived from a project outcome; 

(III) a percentage of the enhanced revenue to the 

pay-for-performance beneficiary or the Secretary of 

Agriculture derived from a project outcome; or 

(IV) a percentage of the cost of the pay-for-performance project. 

(C) FOREST SERVICE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—Subject 

to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Agriculture may contribute funding for a pay-for-performance 

project only if— 

(i) the Secretary of Agriculture demonstrates 

that— 

(I) the pay-for-performance project would provide a cost savings to the United States; 

(II) the funding would accelerate the pace of 

implementation of an activity previously planned 

to be completed by the Secretary of Agriculture; 

or 

(III) the funding would accelerate the scale 

of implementation of an activity previously 

planned to be completed by the Secretary of Agriculture; and 

(ii) the contribution of the Secretary of Agriculture 

has a value that is not more than 50 percent of the 

total cost of the pay-for-performance project. 

(D) SPECIAL ACCOUNT.—Any funds received by the Secretary of Agriculture under subsection (c)(1)— 

(i) shall be retained in a separate fund in the 

Treasury to be used solely for pay-for-performance 

projects; and 

(ii) shall remain available until expended and without further appropriation. 

(4) MAINTENANCE AND DECOMMISSIONING OF PAY-FORPERFORMANCE PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS.—A pay-for-performance 

agreement shall— 

(A) include a plan for maintaining any capital improvement constructed as part of a pay-for-performance project 

after the date on which the pay-for-performance project 

is completed; and 

(B) specify the party that will be responsible for 

decommissioning the improvements associated with the 

pay-for-performance project— 

(i) at the end of the useful life of the improvements; 

(ii) if the improvements no longer serve the purpose for which the improvements were developed; or 

(iii) if the pay-for-performance project fails. 

(5) TERMINATION OF PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE PROJECT AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of Agriculture may unilaterally terminate a pay-for-performance agreement, in whole or in part, 

for any program year beginning after the program year during 
H. R. 6492—40 

which the Secretary of Agriculture provides to each party to 

the pay-for-performance agreement a notice of the termination. 

(e) INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS.— 

(1) PROGRESS REPORTS.—An independent evaluator shall 

submit to the Secretary of Agriculture and each party to the 

applicable pay-for-performance agreement— 

(A) by not later than 2 years after the date on which 

the pay-for-performance agreement is executed, and at least 

once every 2 years thereafter, a written report that summarizes the progress that has been made in achieving each 

project outcome; and 

(B) before the first scheduled date for a payment 

described in subsection (d)(3)(A), and each subsequent date 

for payment, a written report that— 

(i) summarizes the results of the evaluation conducted by the independent evaluator to determine 

whether a payment should be made pursuant to the 

pay-for-performance agreement; and 

(ii) analyzes the reasons why a project outcome 

was achieved or was not achieved. 

(2) FINAL REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days after the 

date on which a pay-for-performance project is completed, the 

independent evaluator shall submit to the Secretary of Agriculture and each party to the pay-for-performance agreement 

a written report that includes, with respect to the period covered by the report— 

(A) an evaluation of the effects of the pay-for-performance project with respect to each project outcome; 

(B) a determination of whether the pay-for-performance 

project has met each project outcome; and 

(C) the amount of the payments made for the payfor-performance project pursuant to subsection (d)(3)(A). 

(f) ADDITIONAL FOREST SERVICE-PROVIDED ASSISTANCE.— 

(1) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Agriculture 

may provide technical assistance to facilitate pay-for-performance project development, such as planning, permitting, site 

preparation, and design work. 

(2) CONSULTANTS.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Agriculture may hire a contractor— 

(A) to conduct a feasibility analysis of a proposed payfor-performance project; 

(B) to assist in the development, implementation, or 

evaluation of a proposed pay-for-performance project or 

a pay-for-performance agreement; or 

(C) to assist with an environmental analysis of a proposed pay-for-performance project. 

(g) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 

approve a record of decision, decision notice, or decision memo 

for any activities to be carried out on National Forest System 

land as part of a pay-for-performance project before the Secretary 

of Agriculture may enter into a pay-for-performance agreement 

involving the applicable pay-for-performance project. 

(h) DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.— 

(1) SUNSET.—The authority to enter into a pay-for-performance agreement under this section terminates on the date that 

is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this title. 
H. R. 6492—41 

(2) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in paragraph (1) affects any 

pay-for-performance project agreement entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under this section before the date 

described in that paragraph. 

SEC. 156. OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means an 

entity or combination of entities that represents or otherwise 

serves a qualifying area. 

(2) ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘eligible 

nonprofit organization’’ means an organization that is described 

in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 

is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code. 

(3) ENTITY.—The term ‘‘entity’’ means— 

(A) a State; 

(B) a political subdivision of a State, including— 

(i) a city; 

(ii) a county; or 

(iii) a special purpose district that manages open 

space, including a park district; and 

(C) an Indian Tribe, urban Indian organization, or 

Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community or organization. 

(4) LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘low-income 

community’’ has the same meaning given that term in 26 U.S.C. 

45D(e)(1). 

(5) OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.— 

The term ‘‘Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program’’ 

means the program codified under subsection (b)(1). 

(6) QUALIFYING AREA.—The term ‘‘qualifying area’’ means— 

(A) an urbanized area or urban cluster that has a 

population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census; 

(B) 2 or more adjacent urban clusters with a combined 

population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census; 

or 

(C) an area administered by an Indian Tribe or an 

Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization. 

(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 

(1) CODIFICATION OF PROGRAM.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—There is established an existing program, to be known as the ‘‘Outdoor Recreation Legacy 

Partnership Program’’, under which the Secretary may 

award grants to eligible entities for projects— 

(i) to acquire land and water for parks and other 

outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas; and 

(ii) to develop new or renovate existing outdoor 

recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation 

opportunities to the public in qualifying areas. 

(B) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants to eligible entities 

under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority 

to projects that— 

(i) create or significantly enhance access to park 

and recreational opportunities in a qualifying area; 

(ii) engage and empower low-income communities 

and youth; 
H. R. 6492—42 

(iii) provide employment or job training opportunities for youth or low-income communities; 

(iv) establish or expand public-private partnerships, with a focus on leveraging resources; and 

(v) take advantage of coordination among various 

levels of government. 

(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receiving a grant 

under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall provide 

matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than 100 percent 

of the amounts made available under the grant. 

(B) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more than 7 percent of funds provided to an eligible entity under a grant 

awarded under paragraph (1) may be used for administrative expenses. 

(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In awarding grants to eligible entities under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the extent 

to which a project would— 

(A) provide recreation opportunities in low-income 

communities in which access to parks is not adequate to 

meet local needs; 

(B) provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and 

public land volunteerism; 

(C) support innovative or cost-effective ways to enhance 

parks and other recreation— 

(i) opportunities; or 

(ii) delivery of services; 

(D) support park and recreation programming provided 

by local governments, including cooperative agreements 

with community-based eligible nonprofit organizations; 

(E) develop Native American event sites and cultural 

gathering spaces; 

(F) provide benefits such as community resilience, 

reduction of urban heat islands, enhanced water or air 

quality, or habitat for fish or wildlife; and 

(G) facilitate any combination of purposes listed in 

subparagraphs (A) through (F). 

(4) ELIGIBLE USES.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), an 

eligible entity may use a grant awarded under paragraph 

(1) for a project described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of 

that paragraph. 

(B) LIMITATIONS ON USE.—An eligible entity may not 

use grant funds for— 

(i) incidental costs related to land acquisition, 

including appraisal and titling; 

(ii) operation and maintenance activities; 

(iii) facilities that support semiprofessional or 

professional athletics; 

(iv) indoor facilities, such as recreation centers 

or facilities that support primarily nonoutdoor purposes; or 

(v) acquisition of land or interests in land that 

restrict public access. 

(C) CONVERSION TO OTHER THAN PUBLIC OUTDOOR

RECREATION USE.— 
H. R. 6492—43 

(i) IN GENERAL.—No property acquired or developed with assistance under this section shall, without 

the approval of the Secretary, be converted to other 

than public outdoor recreation use. 

(ii) CONDITION FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall 

approve a conversion only if the Secretary finds it 

to be in accordance with the then-existing comprehensive Statewide outdoor recreation plan and only on 

such conditions as the Secretary considers necessary 

to ensure the substitution of other recreation properties 

of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably 

equivalent usefulness and location. 

(iii) WETLAND AREAS AND INTERESTS THEREIN.— 

Wetland areas and interests therein as identified in 

the wetlands provisions of the comprehensive plan and 

proposed to be acquired as suitable replacement property within the same State that is otherwise acceptable 

to the Secretary, acting through the Director of the 

National Park Service, shall be deemed to be of reasonably equivalent usefulness with the property proposed 

for conversion. 

(c) REVIEW AND EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out 

the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, the Secretary 

shall— 

(1) conduct an initial screening and technical review of 

applications received; 

(2) evaluate and score all qualifying applications; and 

(3) provide culturally and linguistically appropriate 

information to eligible entities (including low-income communities and eligible entities serving low-income communities) 

on— 

(A) the opportunity to apply for grants under this 

section; 

(B) the application procedures by which eligible entities 

may apply for grants under this section; and 

(C) eligible uses for grants under this section. 

(d) REPORTING.— (1) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 30 days after the 

last day of each report period, each State-lead agency that 

receives a grant under this section shall annually submit to 

the Secretary performance and financial reports that— 

(A) summarize project activities conducted during the 

report period; and 

(B) provide the status of the project. 

(2) FINAL REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after the earlier 

of the date of expiration of a project period or the completion 

of a project, each State-lead agency that receives a grant under 

this section shall submit to the Secretary a final report containing such information as the Secretary may require. 

SEC. 157. AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 308101 of title 54, United States 

Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘§ 308101. Definitions 

‘‘In this chapter: 
H. R. 6492—44 

‘‘(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary, acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program. 

‘‘(2) BATTLEFIELD REPORTS.—The term ‘Battlefield Reports’ 

means, collectively— 

‘‘(A) the document entitled ‘Report on the Nation’s 

Civil War Battlefields’, prepared by the Civil War Sites 

Advisory Commission, and dated July 1993; and 

‘‘(B) the document entitled ‘Report to Congress on the 

Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 

1812 Sites in the United States’, prepared by the National 

Park Service, and dated September 2007.’’. 

(b) PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE.—Section 308102(a) of title 54, 

United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Federal’’ and all that 

follows through ‘‘organizations’’ and inserting ‘‘Federal agencies, 

States, Tribes, local governments, other public entities, educational 

institutions, and nonprofit organizations’’. 

(c) BATTLEFIELD LAND ACQUISITION GRANTS IMPROVEMENTS.— 

Section 308103 of title 54, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) ELIGIBLE SITE DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘eligible 

site’— 

‘‘(1) means a site that— 

‘‘(A) is not within the exterior boundaries of a unit 

of the National Park System; and 

‘‘(B) is identified in the Battlefield Reports as a battlefield; and 

‘‘(2) excludes sites identified in the Battlefield Reports as 

associated historic sites.’’; 

(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘State and local governments’’ and inserting ‘‘States, Tribes, local governments, and 

nonprofit organizations’’; 

(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘State or local government’’ 

and inserting ‘‘State, Tribe, or local government’’; and 

(4) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘under this section’’ and 

inserting ‘‘under this section, including by States, Tribes, local 

governments, and nonprofit organizations,’’. 

