H. R. 6492—76 
amended by this title) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(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 pay-
ment 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 responsi-
bility 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 winter- 
season 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 coordi-
nate 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 institu-
tions 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, adja-
cent 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 govern-
ments; 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 oper-
ating 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 sea-
sonal, 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 con-
cerned, acting through the relevant unit manager, shall con-
sider 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 man-
ager, 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 para-
graph (1) may include— 
(A) the addition of facilities that would increase recre-
ation 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 para-
graph (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 nec-
essary 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 Cor-
poration for National and Community Service. 
‘‘SEC. 5. INCIDENTAL EXPENSES. 
‘‘The Secretaries are authorized to provide for incidental 
expenses, such as transportation, uniforms, lodging, training, equip-
ment, 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 proto-
cols 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 com-
plete; 
‘‘(F) the actions the volunteers are authorized to take; 
and 
‘‘(G) any other terms and conditions that are deter-
mined 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 ‘‘author-
ized 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 agree-
ment. 
(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 Fed-
eral Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1702)). 
(4) RECREATION
ENHANCEMENT
OR
IMPROVEMENT
SERV-
ICES.—The term ‘‘recreation enhancement or improvement serv-
ices’’ means— 
(A) establishing, repairing, restoring, improving, relo-
cating, 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 con-
cerned’’ 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 accord-
ance 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 car-
rying 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 author-
ized 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 Sec-
retary 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 ‘‘cov-
ered 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 Represent-
atives 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 commu-
nities; 
(3) other ways covered communities are engaging on Fed-
eral recreational lands and waters, including through steward-
ship 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 per-
mitted access to Federal recreational lands and waters for 
covered communities. 
SEC. 354. MODERNIZING ACCESS TO OUR PUBLIC LAND ACT AMEND-
MENTS. 
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.