(d) BATTLEFIELD RESTORATION GRANTS IMPROVEMENTS.—Section 308105 of title 54, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a battlefield restoration grant program (referred to in this section as the 

‘program’) under which the Secretary may provide grants to States, 

Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for projects 

that restore day-of-battle conditions on— 

‘‘(1) land preserved and protected under the battlefield 

acquisition grant program established under section 308103(b); 

or 

‘‘(2) battlefield land that is— 

‘‘(A) owned by a State, Tribe, local government, or 

nonprofit organization; and 

‘‘(B) referred to in the Battlefield Reports.’’; and 

(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE SITES.—The Secretary may make grants under 

this section for Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War 

battlefield sites— 
H. R. 6492—45 

‘‘(1) eligible for assistance under the battlefield acquisition 

grant program established under section 308103(b); or 

‘‘(2) on battlefield land that is— 

‘‘(A) owned by a State, Tribe, local government, or 

nonprofit organization; and 

‘‘(B) referred to in battlefield reports.’’. 

(e) UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS.—Chapter 3081 of title 54, 

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 308106. Updates and improvements to Battlefield Reports 

‘‘Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of 

this section, and every 10 years thereafter, the Secretary shall 

submit to Congress a report that updates the Battlefield Reports 

to reflect— 

‘‘(1) preservation activities carried out at the battlefields 

in the period since the publication of the most recent Battlefield 

Reports update; 

‘‘(2) changes in the condition, including core and study 

areas, of the battlefields during that period; and 

‘‘(3) any other relevant developments relating to the battlefields during that period.’’. 

(f) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter 

3081 of title 54, United States Code, is amended as follows: 

(1) By amending the item relating to section 308101 to 

read as follows: ‘‘308101. Definitions.’’. 

(2) By adding at the end the following: ‘‘308106. Updates 

and improvements to Battlefield Reports.’’. 

TITLE II—ACCESS AMERICA 

SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) ACCESSIBLE TRAIL.—The term ‘‘accessible trail’’ means 

a trail that meets the requirements for a trail under the 

Architectural Barriers Act accessibility guidelines. 

(2) ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS ACT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES.—The term ‘‘Architectural Barriers Act accessibility 

guidelines’’ means the accessibility guidelines set forth in 

appendices C and D to part 1191 of title 36, Code of Federal 

Regulations (or successor regulations). 

(3) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘assistive technology’’ means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, 

whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that 

is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities 

of individuals with disabilities, particularly with participating 

in outdoor recreation activities. 

(4) GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMBER.—The term ‘‘Gold Star 

Family member’’ means an individual described in section 3.3 

of Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36. 

(5) OUTDOOR CONSTRUCTED FEATURE.—The term ‘‘outdoor 

constructed feature’’ has the meaning given such term in 

appendix C to part 1191 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations 

(or successor regulations). 

(6) VETERANS ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘veterans 

organization’’ means a service provider with outdoor recreation 
H. R. 6492—46 

experience that serves members of the Armed Forces, veterans, 

or Gold Star Family members. 

Subtitle A—Access for People With 

Disabilities 

SEC. 211. ACCESSIBLE RECREATION INVENTORY. 

(a) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 5 years after the date of 

the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall— 

(1) carry out a comprehensive assessment of outdoor recreation facilities on Federal recreational lands and waters under 

the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary concerned to determine the accessibility of such outdoor recreation facilities, consistent with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 

4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 

U.S.C. 794), including— 

(A) camp shelters, camping facilities, and camping 

units; 

(B) boat launch ramps; 

(C) hunting, fishing, shooting, or archery ranges or 

locations; 

(D) outdoor constructed features; 

(E) picnic facilities and picnic units; and 

(F) any other outdoor recreation facilities, as determined by the Secretary concerned; and 

(2) make information about such opportunities available 

(including through the use of prominently displayed links) on 

public websites of— 

(A) each of the Federal land management agencies; 

and 

(B) each relevant unit and subunit of the Federal land 

management agencies. 

(b) INCLUSION OF CURRENT ASSESSMENTS.—As part of the comprehensive assessment required under subsection (a)(1), to the 

extent practicable, the Secretary concerned may rely on assessments 

completed or data gathered prior to the date of the enactment 

of this title. 

(c) PUBLIC INFORMATION.—Not later than 7 years after the 

date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall 

identify opportunities to create, update, or replace signage and 

other publicly available information, including web page information, related to accessibility and consistent with the Architectural 

Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 504 

of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794) at outdoor recreation 

facilities covered by the assessment required under subsection (a)(1). 

SEC. 212. TRAIL INVENTORY. 

(a) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 7 years after the date of 

the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall— 

(1) conduct a comprehensive assessment of high-priority 

trails, in accordance with subsection (b), on Federal recreational 

lands and waters under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary concerned, including measuring each trail’s— 

(A) average and minimum tread width; 

(B) average and maximum running slope; 

(C) average and maximum cross slope; 
H. R. 6492—47 

(D) tread type; and 

(E) length; and 

(2) make information about such high-priority trails available (including through the use of prominently displayed links) 

on public websites of— 

(A) each of the Federal land management agencies; 

and 

(B) each relevant unit and subunit of the Federal land 

management agencies. 

(b) SELECTION.—The Secretary concerned shall select high-priority trails to be assessed under subsection (a)(1)— 

(1) in consultation with stakeholders, including veterans 

organizations and organizations with expertise or experience 

providing outdoor recreation opportunities to individuals with 

disabilities; 

(2) in a geographically equitable manner; and 

(3) in no fewer than 15 units or subunits managed by 

the Secretary concerned. 

(c) INCLUSION OF CURRENT ASSESSMENTS.—As part of the 

assessment required under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary concerned may, to the extent practicable, rely on assessments completed or data gathered prior to the date of the enactment of 

this title. 

(d) PUBLIC INFORMATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 7 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall 

identify opportunities to replace signage and other publicly 

available information, including web page information, related 

to such high-priority trails and consistent with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 

504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794) at high-priority 

trails covered by the assessment required under subsection 

(a)(1). 

(2) TREAD OBSTACLES.—As part of the assessment required 

under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary may, to the extent practicable, include photographs or descriptions of tread obstacles 

and barriers. 

(e) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIFICATION.—In publishing 

information about each trail under this subsection, the Secretary 

concerned shall make public information about trails that do not 

meet the Architectural Barriers Act accessibility guidelines but 

could otherwise provide outdoor recreation opportunities to individuals with disabilities through the use of certain assistive technology. 

SEC. 213. TRAIL PILOT PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 

the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall carry 

out a pilot program to enter into partnerships with eligible entities 

to— 

(1) measure high-priority trails as part of the assessment 

required under section 212; 

(2) develop accessible trails under section 214; and 

(3) make minor modifications to existing trails to enhance 

recreational experiences for individuals with disabilities using 

assistive technology— 
H. R. 6492—48 

(A) in compliance with all applicable land use and 

management plans of the Federal recreational lands and 

waters on which the accessible trail is located; and 

(B) in consultation with stakeholders, including veterans organizations and organizations with expertise or 

experience providing outdoor recreation opportunities to 

individuals with disabilities. 

(b) LOCATIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall select no 

fewer than 5 units or subunits under the jurisdiction of the 

respective Secretary concerned to carry out the pilot program 

established under subsection (a). 

(2) SPECIAL RULE OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT

OF THE INTERIOR.—In selecting the locations of the pilot program, the Secretary shall ensure that the pilot program is 

carried out in at least one unit managed by the— 

(A) National Park Service; 

(B) Bureau of Land Management; and 

(C) United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 

(c) SUNSET.—The pilot program established under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title. 

SEC. 214. ACCESSIBLE TRAILS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 

enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall select a location or locations to develop at least 3 new accessible trails— 

(1) on National Forest System lands in each region of 

the Forest Service; 

(2) on land managed by the National Park Service in each 

region of the National Park Service; 

(3) on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management 

in each region of the Bureau of Land Management; and 

(4) on land managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service in each region of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service. 

(b) DEVELOPMENT.—In developing an accessible trail under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned— 

(1) may— 

(A) create a new accessible trail; 

(B) modify an existing trail into an accessible trail; 

or 

(C) create an accessible trail from a combination of 

new and existing trails; and 

(2) shall— 

(A) consult with stakeholders with respect to the feasibility and resources necessary for completing the accessible 

trail; 

(B) ensure the accessible trail complies with the 

Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) 

and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794); 

and 

(C) to the extent practicable, ensure that outdoor constructed features supporting the accessible trail, including 

trail bridges, parking spaces, and restroom facilities, meet 

the requirements of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 
H. R. 6492—49 

(42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794). 

(c) COMPLETION.—Not later than 7 years after the date of 

the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned, in coordination 

with stakeholders described under subsection (b)(2), shall complete 

each accessible trail developed under subsection (a). 

(d) MAPS, SIGNAGE, AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS.—For each 

accessible trail developed under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall— 

(1) publish and distribute maps and install signage, consistent with Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 accessibility 

guidelines and section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 

794d); and 

(2) coordinate with stakeholders to leverage any non-Federal resources necessary for the development, stewardship, 

completion, or promotion of the accessible trail. 

(e) CONFLICT AVOIDANCE WITH OTHER USES.—In developing 

each accessible trail under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned 

shall ensure that the accessible trail— 

(1) minimizes conflict with— 

(A) the uses in effect before the date of the enactment 

of this title with respect to any trail that is part of that 

accessible trail; 

(B) multiple-use areas where biking, hiking, horseback 

riding, off-highway vehicle recreation, or use by pack and 

saddle stock are existing uses on the date of the enactment 

of this title; or 

(C) the purposes for which any trail is established 

under the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 

et seq.); and 

(2) complies with all applicable land use and management 

plans of the Federal recreational lands and waters on which 

the accessible trail is located. 

(f) REPORTS.— 

(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the 

date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned, 

in coordination with stakeholders and other interested 

organizations, shall prepare and publish an interim report that 

lists the accessible trails developed under this section during 

the previous 3 years. 

(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 7 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned, in 

coordination with stakeholders and other interested organizations, shall prepare and publish a final report that lists the 

accessible trails developed under this section. 

SEC. 215. ACCESSIBLE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 

enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall select a location to develop at least 2 new accessible recreation opportunities— 

(1) on National Forest System lands in each region of 

the Forest Service; 

(2) on land managed by the National Park Service in each 

region of the National Park Service; 

(3) on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management 

in each region of the Bureau of Land Management; and 
H. R. 6492—50 

(4) on land managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service in each region of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service. 

(b) DEVELOPMENT.—In developing an accessible recreation 

opportunity under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned— 

(1) may— 

(A) create a new accessible recreation opportunity; or 

(B) modify an existing recreation opportunity into an 

accessible recreation opportunity; and 

(2) shall— 

(A) consult with stakeholders with respect to the feasibility and resources necessary for completing the accessible 

recreation opportunity; 

(B) ensure the accessible recreation opportunity complies with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 

4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 

(29 U.S.C. 794); and 

(C) to the extent practicable, ensure that outdoor constructed features supporting the accessible recreation 

opportunity, including trail bridges, parking spaces and 

restroom facilities, meet the requirements of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794). 

(c) ACCESSIBLE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.—The accessible 

recreation opportunities developed under subsection (a) may include 

improving accessibility or access to— 

(1) camp shelters, camping facilities, and camping units; 

(2) hunting, fishing, shooting, or archery ranges or locations; 

(3) snow activities, including skiing and snowboarding; 

(4) water activities, including kayaking, paddling, canoeing, 

and boat launch ramps; 

(5) rock climbing; 

(6) biking; 

(7) off-highway vehicle recreation; 

(8) picnic facilities and picnic units; 

(9) outdoor constructed features; and 

(10) any other new or existing recreation opportunities 

identified in consultation with stakeholders under subsection 

(b)(2) and consistent with the applicable land management 

plan. 

(d) COMPLETION.—Not later than 7 years after the date of 

the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned, in coordination 

with stakeholders consulted with under subsection (b)(2), shall complete each accessible recreation opportunity developed under subsection (a). 

(e) MAPS, SIGNAGE, AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS.—For each 

accessible recreation opportunity developed under subsection (a), 

the Secretary concerned shall— 

(1) publish and distribute maps and install signage, consistent with Architectural Barriers Act accessibility guidelines 

and section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d); 

and 

(2) coordinate with stakeholders to leverage any non-Federal resources necessary for the development, stewardship, 

completion, or promotion of the accessible trail. 
H. R. 6492—51 

(f) CONFLICT AVOIDANCE WITH OTHER USES.—In developing 

each accessible recreation opportunity under subsection (a), the 

Secretary concerned shall ensure that the accessible recreation 

opportunity— 

(1) minimizes conflict with— 

(A) the uses in effect before the date of the enactment 

of this title with respect to any Federal recreational lands 

and waters on which the accessible recreation opportunity 

is located; or 

(B) multiple-use areas in existence on the date of the 

enactment of this title; and 

(2) complies with all applicable land use and management 

plans of the Federal recreational lands and waters on which 

the accessible recreational opportunity is located. 

(g) REPORTS.— 

(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the 

date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned, 

in coordination with stakeholders and other interested 

organizations, shall prepare and publish an interim report that 

lists the accessible recreation opportunities developed under 

this section during the previous 3 years. 

(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 7 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned, in 

coordination with stakeholders and other interested organizations, shall prepare and publish a final report that lists the 

accessible recreation opportunities developed under this section. 

SEC. 216. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. 

In carrying out this subtitle, the Secretary concerned may 

enter into partnerships, contracts, or agreements with other Federal, State, Tribal, local, or private entities, including existing outfitting and guiding services, to make assistive technology available 

on Federal recreational lands and waters. 

SEC. 217. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 

Nothing in the subtitle shall be construed to create any conflicting standards with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 

U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 

(29 U.S.C. 794). 

Subtitle B—Military and Veterans in Parks 

SEC. 221. PROMOTION OF OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR MILITARY 

SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS. 

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of 

this title, the Secretary concerned, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, shall 

develop educational and public awareness materials to disseminate 

to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, including through 

preseparation counseling of the Transition Assistance Program 

under chapter 1142 of title 10, United States Code, on— 

(1) opportunities for members of the Armed Forces and 

veterans to access Federal recreational lands and waters free 

of charge under section 805 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6804); 
H. R. 6492—52 

(2) the availability and location of accessible trails, 

including new accessible trails developed and completed under 

section 214; 

(3) the availability and location of accessible recreation 

opportunities, including new accessible recreation opportunities 

developed and completed under section 215; 

(4) access to, and assistance with, assistive technology; 

(5) outdoor-related volunteer and wellness programs; 

(6) the benefits of outdoor recreation for physical and 

mental health; 

(7) resources to access guided outdoor trips and other outdoor programs connected to the Department of Defense, the 

Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of the Interior, 

or the Department of Agriculture; and 

(8) programs and jobs focused on continuing national 

service such as Public Land Corps, AmeriCorps, and conservation corps programs. 

SEC. 222. MILITARY VETERANS OUTDOOR RECREATION LIAISONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 

enactment of this title, the Secretaries and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each establish within their Departments the 

position of Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaison. 

(b) DUTIES.—The Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaison 

shall— 

(1) coordinate the implementation of this subtitle; 

(2) implement recommendations identified by the Task 

Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans established under 

section 203 of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access 

to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–214), 

including recommendations related to— 

(A) identifying new opportunities to formalize coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and 

partner organizations regarding the use of Federal recreational lands and waters for facilitating health and 

wellness for veterans; 

(B) addressing identified barriers that exist to providing veterans with opportunities to augment the delivery 

of services for health and wellness through the use of 

outdoor recreation on Federal recreational lands and 

waters; and 

(C) facilitating the use of Federal recreational lands 

and waters for promoting wellness and facilitating the 

delivery of health care and therapeutic interventions for 

veterans; 

(3) coordinate with Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation 

Liaisons at other Federal agencies and veterans organizations; 

and 

(4) promote outdoor recreation experiences for veterans 

on Federal recreational lands and waters through new and 

innovative approaches. 

SEC. 223. PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE MILITARY AND VETERAN 

RECREATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall seek to enter 

into partnerships or agreements with State, Tribal, local, or private 

entities with expertise in outdoor recreation, volunteer, accessibility, 
H. R. 6492—53 

and health and wellness programs for members of the Armed Forces 

or veterans. 

(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—As part of a partnership or agreement 

entered into under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may 

host events on Federal recreational lands and waters designed 

to promote outdoor recreation among members of the Armed Forces 

and veterans. 

(c) FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Under a partnership or agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the 

Secretary concerned may provide financial or technical assistance 

to the entity with which the respective Secretary concerned has 

entered into the partnership or agreement to assist with— 

(1) the planning, development, and execution of events, 

activities, or programs designed to promote outdoor recreation 

for members of the Armed Forces or veterans; or 

(2) the acquisition of assistive technology to facilitate 

improved outdoor recreation opportunities for members of the 

Armed Forces or veterans. 

SEC. 224. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN RECREATION. 

(a) STRATEGY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 

enactment of this title, the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor 

Recreation established under section 113 shall develop and make 

public a strategy to increase visits to Federal recreational lands 

and waters by members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold 

Star Family members. 

(b) REQUIREMENTS.—A strategy developed under subsection 

(a)— 

(1) shall— 

(A) establish objectives and quantifiable targets for 

increasing visits to Federal recreational lands and waters 

by members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star 

Family members; 

(B) include an opportunity for public notice and comment; 

(C) emphasize increased recreation opportunities on 

Federal recreational lands and waters for members of the 

Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Family members; 

and 

(D) provide the anticipated costs to achieve the objectives and meet the targets established under subparagraph 

(A); and 

(2) shall not establish any preference between similar recreation facilitated by noncommercial or commercial entities. 

(c) UPDATE TO STRATEGY.—Not later than 5 years after the 

date of the publication of the strategy required under subsection 

(a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Federal Interagency Council 

on Outdoor Recreation shall update the strategy and make public 

the update. 

SEC. 225. RECREATION RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 

Section 804(d) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement 

Act (16 U.S.C. 6803(d)), is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ‘‘11’’ and inserting ‘‘12’’; 

and 

(2) in paragraph (5)(D)(ii)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘Three’’ and inserting ‘‘Four’’; and 
H. R. 6492—54 

(B) after subclause (III), by inserting the following: 

‘‘(IV) Veterans organizations, as such term is 

defined in section 201 of the EXPLORE Act.’’; and 

(3) in paragraph (8) by striking ‘‘Eight’’ and inserting ‘‘Six’’. 

SEC. 226. CAREER AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS. 

(a) VETERAN HIRING.—The Secretaries are strongly encouraged 

to hire veterans in all positions related to the management of 

Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(b) PILOT PROGRAM.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consultation with 

the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment 

and Training and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a pilot program under which veterans are employed by 

the Federal Government in positions that relate to the conservation and resource management activities of the Department 

of the Interior. 

(2) POSITIONS.—The Secretary shall— 

(A) identify vacant positions in the Department of the 

Interior that are appropriate to fill using the pilot program; 

and 

(B) to the extent practicable, fill such positions using 

the pilot program. 

(3) APPLICATION OF CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.—A veteran 

employed under the pilot program shall be treated as an 

employee as defined by section 2105 of title 5, United States 

Code. 

(4) BRIEFINGS AND REPORT.— 

(A) INITIAL BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after 

the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary and 

the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment 

and Training shall jointly provide to the appropriate 

congressional committees a briefing on the pilot program 

under this subsection, which shall include— 

(i) a description of how the pilot program will 

be carried out in a manner to reduce the unemployment 

of veterans; and 

(ii) any recommendations for legislative actions to 

improve the pilot program. 

(B) IMPLEMENTATION BRIEFING.—Not later than 1 year 

after the date on which the pilot program under subsection 

(a) commences, the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary 

of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall 

jointly provide to the appropriate congressional committees 

a briefing on the implementation of the pilot program. 

(C) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the 

date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) terminates under paragraph (5), the Secretary and the Assistant 

Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training 

shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report on the pilot program that includes 

the following: 

(i) The number of veterans who applied to participate in the pilot program. 

(ii) The number of such veterans employed under 

the pilot program. 
H. R. 6492—55 

(iii) The number of veterans identified in clause 

(ii) who transitioned to full-time positions with the 

Federal Government after participating in the pilot 

program. 

(iv) Any other information the Secretary and the 

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment 

and Training determine appropriate with respect to 

measuring the effectiveness of the pilot program. 

(5) DURATION.—The authority to carry out the pilot program under this subsection shall terminate on the date that 

is 2 years after the date on which the pilot program commences. 

(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.—In 

this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 

means— 

(1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee 

on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and 

(2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee 

on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. 

(d) OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAM ATTENDANCE.—Each Secretary of a military department is encouraged to allow members 

of the Armed Forces on active duty status to participate in programs 

related to environmental stewardship or guided outdoor recreation. 

Subtitle C—Youth Access 

SEC. 231. INCREASING YOUTH RECREATION VISITS TO FEDERAL LAND. 

(a) STRATEGY.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the 

enactment of this title, the Secretaries, acting jointly, shall develop 

and make public a strategy to increase the number of youth recreation visits to Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(b) REQUIREMENTS.—A strategy developed under subsection 

(a)— 

(1) shall— 

(A) emphasize increased recreation opportunities on 

Federal recreational lands and waters for underserved 

youth; 

(B) establish objectives and quantifiable targets for 

increasing youth recreation visits; and 

(C) provide the anticipated costs to achieve the objectives and meet the targets established under subparagraph 

(B); and 

(2) shall not establish any preference between similar recreation facilitated by noncommercial or commercial entities. 

(c) UPDATE TO STRATEGY.—Not later than 5 years after the 

date of the publication of the strategy required under subsection 

(a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretaries shall update 

the strategy and make public the update. 

(d) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretaries may enter into contracts 

or cost-share agreements (including contracts or agreements for 

the acquisition of vehicles) to carry out this section. 

SEC. 232. EVERY KID OUTDOORS ACT EXTENSION. 

Section 9001(b) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, 

Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘during the period 

beginning on September 1 and ending on August 31 of the 
H. R. 6492—56 

following year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a 12-month period that begins 

on a date determined by the Secretaries’’; and 

(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘the date that is 7 years 

after the date of enactment of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2031’’. 

TITLE III—SIMPLIFYING OUTDOOR 

ACCESS FOR RECREATION 

SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 

In this title: 

(1) COMMERCIAL USE AUTHORIZATION.—The term ‘‘commercial use authorization’’ means a commercial use authorization 

to provide services to visitors to units of the National Park 

System under subchapter II of chapter 1019 of title 54, United 

States Code. 

(2) MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TRIP.—The term ‘‘multijurisdictional trip’’ means a trip that— 

(A) uses 2 or more units of Federal recreational lands 

and waters; and 

(B) is under the jurisdiction of 2 or more Federal 

land management agencies. 

(3) RECREATION SERVICE PROVIDER.—The term ‘‘recreation 

service provider’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by section 311). 

(4) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT.—The term ‘‘special recreation permit’’ has the meaning given the term in section 802 

of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 

6801) (as amended by section 311). 

(5) VISITOR-USE DAY.—The term ‘‘visitor-use day’’ means 

a visitor-use day, user day, launch, or other metric used by 

the Secretary concerned for purposes of authorizing use under 

a special recreation permit. 

Subtitle A—Modernizing Recreation 

Permitting 

SEC. 311. SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT AND FEE. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) is amended— 

(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘this 

Act’’ and inserting ‘‘this title’’; 

(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘section 3(f)’’ and inserting 

‘‘section 803(f)’’; 

(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘section 3(g)’’ and inserting 

‘‘section 803(g)’’; 

(4) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘section 5’’ and inserting 

‘‘section 805’’; 

(5) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘section 5’’ and inserting 

‘‘section 805’’; 

(6) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘section 7’’ and inserting 

‘‘section 807’’; 
H. R. 6492—57 

(7) in paragraph (13), by striking ‘‘section 3(h)’’ and 

inserting ‘‘section 803(h)(2)’’; 

(8) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), 

(8), (9), (10), (11), and (13) as paragraphs (15), (1), (3), (4), 

(5), (6), (7), (8), (11), (10), and (14), respectively, and arranging 

the paragraphs (as so redesignated) to appear in numerical 

order; 

(9) by inserting after paragraph (8) (as so redesignated) 

the following: 

‘‘(9) RECREATION SERVICE PROVIDER.—The term ‘recreation 

service provider’ means a person that provides recreational 

services to the public under a special recreation permit under 

clause (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (13)(A).’’; 

(10) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following: 

‘‘(13) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘special recreation permit’ 

means a permit issued by a Federal land management 

agency for the use of Federal recreational lands and 

waters— 

‘‘(i) for a specialized recreational use not described 

in clause (ii), (iii), or (iv), such as— 

‘‘(I) an organizational camp; 

‘‘(II) a single event that does not require an 

entry or participation fee that is not strictly a 

sharing of expenses for the purposes of the event; 

and 

‘‘(III) participation by the public in a recreation 

activity or recreation use of a specific area of Federal recreational lands and waters in which use 

by the public is allocated; 

‘‘(ii) for a large-group activity or event of 75 participants or more; 

‘‘(iii) for— 

‘‘(I) at the discretion of the Secretary, a single 

organized group recreation activity or event 

(including an activity or event in which motorized 

recreational vehicles are used or in which outfitting and guiding services are used) that— 

‘‘(aa) is a structured or scheduled event 

or activity; 

‘‘(bb) is not competitive and is for fewer 

than 75 participants; 

‘‘(cc) may charge an entry or participation 

fee; 

‘‘(dd) involves fewer than 200 visitor-use 

days; and 

‘‘(ee) is undertaken or provided by the 

recreation service provider at the same site 

not more frequently than 3 times a year; 

‘‘(II) a single competitive event; or 

‘‘(III) at the discretion of the Secretary, a 

recurring organized group recreation activity 

(including an outfitting and guiding activity) 

that— 

‘‘(aa) is a structured or scheduled activity; 

‘‘(bb) is not competitive; 

‘‘(cc) may charge a participation fee; 
H. R. 6492—58 

‘‘(dd) occurs in a group size of fewer than 

7 participants; 

‘‘(ee) involves fewer than 40 visitor-use 

days; and 

‘‘(ff) is undertaken or provided by the 

recreation service provider for a term of not 

more than 180 days; or 

‘‘(iv) for— 

‘‘(I) a recurring outfitting, guiding, or, at the 

discretion of the Secretary, other recreation 

service, the authorization for which is for a term 

of not more than 10 years; or 

‘‘(II) a recurring outfitting, guiding, or, at the 

discretion of the Secretary, other recreation 

service, that occurs under a temporary special 

recreation permit authorized under section 316 of 

the EXPLORE Act. 

‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘special recreation permit’ 

does not include— 

‘‘(i) a concession contract for the provision of accommodations, facilities, or services; 

‘‘(ii) a commercial use authorization issued under 

section 101925 of title 54, United States Code; or 

‘‘(iii) any other type of permit, including a special 

use permit administered by the National Park 

Service.’’; and 

(11) by inserting at the end the following: 

‘‘(16) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of the several 

States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the 

United States.’’. 

(b) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS AND FEES.—Section 803 of 

the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) 

is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘this Act’’ each place it appears and inserting 

‘‘this title’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ‘‘section 4(d)’’ and 

inserting ‘‘section 804(d)’’; and 

(3) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(h) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS AND FEES.— 

‘‘(1) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS.— 

‘‘(A) APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary— 

‘‘(i) may develop and make available to the public 

an application to obtain a special recreation permit 

described in clause (i) of section 802(13)(A); and 

‘‘(ii) shall develop and make available to the public 

an application to obtain a special recreation permit 

described in each of clauses (ii) through (iv) of section 

802(13)(A). 

‘‘(B) ISSUANCE OF PERMITS.—On review of a completed 

application developed under subparagraph (A), as 

applicable, and a determination by the Secretary that the 

applicant is eligible for the special recreation permit, the 

Secretary may issue to the applicant a special recreation 

permit, subject to any terms and conditions that are determined to be necessary by the Secretary. 

‘‘(C) INCIDENTAL SALES.—A special recreation permit 

issued under this paragraph may include an authorization 
H. R. 6492—59 

for sales that are incidental in nature to the permitted 

use of the Federal recreational lands and waters, except 

where otherwise prohibited by law. 

‘‘(2) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT FEES.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may charge a special 

recreation permit fee for the issuance of a special recreation 

permit in accordance with this paragraph. 

‘‘(B) PREDETERMINED SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT

FEES.— 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subparagraphs 

(D) and (E) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall establish and may charge a predetermined fee, described 

in clause (ii) of this subparagraph, for a special recreation permit described in clause (iii) or (iv) of section 

802(13)(A) for a specific type of use on a unit of Federal 

recreational lands and waters, consistent with the criteria set forth in clause (iii) of this subparagraph. 

‘‘(ii) TYPE OF FEE.—A predetermined fee described 

in clause (i) shall be— 

‘‘(I) a fixed fee that is assessed per special 

recreation permit, including a fee with an associated size limitation or other criteria as determined 

to be appropriate by the Secretary; or 

‘‘(II) an amount assessed per visitor-use day. 

‘‘(iii) CRITERIA.—A predetermined fee under clause 

(i) shall— 

‘‘(I) have been established before the date of 

the enactment of the EXPLORE Act; 

‘‘(II) be established after the date of the enactment of the EXPLORE Act, in accordance with 

subsection (b); 

‘‘(III)(aa) be established after the date of the 

enactment of the EXPLORE Act; and 

‘‘(bb) be comparable to an amount described 

in subparagraph (D)(ii) or (E)(ii), as applicable; 

or 

‘‘(IV) beginning on the date that is 2 years 

after the date of the enactment of the EXPLORE 

Act, be $6 per visitor-use day in instances in which 

the Secretary has not established a predetermined 

fee under subclause (I), (II), or (III). 

‘‘(C) CALCULATION OF FEES FOR SPECIALIZED RECREATIONAL USES AND LARGE-GROUP ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS.— 

The Secretary may, at the discretion of the Secretary, 

establish and charge a fee for a special recreation permit 

described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 802(13)(A). 

‘‘(D) CALCULATION OF FEES FOR SINGLE ORGANIZED

GROUP RECREATION ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS, COMPETITIVE

EVENTS, AND CERTAIN RECURRING ORGANIZED GROUP RECREATION ACTIVITIES.—If the Secretary elects to charge a fee 

for a special recreation permit described in section 

802(13)(A)(iii), the Secretary shall charge the recreation 

service provider, based on the election of the recreation 

service provider— 

‘‘(i) the applicable predetermined fee established 

under subparagraph (B); or 
H. R. 6492—60 

‘‘(ii) an amount equal to a percentage of, to be 

determined by the Secretary, but to not to exceed 5 

percent of, adjusted gross receipts calculated under 

subparagraph (F). 

‘‘(E) CALCULATION OF FEES FOR TEMPORARY PERMITS

AND LONG-TERM PERMITS.—Subject to subparagraph (G), 

if the Secretary elects to charge a fee for a special recreation 

permit described in section 802(13)(A)(iv), the Secretary 

shall charge the recreation service provider, based on the 

election of the recreation service provider— 

‘‘(i) the applicable predetermined fee established 

under subparagraph (B); or 

‘‘(ii) an amount equal to a percentage of, to be 

determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed 3 percent of, adjusted gross receipts calculated under 

subparagraph (F). 

‘‘(F) ADJUSTED GROSS RECEIPTS.—For the purposes of 

subparagraphs (D)(ii) and (E)(ii), the Secretary shall calculate the adjusted gross receipts collected for each trip 

or event authorized under a special recreation permit, using 

either of the following calculations, based on the election 

of the recreation service provider: 

‘‘(i) The sum of— 

‘‘(I) the product obtained by multiplying— 

‘‘(aa) the general amount paid by participants of the trip or event to the recreation 

service provider for the applicable trip or event 

(excluding amounts related to goods, souvenirs, merchandise, gear, and additional food 

provided or sold by the recreation service provider); and 

‘‘(bb) the quotient obtained by dividing— 

‘‘(AA) the number of days of the trip 

or event that occurred on Federal recreational lands and waters covered by the 

special recreation permit, rounded to the 

nearest whole day; by 

‘‘(BB) the total number of days of the 

trip or event; and 

‘‘(II) the amount of any additional revenue 

received by the recreation service provider for an 

add-on activity or an optional excursion that 

occurred on the Federal recreational lands and 

waters covered by the special recreation permit. 

‘‘(ii) The difference between— 

‘‘(I) the total cost paid by the participants of 

the trip or event for the trip or event to the recreation service provider, including any additional 

revenue received by the recreation service provider 

for an add-on activity or an optional excursion 

that occurred on the Federal recreational lands 

and waters covered by the special recreation 

permit; and 

‘‘(II) the sum of— 

‘‘(aa) the amount of any revenues from 

goods, souvenirs, merchandise, gear, and additional food provided or sold by the recreation 
H. R. 6492—61 

service provider to the participants of the 

applicable trip or event; 

‘‘(bb) the amount of any costs or revenues 

from services and activities provided or sold 

by the recreation service provider to the 

participants of the trip or event that occurred 

in a location other than the Federal recreational lands and waters covered by the special recreation permit (including costs for 

travel and lodging outside the Federal recreational lands and waters covered by the special recreation permit); and 

‘‘(cc) the amount of any revenues from 

any service provided by a recreation service 

provider for an activity on Federal recreational 

lands and waters that is not covered by the 

special recreation permit. 

‘‘(G) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (E), 

the Secretary may charge a recreation service provider 

a minimum annual fee for a special recreation permit 

described in section 802(13)(A)(iv). 

‘‘(H) SAVINGS CLAUSES.— 

‘‘(i) EFFECT.—Nothing in this paragraph affects 

any fee for— 

‘‘(I) a concession contract administered by the 

National Park Service or the United States Fish 

and Wildlife Service for the provision of accommodations, facilities, or services; or 

‘‘(II) a commercial use authorization or special 

use permit for use of Federal recreational lands 

and waters managed by the National Park Service. 

‘‘(ii) COST RECOVERY.—Nothing in this paragraph 

affects the ability of the Secretary to recover any 

administrative costs under section 320 of the 

EXPLORE Act. 

‘‘(iii) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT FEES AND OTHER

RECREATION FEES.—The collection of a special recreation permit fee under this paragraph shall not affect 

the authority of the Secretary to collect an entrance 

fee, a standard amenity recreation fee, or an expanded 

amenity recreation fee authorized under subsections 

(e), (f), and (g). 

‘‘(i) DISCLOSURE OF RECREATION FEES AND USE OF RECREATION

FEES.— ‘‘(1) NOTICE OF ENTRANCE FEES, STANDARD AMENITY RECRE- ATION FEES, EXPANDED AMENITY RECREATION FEES, AND AVAIL- ABLE RECREATION PASSES.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall post clear notice 

of any entrance fee, standard amenity recreation fee, 

expanded amenity recreation fee, and available recreation 

passes— 

‘‘(i) at appropriate locations in each unit or area 

of Federal recreational land and waters at which an 

entrance fee, standard amenity recreation fee, or 

expanded amenity recreation fee is charged; and 

‘‘(ii) on the appropriate website for such unit or 

area. 
H. R. 6492—62 

‘‘(B) PUBLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall include in 

publications distributed at a unit or area or described in 

subparagraph (A) the notice described in that subparagraph. 

‘‘(2) NOTICE OF USES OF RECREATION FEES.—Beginning on 

January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall annually post, at the 

location at which a recreation fee described in paragraph (1)(A) 

is collected, clear notice of— 

‘‘(A) the total recreation fees collected during each of 

the 2 preceding fiscal years at the respective unit or area 

of the Federal land management agency; and 

‘‘(B) each use during the preceding fiscal year of the 

applicable recreation fee or recreation pass revenues collected under this section. 

‘‘(3) NOTICE OF RECREATION FEE PROJECTS.—To the extent 

practicable, the Secretary shall post clear notice at the location 

at which work is performed using recreation fee and recreation 

pass revenues collected under this section. 

‘‘(4) CENTRALIZED REPORTING ON AGENCY WEBSITES.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 2025, 

and not later than 60 days after the beginning of each 

fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall post on the 

website of the applicable Federal land management agency 

a searchable list of each use during the preceding fiscal 

year of the recreation fee or recreation pass revenues collected under this section. 

‘‘(B) LIST COMPONENTS.—The list required under 

subparagraph (A) shall include, with respect to each use 

described in that subparagraph— 

‘‘(i) a title and description of the overall project; 

‘‘(ii) a title and description for each component 

of the project; 

‘‘(iii) the location of the project; and 

‘‘(iv) the amount obligated for the project. 

‘‘(5) NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS.—A recreation service provider 

may inform a customer of the recreation service provider of 

any fee charged by the Secretary under this section.’’. 

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 804 of the Federal 

Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6803) is amended 

by striking subsection (e). 

(d) USE OF SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT REVENUE.—Section 

808 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 

6807) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘this Act’’ each place it appears and inserting 

‘‘this title’’; 

(2) in subsection (a)(3)— 

(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘6(a) or a visitor 

reservation service.’’ and inserting ‘‘806(a) or a visitor reservation service;’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(G) the processing of special recreation permit applications and administration of special recreation permits; and 

‘‘(H) the improvement of the operation of the special 

recreation permit program under section 803(h).’’; and 

(3) in subsection (d)— 
H. R. 6492—63 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘section 5(a)(7)’’ and 

inserting ‘‘section 805(a)(7)’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘section 5(d)’’ and 

inserting ‘‘section 805(d)’’. 

(e) REAUTHORIZATION.—Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) is amended by striking 

‘‘2019’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 

SEC. 312. PERMITTING PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—To simplify the process of the issuance and 

or reissuance of special recreation permits and reduce the cost 

of administering special recreation permits under section 803(h) 

of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) 

(as amended by this title), the Secretaries shall each— 

(1) during the period beginning on January 1, 2021, and 

ending on January 1, 2025— 

(A) evaluate the process for issuing special recreation 

permits; and 

(B) based on the evaluation under subparagraph (A), 

identify opportunities to— 

(i) eliminate duplicative processes with respect to 

issuing special recreation permits; 

(ii) reduce costs for the issuance of special recreation permits; 

(iii) decrease processing times for special recreation 

permits; and 

(iv) issue simplified special recreation permits, 

including special recreation permits for an organized 

group recreation activity or event under subsection 

(e); and 

(2) not later than 1 year after the date on which the 

Secretaries complete their respective evaluation and identification processes under paragraph (1), revise, as necessary, relevant agency regulations and guidance documents, including 

regulations and guidance documents relating to the environmental review process, for special recreation permits to implement the improvements identified under paragraph (1)(B). 

(b) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall, to the 

maximum extent practicable, utilize available tools, including 

tiering to existing programmatic reviews, as appropriate, to 

facilitate an effective and efficient environmental review process 

for activities undertaken by the Secretary concerned relating 

to the issuance of special recreation permits. 

(2) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS.—Not later than 2 years after 

the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned 

shall— 

(A) evaluate whether existing categorical exclusions 

available to the Secretary concerned on the date of the 

enactment of this title are consistent with the provisions 

of this title; 

(B) evaluate whether a modification of an existing categorical exclusion or the establishment of 1 or more new 

categorical exclusions developed in compliance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 

et seq.) is necessary to undertake an activity described 
H. R. 6492—64 

in paragraph (1) in a manner consistent with the authorities and requirements in this title; and 

(C) revise relevant agency regulations and policy statements and guidance documents, as necessary, to modify 

existing categorical exclusions or incorporate new categorical exclusions based on evaluations conducted under this 

paragraph. 

(c) NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.—Except as required under subsection 

(c) or (d) of section 4 of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133), 

the Secretary concerned shall not conduct a needs assessment as 

a condition of issuing a special recreation permit under section 

803(h) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 

6802) (as amended by this title). 

(d) ONLINE APPLICATIONS.—Not later than 3 years after the 

date of the enactment of this title, the Secretaries shall make 

the application for a special recreation permit under section 803(h) 

of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) 

(as amended by this title), including a reissuance of a special 

recreation permit under that section, available for completion and 

submission— 

(1) online; 

(2) by mail or electronic mail; and 

(3) in person at the field office for the applicable Federal 

recreational lands and waters. 

(e) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS FOR AN ORGANIZED GROUP

RECREATION ACTIVITY OR EVENT.— 

(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

(A) SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT FOR AN ORGANIZED

GROUP RECREATION ACTIVITY OR EVENT.—The term ‘‘special 

recreation permit for an organized group recreation activity 

or event’’ means a special recreation permit described in 

subclause (I) or (III) of paragraph (13)(A)(iii) of section 

802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 

(16 U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this title). 

(B) YOUTH GROUP.—The term ‘‘youth group’’ means 

a recreation service provider that predominantly serves 

individuals not older than 25 years of age. 

(2) EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN ALLOCATIONS OF USE.—If the 

Secretary concerned allocates visitor-use days available for an 

area or activity on Federal recreational lands and waters among 

recreation service providers that hold a permit described in 

paragraph (13)(A)(iv) of section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this 

title), a special recreation permit for an organized group recreation activity or event shall not be subject to that allocation 

of visitor-use days. 

(3) ISSUANCE.—In accordance with paragraphs (5) and (6), 

if use by the general public is not subject to a limited entry 

permit system and if capacity is available for the times or 

days in which the proposed activity or event would be undertaken, on request of a recreation service provider (including 

a youth group) to conduct an organized group recreation activity 

or event described in subclause (I) or (III) of paragraph 

(13)(A)(iii) of section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this title), 

the Secretary concerned— 
H. R. 6492—65 

(A) shall make a nominal effects determination to 

determine whether the proposed activity or event would 

have more than nominal effects on Federal recreational 

lands and waters, resources, and programs; and 

(B)(i) shall not require a recreation service provider 

(including a youth group) to obtain a special recreation 

permit for an organized group recreation activity or event 

if the Secretary concerned determines— 

(I) the proposed activity or event to be undertaken 

would have only nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; 

and 

(II) establishing additional terms and conditions 

for the proposed activity or event is not necessary 

to protect or avoid conflict on or with Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; 

(ii) in the case of an organized group recreation activity 

or event described in section 802(13)(A)(iii)(I) of that Act, 

may issue to a recreation service provider (including a 

youth group) a special recreation permit for an organized 

group recreation activity or event, subject to any terms 

and conditions as are determined to be appropriate by 

the Secretary concerned, if the Secretary concerned determines— 

(I) the proposed activity or event to be undertaken 

would have only nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; 

and 

(II) establishing additional terms and conditions 

for the proposed activity or event is necessary to protect 

or avoid conflict on or with Federal recreational lands 

and waters, resources, and programs; 

(iii) in the case of an organized group recreation 

activity or event described in section 802(13)(A)(iii)(III) of 

that Act, shall issue to a recreation service provider 

(including a youth group) a special recreation permit for 

an organized group recreation activity or event, subject 

to such terms and conditions determined to be appropriate 

by the Secretary concerned, if the Secretary concerned 

determines— 

(I) the proposed activity or event to be undertaken 

would have only nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; 

and 

(II) establishing additional terms and conditions 

for the proposed activity or event is necessary to protect 

or avoid conflict on or with Federal recreational lands 

and waters, resources, and programs; and 

(iv) may issue to a recreation service provider 

(including a youth group) a special recreation permit for 

an organized group recreation activity or event, subject 

to any terms and conditions determined to be appropriate 

by the Secretary concerned, if the Secretary concerned 

determines— 
H. R. 6492—66 

(I) the proposed activity or event to be undertaken 

may have more than nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; 

and 

(II) establishing additional terms and conditions 

for the proposed activity or event would be necessary 

to protect or avoid conflict on or with Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs. 

(4) FEES.—The Secretary concerned may elect not to charge 

a fee to a recreation service provider (including a youth group) 

for a special recreation permit for an organized group recreation 

activity or event. 

(5) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this subsection prevents 

the Secretary concerned from limiting or abating the allowance 

of a proposed activity or event under paragraph (3)(B)(i) or 

the issuance of a special recreation permit for an organized 

group recreation activity or event, based on resource conditions, 

administrative burdens, or safety issues. 

(6) QUALIFICATIONS.—A special recreation permit for an 

organized group recreation activity or event issued under paragraph (3) shall be subject to the health and safety standards 

required by the Secretary concerned for a permit issued under 

paragraph (13)(A)(iv) of section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this 

title). 

SEC. 313. PERMIT FLEXIBILITY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall establish 

guidelines to allow a holder of a special recreation permit under 

subsection (h) of section 803 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) (as amended by this title), 

to engage in another recreational activity under the special recreation permit that is substantially similar to the specific activity 

authorized under the special recreation permit. 

(b) CRITERIA.—For the purposes of this section, a recreational 

activity shall be considered to be a substantially similar recreational 

activity if the recreational activity— 

(1) is comparable in type, nature, scope, and ecological 

setting to the specific activity authorized under the special 

recreation permit; 

(2) does not result in a greater impact on natural and 

cultural resources than the impact of the authorized activity; 

(3) does not adversely affect— 

(A) any other holder of a special recreation permit 

or other permit; or 

(B) any other authorized use of the Federal recreational 

lands and waters; and 

(4) is consistent with— 

(A) any applicable laws (including regulations); and 

(B) the land management plan, resource management 

plan, or equivalent plan applicable to the Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(c) SURRENDER OF UNUSED VISITOR-USE DAYS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—A recreation service provider holding a 

special recreation permit described in paragraph (13)(A)(iv) of 

section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 

(16 U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this title) may— 
H. R. 6492—67 

(A) notify the Secretary concerned of an inability to 

use visitor-use days annually allocated to the recreation 

service provider under the special recreation permit; and 

(B) surrender to the Secretary concerned the unused 

visitor-use days for the applicable year for temporary 

reassignment under section 318(b). 

(2) DETERMINATION.—To ensure a recreation service provider described in paragraph (1) is able to make an informed 

decision before surrendering any unused visitor-use day under 

paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary concerned shall, on the request 

of the applicable recreation service provider, determine and 

notify the recreation service provider whether the unused visitor-use day meets the requirement described in section 

317(b)(3)(B) before the recreation service provider surrenders 

the unused visitor-use day. 

(d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section affects any authority of, 

regulation issued by, or decision of the Secretary concerned relating 

to the use of electric bicycles on Federal recreational lands and 

waters under any other Federal law. 

SEC. 314. PERMIT ADMINISTRATION. 

(a) PERMIT AVAILABILITY.— 

(1) NOTIFICATIONS OF PERMIT AVAILABILITY.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B), in an area of Federal recreational lands and waters 

in which use by recreation service providers is allocated, 

if the Secretary concerned determines that visitor-use days 

are available for allocation to recreation service providers 

or holders of a commercial use authorization for outfitting 

and guiding, the Secretary concerned shall publish that 

information on the website of the agency that administers 

the applicable area of Federal recreational lands and 

waters. 

(B) EFFECT.—Nothing in this paragraph— 

(i) applies to— 

(I) the reissuance of an existing special recreation permit or commercial use authorization for 

outfitting and guiding; or 

(II) the issuance of a new special recreation 

permit or new commercial use authorization for 

outfitting and guiding issued to the purchaser of— 

(aa) a recreation service provider that is 

the holder of an existing special recreation 

permit; or 

(bb) a holder of an existing commercial 

use authorization for outfitting and guiding; 

or 

(ii) creates a prerequisite to the issuance of a special recreation permit or commercial use authorization 

for outfitting and guiding or otherwise limits the 

authority of the Secretary concerned— 

(I) to issue a new special recreation permit 

or new commercial use authorization for outfitting 

and guiding; or 

(II) to add a new or additional use to an 

existing special recreation permit or an existing 
H. R. 6492—68 

commercial use authorization for outfitting and 

guiding. 

(2) UPDATES.—The Secretary concerned shall ensure that 

information published on the website under this subsection 

is consistently updated to provide current and correct information to the public. 

(3) ELECTRONIC MAIL NOTIFICATIONS.—The Secretary concerned shall establish a system by which potential applicants 

for special recreation permits or commercial use authorizations 

for outfitting and guiding may subscribe to receive notification 

by electronic mail of the availability of special recreation permits under section 803(h)(1) of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) (as amended by this title) 

or commercial use authorizations for outfitting and guiding. 

(b) PERMIT APPLICATION OR PROPOSAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT.— 

Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary 

concerned receives a completed application or a complete proposal 

for a special recreation permit under section 803(h)(1) of the Federal 

Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) (as amended 

by this title), the Secretary concerned shall— 

(1) provide to the applicant notice acknowledging receipt 

of the application or proposal; and 

(2)(A) issue a final decision with respect to the application 

or proposal; or 

(B) provide to the applicant notice of a projected date 

for a final decision on the application or proposal. 

(c) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section applies to a concession 

contract issued by the National Park Service for the provision 

of accommodations, facilities, or services. 

SEC. 315. SERVICE FIRST INITIATIVE; PERMITS FOR MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TRIPS. 

(a) REPEAL.—Section 330 of the Department of the Interior 

and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (43 U.S.C. 1703), 

is repealed. 

(b) COOPERATIVE ACTION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES BY THE

SECRETARIES OF THE INTERIOR AND AGRICULTURE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—For fiscal year 2024, and each fiscal 

year thereafter, the Secretaries may carry out an initiative, 

to be known as the ‘‘Service First Initiative’’, under which 

the Secretaries, or Federal land management agencies within 

their departments, may— 

(A) establish programs to conduct projects, planning, 

permitting, leasing, contracting, and other activities, either 

jointly or on behalf of one another; 

(B) co-locate in Federal offices and facilities leased 

by an agency of the Department of the Interior or the 

Department of Agriculture; and 

(C) issue rules to test the feasibility of issuing unified 

permits, applications, and leases, subject to the limitations 

in this section. 

(2) DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY.—The Secretaries may 

make reciprocal delegations of the respective authorities, duties, 

and responsibilities of the Secretaries in support of the Service 

First Initiative agency-wide to promote customer service and 

efficiency. 
H. R. 6492—69 

(3) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section alters, expands, or 

limits the applicability of any law (including regulations) to 

land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, 

National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 

or the Forest Service or matters under the jurisdiction of any 

other bureaus or offices of the Department of the Interior 

or the Department of Agriculture, as applicable. 

(4) TRANSFERS OF FUNDING.—Subject to the availability 

of appropriations and to facilitate the sharing of resources 

under the Service First Initiative, the Secretaries are authorized to mutually transfer funds between, or reimburse amounts 

expended from, appropriate accounts of either Department on 

an annual basis, including transfers and reimbursements for 

multiyear projects, except that this authority may not be used 

in a manner that circumvents requirements or limitations 

imposed on the use of any of the funds so transferred or 

reimbursed. 

(5) REPORT.—The Secretaries shall submit an annual report 

to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources of the Senate describing the activities undertaken 

as part of the Service First Initiative in the prior year. 

(c) PILOT PROGRAM FOR SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS FOR

MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TRIPS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretaries shall establish 

a pilot program to offer to a person seeking an authorization 

for a multijurisdictional trip a set of separate special recreation 

permits or commercial use authorizations that authorizes the 

use of each unit of Federal recreational lands and waters on 

which the multijurisdictional trip occurs, subject to the authorities that apply to the applicable unit of Federal recreational 

lands and waters. 

(2) MINIMUM NUMBER OF PERMITS.—Not later than 4 years 

after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretaries 

shall issue not fewer than 10 sets of separate special recreation 

permits described in paragraph (13)(A)(iv) of section 802 of 

the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 

6801) (as amended by this title) or commercial use authorizations under the pilot program established under paragraph 

(1). 

(3) LEAD AGENCIES.—In carrying out the pilot program 

established under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall— 

(A) designate a lead agency for issuing and administering a set of separate special recreation permits or 

commercial use authorizations; and 

(B) select not fewer than 4 offices at which a person 

shall be able to apply for a set of separate special recreation 

permits or commercial use authorizations, of which— 

(i) not fewer than 2 offices are managed by the 

Secretary; and 

(ii) not fewer than 2 offices are managed by the 

Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of 

the Forest Service. 

(4) RETENTION OF AUTHORITY BY THE APPLICABLE SECRETARY.—Each of the Secretaries shall retain the authority 

to enforce the terms, stipulations, conditions, and agreements 
H. R. 6492—70 

in a set of separate special recreation permits or commercial 

use authorizations issued under the pilot program established 

under paragraph (1) that apply specifically to the use occurring 

on the Federal recreational lands and waters managed by the 

applicable Secretary, under the authorities that apply to the 

applicable Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(5) OPTION TO APPLY FOR SEPARATE SPECIAL RECREATION

PERMITS OR COMMERCIAL USE AUTHORIZATIONS.—A person 

seeking the appropriate permits or authorizations for a multijurisdictional trip may apply for— 

(A) a separate special recreation permit or commercial 

use authorization for the use of each unit of Federal recreational lands and waters on which the multijurisdictional 

trip occurs; or 

(B) a set of separate special recreational permits or 

commercial use authorizations made available under the 

pilot program established under paragraph (1). 

(6) EFFECT.—Nothing in this subsection applies to a concession contract issued by the National Park Service for the provision of accommodations, facilities, or services. 

SEC. 316. FOREST SERVICE AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TEMPORARY SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS FOR OUTFITTING 

AND GUIDING. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

enactment of this title, the Secretary concerned shall establish 

and implement a program to authorize the issuance of temporary 

special recreation permits for new or additional recreational uses 

of Federal recreational land and water managed by the Forest 

Service and the Bureau of Land Management. 

(b) TERM OF TEMPORARY PERMITS.—A temporary special recreation permit issued under paragraph (1) shall be issued for a 

period of not more than 2 years. 

(c) CONVERSION TO LONG-TERM PERMIT.—If the Secretary concerned determines that a permittee under paragraph (1) has completed 2 years of satisfactory operation under the permit proposed 

to be converted, the Secretary may provide for the conversion of 

a temporary special recreation permit issued under paragraph (1) 

to a long-term special recreation permit. 

(d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this subsection alters or affects the 

authority of the Secretary to issue a special recreation permit 

under subsection (h)(1) of section 803 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) (as amended by this title). 

SEC. 317. REVIEWS FOR LONG-TERM PERMITS. 

(a) MONITORING.—The Secretary concerned shall monitor each 

recreation service provider issued a special recreation permit for 

compliance with the terms of the permit— 

(1) not less than annually or as frequently as needed (as 

determined by the Secretary concerned), in the case of a temporary special recreation permit for outfitting and guiding 

issued under section 316; and 

(2) not less than once every 2 years or as frequently as 

needed (as determined by the Secretary concerned), in the 

case of a special recreation permit described in paragraph 

(13)(A)(iv)(I) of section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this title) 

that is issued for a term of not more than 10 years. 
H. R. 6492—71 

(b) USE-OF-ALLOCATION REVIEWS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 

through the Chief of the Forest Service, or the Secretary, as 

applicable, allocates visitor-use days among special recreation 

permits for outfitting and guiding, the Secretary of Agriculture, 

acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall, and the 

Secretary may, review the use by the recreation service provider 

of the visitor-use days allocated under a long-term special recreation permit described in paragraph (13)(A)(iv)(I) of section 

802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this title), once every 5 years. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS OF THE REVIEW.—In conducting a review 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall determine— 

(A) the number of visitor-use days that the recreation 

service provider used each year under the special recreation 

permit, in accordance with paragraph (3); and 

(B) the year in which the recreation service provider 

used the most visitor-use days under the special recreation 

permit. 

(3) CONSIDERATION OF SURRENDERED, UNUSED VISITOR-USE

DAYS.—For the purposes of determining the number of visitoruse days a recreation service provider used in a specified year 

under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 

through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Secretary, 

as applicable, shall consider an unused visitor-use day that 

has been surrendered under section 313(c)(1)(B) as— 

(A) 1/2 of a visitor-use day used; or 

(B) 1 visitor-use day used, if the Secretary concerned 

determines the use of the allocated visitor-use day had 

been or will be prevented by a circumstance beyond the 

control of the recreation service provider. 

SEC. 318. ADJUSTMENT OF ALLOCATED VISITOR-USE DAYS. 

(a) ADJUSTMENTS FOLLOWING USE OF ALLOCATION REVIEWS.— 

On the completion of a use-of-allocation review conducted under 

section 317(b) for a special recreation permit described in paragraph 

(13)(A)(iv)(I) of section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this title), 

the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest 

Service, or the Secretary, as applicable, shall adjust the number 

of visitor-use days allocated to a recreation service provider under 

the special recreation permit as follows: 

(1) If the Secretary concerned determines that the performance of the recreation service provider was satisfactory during 

the most recent review conducted under subsection (a) of section 

317, the annual number of visitor-use days allocated for each 

remaining year of the permit shall be equal to 125 percent 

of the number of visitor-use days used, as determined under 

subsection (b)(2)(A) of that section, during the year identified 

under subsection (b)(2)(B) of that section, not to exceed the 

level allocated to the recreation service provider on the date 

on which the special recreation permit was issued. 

(2) If the Secretary concerned determines the performance 

of the recreation service provider is less than satisfactory during 

the most recent performance review conducted under subsection 

(a) of section 317, the annual number of visitor-use days allocated for each remaining year of the special recreation permit 
H. R. 6492—72 

shall be equal to not more than 100 percent of the number 

of visitor-use days used, as determined under subsection 

(b)(2)(A) of that section during the year identified under subsection (b)(2)(B) of that section. 

(b) TEMPORARY REASSIGNMENT OF UNUSED VISITOR-USE

DAYS.—The Secretary concerned may temporarily assign unused 

visitor-use days, made available under section 313(c)(1)(B), to— 

(1) any other existing or potential recreation service provider, notwithstanding the number of visitor-use days allocated 

to the special recreation permit holder under the special recreation permit held or to be held by the recreation service provider; or 

(2) any existing or potential holder of a special recreation 

permit described in clause (i) or (iii) of paragraph (13)(A) of 

section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 

(16 U.S.C. 6801) (as amended by this title), including the public. 

(c) ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.—If unallocated visitor-use days are 

available, the Secretary concerned may, at any time, amend a 

special recreation permit to allocate additional visitor-use days to 

a qualified recreation service provider. 

SEC. 319. LIABILITY. 

(a) INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), as 

a condition of issuing a special recreation permit under subsection (h)(1)(B) of section 803 of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) (as amended by this title) 

or a commercial use authorization, the Secretary concerned 

may require the holder of the special recreation permit or 

commercial use authorization to have a commercial general 

liability insurance policy that— 

(A) is commensurate with the level of risk of the activities to be conducted under the special recreation permit 

or commercial use authorization; and 

(B) includes the United States as an additional insured 

in an endorsement to the applicable policy. 

(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary concerned shall not require 

a holder of a special recreation permit or commercial use 

authorization for low-risk activities, as determined by the Secretary concerned, including commemorative ceremonies and 

participation by the public in a recreation activity or recreation 

use of a specific area of Federal recreational lands and waters 

in which use by the public is allocated, to comply with the 

requirements of paragraph (1). 

(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.—The Secretary concerned shall not require a State, State agency, State 

institution, or political subdivision of a State to indemnify the 

United States for tort liability as a condition for issuing a special 

recreation permit or commercial use authorization to the extent 

the State, State agency, State institution, or political subdivision 

of a State is precluded by State law from providing indemnification 

to the United States for tort liability, if the State, State agency, 

State institution, or political subdivision of the State maintains 

the minimum amount of liability insurance coverage required by 

the Federal land management agency for the activities conducted 

under the special recreation permit or commercial use authorization 

in the form of— 
H. R. 6492—73 

(1) a commercial general liability insurance policy, which 

includes the United States as an additional insured in an 

endorsement to the policy, if the State is authorized to obtain 

commercial general liability insurance by State law; 

(2) self-insurance, which covers the United States as an 

additional insured, if authorized by State law; or 

(3) a combination of the coverage described in paragraphs 

(1) and (2). 

(c) EXCULPATORY AGREEMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 

Federal land management agency shall not implement, administer, or enforce any regulation, guidance, or policy prohibiting 

the use of an exculpatory agreement between a recreation 

service provider or a holder of a commercial use authorization 

and a customer relating to services provided under a special 

recreation permit or a commercial use authorization. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Any exculpatory agreement used by 

a recreation service provider or holder of a commercial use 

authorization for an activity authorized under a special recreation permit or commercial use authorization— 

(A) shall shield the United States from any liability, 

if otherwise allowable under Federal law; and 

(B) shall not waive any liability of the recreation 

service provider or holder of the commercial use authorization that may not be waived under the laws (including 

common law) of the applicable State or for gross negligence, 

recklessness, or willful misconduct. 

(3) CONSISTENCY.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

of the enactment of this title, the Secretaries shall— 

(A) review the policies of the Secretaries pertaining 

to the use of exculpatory agreements by recreation service 

providers and holders of commercial use authorizations; 

and 

(B) revise any policy described in subparagraph (A) 

as necessary to make the policies of the Secretaries pertaining to the use of exculpatory agreements by recreation 

service providers and holders of commercial use authorizations consistent with this subsection and across all Federal 

recreational lands and waters. 

(d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section applies to a concession 

contract issued by the National Park Service for the provision 

of accommodations, facilities, or services. 

SEC. 320. COST RECOVERY REFORM. 

(a) COST RECOVERY FOR SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS.—In 

addition to a fee collected under section 803 of the Federal Lands 

Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) or any other authorized fee collected by the Secretary concerned, the Secretary concerned may assess and collect a reasonable fee from an applicant 

for, or holder of, a special recreation permit to recover administrative costs incurred by the Secretary concerned for— 

(1) processing a proposal or application for the special 

recreation permit; 

(2) issuing the special recreation permit; and 

(3) monitoring the special recreation permit to ensure 

compliance with the terms and conditions of the special recreation permit. 
H. R. 6492—74 

(b) DE MINIMIS EXEMPTION FROM COST RECOVERY.—If the 

administrative costs described in subsection (a) are assessed on 

an hourly basis, the Secretary concerned shall— 

(1) establish an hourly de minimis threshold that exempts 

a specified number of hours from the assessment and collection 

of administrative costs described in subsection (a); and 

(2) charge an applicant only for any hours that exceed 

the de minimis threshold. 

(c) MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS.—If the Secretary concerned collectively processes multiple applications for special recreation permits 

for the same or similar services in the same unit of Federal recreational lands and waters, the Secretary concerned shall, to the 

extent practicable— 

(1) assess from the applicants the fee described in subsection (a) on a prorated basis; and 

(2) apply the exemption described in subsection (b) to each 

applicant on an individual basis. 

(d) LIMITATION.—The Secretary concerned shall not assess or 

collect administrative costs under this section for a programmatic 

environmental review. 

(e) COST REDUCTION.—To the maximum extent practicable, the 

agency processing an application for a special recreation permit 

shall use existing studies and analysis to reduce the quantity of 

work and costs necessary to process the application. 

SEC. 321. AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RECREATION 

PASSES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement 

Act is amended by inserting after section 805 (16 U.S.C. 6804) 

the following: 

‘‘SEC. 805A. AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RECREATION PASSES. 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To improve the availability of Federal, 

State, and local outdoor recreation passes, the Secretaries are 

encouraged to coordinate with States and counties regarding 

the availability of Federal, State, and local recreation passes 

to allow a purchaser to buy a Federal recreation pass, State 

recreation pass, and local recreation pass in a single transaction. 

‘‘(2) INCLUDED PASSES.—Passes covered by the program 

established under paragraph (1) include— 

‘‘(A) an America the Beautiful—the National Parks 

and Federal Recreational Lands Pass under section 805; 

and 

‘‘(B) any pass covering any fees charged by participating States and counties for entrance and recreational 

use of parks and public land in the participating States. 

‘‘(b) AGREEMENTS WITH STATES AND COUNTIES.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries, after consultation with 

the States and counties, may enter into agreements with States 

and counties to coordinate the availability of passes as described 

in subsection (a). 

‘‘(2) REVENUE FROM PASS SALES.—Agreements between the 

Secretaries, States, and counties entered into pursuant to this 

section shall ensure that— 
H. R. 6492—75 

‘‘(A) funds from the sale of State or local passes are 

transferred to the appropriate State agency or county 

government; 

‘‘(B) funds from the sale of Federal passes are transferred to the appropriate Federal agency; and 

‘‘(C) fund transfers are completed by the end of a 

fiscal year for all pass sales occurring during the fiscal 

year.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act is amended by inserting 

after the item relating to section 805 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 805A. Availability of Federal, State, and local recreation passes.’’. 

SEC. 322. ONLINE PURCHASES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A DIGITAL 

VERSION OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL—THE NATIONAL 

PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASSES. 

(a) ONLINE PURCHASES OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL–THE

NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASS.—Section 805(a)(6) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 

(16 U.S.C. 6804(a)(6)) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) 

and inserting the following: 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall sell or otherwise make available the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass— 

‘‘(i) at all Federal recreational lands and waters 

at which— 

‘‘(I) an entrance fee or a standard amenity 

recreation fee is charged; and 

‘‘(II) such sales or distribution of the Pass 

is feasible; 

‘‘(ii) at such other locations as the Secretaries consider appropriate and feasible; and 

‘‘(iii) through a prominent link to a centralized 

pass sale system on the website of each of the Federal 

land management agencies and the websites of the 

relevant units and subunits of those agencies, which 

shall include information about where and when a 

National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass 

may be used.’’. 

(b) DIGITAL VERSION OF THE AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL—THE

NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATION LANDS PASS.—Section 

805(a) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 

6804(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(10) DIGITAL RECREATION PASSES.—Not later than January 

1, 2026, the Secretaries shall— 

‘‘(A) establish a digital version of the National Parks 

and Federal Recreational Lands Pass that is able to be 

stored on a mobile device, including with respect to free 

and discounted passes; and 

‘‘(B) upon completion of a transaction for a National 

Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, make immediately available to the passholder a digital version of 

the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass 

established under subparagraph (A).’’. 

(c) ENTRANCE PASS AND AMENITY FEES.—Section 803 of the 

Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) (as 
H. R. 6492—76 

amended by this title) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(j) ONLINE PAYMENTS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to providing onsite payment 

methods, the Secretaries may collect payment online for— 

‘‘(A) entrance fees under subsection (e); 

‘‘(B) standard amenity recreation fees under subsection 

(f); 

‘‘(C) expanded amenity recreation fees under subsection 

(g); and 

‘‘(D) special recreation permit fees. 

‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION OF ONLINE PAYMENTS.—An online payment collected under paragraph (1) that is associated with 

a specific unit or area of a Federal land management agency 

shall be distributed in accordance with section 805(c).’’. 

SEC. 323. SAVINGS PROVISION. 

Nothing in this subtitle, or in any amendment made by this 

subtitle, shall be construed as affecting the authority or responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior to award concessions contracts 

for the provision of accommodations, facilities, and services, or 

commercial use authorizations to provide services, to visitors to 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuges or units of the National 

Park System pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 1019 of title 

54, United States Code (formerly known as the ‘‘National Park 

Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998’’), except 

that sections 314(a), 315, 319(a), 319(b), and 319(c) of this subtitle 

shall also apply to commercial use authorizations under that Act. 

Subtitle B—Making Recreation a Priority 

SEC. 331. EXTENSION OF SEASONAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. 

(a) DEFINITION OF SEASONAL CLOSURE.—In this section, the 

term ‘‘seasonal closure’’ means any period during which— 

(1) a unit, or portion of a unit, of Federal recreational 

lands and waters is closed to the public for a continuous period 

of 30 days or more, excluding temporary closures relating to 

wildlife conservation or public safety; and 

(2) permitted or allowable recreational activities, which 

provide an economic benefit, including off-season or winterseason tourism, do not take place at the unit, or portion of 

a unit, of Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(b) COORDINATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall consult and coordinate with outdoor recreation-related businesses operating on, 

or adjacent to, a unit of Federal recreational lands and waters, 

State offices of outdoor recreation, local destination marketing 

organizations, applicable trade organizations, nonprofit 

organizations, Indian Tribes, local governments, and institutions of higher education— 

(A) to better understand— 

(i) trends with respect to visitors to the unit of 

Federal recreational lands and waters; 

(ii) the effect of seasonal closures on areas of, 

or infrastructure on, units of Federal recreational lands 
H. R. 6492—77 

and waters on outdoor recreation opportunities, adjacent businesses, and local tax revenue; and 

(iii) opportunities to extend the period of time 

during which areas of, or infrastructure on, units of 

Federal recreational lands and waters are open to the 

public to increase outdoor recreation opportunities and 

associated revenues for businesses and local governments; and 

(B) to solicit input from, and provide information for, 

outdoor recreation marketing campaigns. 

(2) LOCAL COORDINATION.—As part of the consultation and 

coordination required under subparagraph (1), the Secretaries 

shall encourage relevant unit managers of Federal recreational 

lands and waters managed by the Forest Service, the Bureau 

of Land Management, and the National Park Service to consult 

and coordinate with local governments, Indian Tribes, outdoor 

recreation-related businesses, and other local stakeholders operating on or adjacent to the relevant unit of Federal recreational 

lands and waters. 

(d) EXTENSIONS BEYOND SEASONAL CLOSURES.— 

(1) EXTENSION OF RECREATIONAL SEASON.—In the case of 

a unit of Federal recreational lands and waters managed by 

the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the 

National Park Service in which recreational use is highly seasonal, the Secretary concerned, acting through the relevant 

unit manager, may— 

(A) as appropriate, extend the recreation season or 

increase recreation use in a sustainable manner during 

the offseason; and 

(B) make information about extended season schedules 

and related recreational opportunities available to the 

public and local communities. 

(2) DETERMINATION.—In determining whether to extend 

the recreation season under this subsection, the Secretary concerned, acting through the relevant unit manager, shall consider the benefits of extending the recreation season— 

(A) for the duration of income to gateway communities; 

and 

(B) to provide more opportunities to visit resources 

on units of Federal recreational lands and waters to reduce 

crowding during peak visitation. 

(3) CLARIFICATION.—Nothing in this subsection precludes 

the Secretary concerned, acting through the relevant unit manager, from providing for additional recreational opportunities 

and uses at times other than those described in this subsection. 

(4) INCLUSIONS.—An extension of a recreation season or 

an increase in recreation use during the offseason under paragraph (1) may include— 

(A) the addition of facilities that would increase recreation use during the offseason; and 

(B) improvement of access to the relevant unit to 

extend the recreation season. 

(5) REQUIREMENT.—An extension of a recreation season 

or increase in recreation use during the offseason under paragraph (1) shall be done in compliance with all applicable Federal 

laws, regulations, and policies, including land use plans. 

(6) AGREEMENTS.— 
H. R. 6492—78 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned may enter 

into agreements with businesses, local governments, or 

other entities to share the cost of additional expenses necessary to extend the period of time during which an area 

of, or infrastructure on, a unit of Federal recreational lands 

and waters is made open to the public. 

(B) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Secretary concerned 

may accept in-kind contributions of goods and services 

provided by businesses, local governments, or other entities 

for purposes of paragraph (1). 

Subtitle C—Maintenance of Public Land 

SEC. 341. VOLUNTEERS IN THE NATIONAL FORESTS AND PUBLIC 

LANDS ACT. 

The Volunteers in the National Forests Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 

558a et seq.) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Volunteers in the National 

Forests and Public Lands Act’. 

‘‘SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

‘‘The purpose of this Act is to leverage volunteer engagement 

to supplement projects that are carried out by the Secretaries 

to fulfill the missions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of 

Land Management and are accomplished with appropriated funds. 

‘‘SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF SECRETARIES. 

‘‘In this Act, the term ‘Secretaries’ means each of— 

‘‘(1) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief 

of the Forest Service; and 

‘‘(2) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 

Director of the Bureau of Land Management. 

‘‘SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION. 

‘‘The Secretaries are authorized to recruit, train, and accept 

without regard to the civil service and classification laws, rules, 

or regulations the services of individuals without compensation 

as volunteers for or in aid of recreation access, trail construction 

or maintenance, facility construction or maintenance, educational 

uses (including outdoor classroom construction or maintenance), 

interpretive functions, visitor services, conservation measures and 

development, or other activities in and related to areas administered 

by the Secretaries. In carrying out this section, the Secretaries 

shall consider referrals of prospective volunteers made by the Corporation for National and Community Service. 

‘‘SEC. 5. INCIDENTAL EXPENSES. 

‘‘The Secretaries are authorized to provide for incidental 

expenses, such as transportation, uniforms, lodging, training, equipment, and subsistence. 

‘‘SEC. 6. CONSIDERATION AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEE. 

‘‘(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a volunteer 

shall not be deemed a Federal employee and shall not be subject 

to the provisions of law relating to Federal employment, including 
H. R. 6492—79 

those relating to hours of work, rates of compensation, leave, 

unemployment compensation, and Federal employee benefits. 

‘‘(b) For the purpose of the tort claim provisions of title 28, 

United States Code, a volunteer under this Act shall be considered 

a Federal employee. 

‘‘(c) For the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 

5, United States Code, relating to compensation to Federal 

employees for work injuries, volunteers under this Act shall be 

deemed civil employees of the United States within the meaning 

of the term ‘employee’ as defined in section 8101 of title 5, United 

States Code, and the provisions of that subchapter shall apply. 

‘‘(d) For the purposes of claims relating to damage to, or loss 

of, personal property of a volunteer incident to volunteer service, 

a volunteer under this Act shall be considered a Federal employee, 

and the provisions of section 3721 of title 31, United States Code, 

shall apply. 

‘‘(e) For the purposes of subsections (b), (c), and (d), the term 

‘volunteer’ includes a person providing volunteer services to either 

of the Secretaries who— 

‘‘(1) is recruited, trained, and supported by a cooperator 

under a mutual benefit agreement or cooperative agreement 

with either of the Secretaries; and 

‘‘(2) performs such volunteer services under the supervision 

of the cooperator as directed by either of the Secretaries in 

the mutual benefit agreement or cooperative agreement in the 

mutual benefit agreement, including direction that specifies— 

‘‘(A) the volunteer services, including the geographic 

boundaries of the work to be performed by the volunteers, 

and the supervision to be provided by the cooperator; 

‘‘(B) the applicable project safety standards and protocols to be adhered to by the volunteers and enforced by 

the cooperator; 

‘‘(C) the on-site visits to be made by either of the 

Secretaries, if feasible and only if necessary to verify that 

volunteers are performing the volunteer services and the 

cooperator is providing the supervision agreed upon; 

‘‘(D) the equipment the volunteers are authorized to 

use; 

‘‘(E) the training the volunteers are required to complete; 

‘‘(F) the actions the volunteers are authorized to take; 

and 

‘‘(G) any other terms and conditions that are determined to be necessary by the applicable Secretary. 

‘‘SEC. 7. PROMOTION OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. 

‘‘The Secretaries shall promote volunteer opportunities in areas 

administered by the Secretaries. 

‘‘SEC. 8. LIABILITY INSURANCE. 

‘‘The Secretaries shall not require a cooperator or volunteer 

(as those terms are used in section 6) to have liability insurance 

to provide the volunteer services authorized under this Act.’’. 

SEC. 342. REFERENCE. 

Any reference to the Volunteers in the National Forests Act 

of 1972 in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other 
H. R. 6492—80 

paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference 

to the Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Land Act. 

Subtitle D—Recreation Not Red Tape 

SEC. 351. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY FOR RECREATION. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) AUTHORIZED RECREATION SERVICES.—The term ‘‘authorized recreation services’’ means similar and complementary 

recreation enhancement or improvement services carried out— 

(A) on Federal land, non-Federal land, or land owned 

by an Indian Tribe; and 

(B) by either the Secretary or a Governor, Indian Tribe, 

or county, as applicable, pursuant to a good neighbor agreement. 

(2) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘county’’ means— 

(A) the appropriate executive official of an affected 

county; or 

(B) in any case in which multiple counties are affected, 

the appropriate executive official of a compact of the 

affected counties. 

(3) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ means land 

that is— 

(A) owned and administered by the United States as 

a part of— 

(i) the National Forest System; or 

(ii) the National Park System; or 

(B) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 

1702)). 

(4) RECREATION ENHANCEMENT OR IMPROVEMENT SERVICES.—The term ‘‘recreation enhancement or improvement services’’ means— 

(A) establishing, repairing, restoring, improving, relocating, constructing, or reconstructing new or existing— 

(i) trails or trailheads; 

(ii) campgrounds and camping areas; 

(iii) cabins; 

(iv) picnic areas or other day use areas; 

(v) shooting ranges; 

(vi) restroom or shower facilities; 

(vii) paved or permanent roads or parking areas 

that serve existing recreation facilities or areas; 

(viii) fishing piers, wildlife viewing platforms, 

docks, or other constructed features at a recreation 

site; 

(ix) boat landings; 

(x) hunting or fishing sites; 

(xi) infrastructure within ski areas; or 

(xii) visitor centers or other interpretative sites; 

and 

(B) activities that create, improve, or restore access 

to existing recreation facilities or areas. 

(5) GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘good neighbor 

agreement’’ means a cooperative agreement or contract 

(including a sole source contract) entered into between the 
H. R. 6492—81 

Secretary and a Governor, Indian Tribe, or county, as 

applicable, to carry out authorized recreation services under 

this title. 

(6) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means the Governor 

or any other appropriate executive official of an affected State 

or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

(7) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means— 

(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 

National Forest System land; and 

(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 

National Park System land and public lands. 

(b) GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS FOR RECREATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned may enter into 

a good neighbor agreement with a Governor, Indian Tribe, 

or county to carry out authorized recreation services in accordance with this title. 

(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary concerned shall 

make each good neighbor agreement available to the public. 

(3) FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned may provide 

financial or technical assistance to a Governor, Indian 

Tribe, or county carrying out authorized recreation services. 

(B) ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS OF REVENUE.—Section 

8206(b)(2)(C) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 

2113a(b)(2)(C)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) TREATMENT OF REVENUE.— 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Funds received from the sale 

of timber by a Governor, Indian Tribe, or county under 

a good neighbor agreement shall be retained and used 

by the Governor, Indian Tribe, or county, as 

applicable— 

‘‘(I) to carry out authorized restoration services 

on under the good neighbor agreement; and 

‘‘(II) if there are funds remaining after carrying out clause (i), to carry out— 

‘‘(aa) authorized restoration services under 

other good neighbor agreements; or 

‘‘(bb) authorized recreation services under 

the Good Neighbor Authority for Recreation 

Act. 

‘‘(ii) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.—The 

authority provided under this subparagraph terminates 

effective October 1, 2028.’’. 

(4) RETENTION OF NEPA RESPONSIBILITIES.—Any decision 

required to be made under the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to any authorized recreation services to be provided under this section on 

Federal land shall not be delegated to a Governor, Indian 

Tribe, or county. 

SEC. 352. PERMIT RELIEF FOR PICNIC AREAS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary concerned does not require 

the public to obtain a permit or reservation to access a picnic 

area on Federal recreational lands and waters administered by 
H. R. 6492—82 

the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, the Secretary concerned shall not require a covered person to obtain a 

permit solely to access the picnic area. 

(b) COVERED PERSON DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered person’’ means a person (including an educational group) that 

provides outfitting and guiding services to fewer than 40 customers 

per year at a picnic area described in subsection (a). 

SEC. 353. INTERAGENCY REPORT ON SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITS 

FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. 

(a) COVERED COMMUNITY DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

‘‘covered community’’ means a rural or urban community, including 

an Indian Tribe, that is— 

(1) low-income or underserved; and 

(2) has been underrepresented in outdoor recreation 

opportunities on Federal recreational lands and waters. 

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date of the 

enactment of this title, the Secretaries, acting jointly, shall submit 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 

and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes— 

(1) the estimated use of special recreation permits serving 

covered communities; 

(2) examples of special recreation permits, partnerships, 

cooperative agreements, or other arrangements providing access 

to Federal recreational lands and waters for covered communities; 

(3) other ways covered communities are engaging on Federal recreational lands and waters, including through stewardship and conservation projects or activities; 

(4) any barriers for existing or prospective recreation 

service providers and holders of commercial use authorizations 

operating within or serving a covered community; and 

(5) any recommendations to facilitate and increase permitted access to Federal recreational lands and waters for 

covered communities. 

SEC. 354. MODERNIZING ACCESS TO OUR PUBLIC LAND ACT AMENDMENTS. 

The Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act (16 U.S.C. 

6851 et seq.) is amended— 

(1) in section 3(1) (16 U.S.C. 6852(1)), by striking ‘‘public 

outdoor recreational use’’ and inserting ‘‘recreation sites’’; 

(2) in section 5(a)(4) (16 U.S.C. 6854(a)(4)), by striking 

‘‘permanently restricted or prohibited’’ and inserting ‘‘regulated 

or closed’’; and 

(3) in section 6(b) (16 U.S.C. 6855(b))— 

(A) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘the Secretary of the Interior’’ and 

inserting ‘‘the Secretaries’’. 

SEC. 355. SAVINGS PROVISION. 

No additional Federal funds are authorized to carry out the 

requirements of this Act and the activities authorized by this Act 
H. R. 6492—83 

are subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance 

for such purposes. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.