172 
SEC. 313. PERMIT FLEXIBILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall es-
tablish 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 substan-
tially similar to the specific activity authorized under the 
special recreation permit. 
(b) CRITERIA.—For the purposes of this section, a rec-
reational activity shall be considered to be a substantially 
similar recreational activity if the recreational activity— 
(1) is comparable in type, nature, scope, and ec-
ological setting to the specific activity authorized 
under the special recreation permit; 
(2) does not result in a greater impact on nat-
ural and cultural resources than the impact of the au-
thorized 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 regula-
tions); and 
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(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 para-
graph (13)(A)(iv) of section 802 of the Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) (as 
amended by this title) may— 
(A) notify the Secretary concerned of an in-
ability to use visitor-use days annually allocated 
to the recreation service provider under the spe-
cial 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 appli-
cable recreation service provider, determine and no-
tify the recreation service provider whether the unused 
visitor-use day meets the requirement described in sec-
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tion 317(b)(3)(B) before the recreation service pro-
vider surrenders the unused visitor-use day. 
(d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section affects any au-
thority 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 rec-
reational 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 Sec-
retary 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 commer-
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cial 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 pro-
vider that is the holder of an ex-
isting 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 author-
ity of the Secretary concerned— 
(I) to issue a new special recre-
ation permit or new commercial use 
authorization for outfitting and guid-
ing; or 
(II) to add a new or additional 
use to an existing special recreation 
permit or an existing commercial use 
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authorization for outfitting and guid-
ing. 
(2) UPDATES.—The Secretary concerned shall 
ensure that information published on the website 
under this subsection is consistently updated to pro-
vide current and correct information to the public. 
(3) ELECTRONIC MAIL NOTIFICATIONS.—The Sec-
retary concerned shall establish a system by which po-
tential applicants for special recreation permits or 
commercial use authorizations for outfitting and 
guiding may subscribe to receive notification by elec-
tronic 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 authoriza-
tions for outfitting and guiding. 
(b) PERMIT APPLICATION OR PROPOSAL ACKNOWL-
EDGMENT.—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 Enhance-
ment Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) (as amended by this title), the 
Secretary concerned shall— 
(1) provide to the applicant notice acknowl-
edging receipt of the application or proposal; and 
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(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 pro-
posal. 
(c) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section applies to a con-
cession contract issued by the National Park Service for the 
provision of accommodations, facilities, or services. 
SEC. 315. SERVICE FIRST INITIATIVE; PERMITS FOR MULTI-
JURISDICTIONAL 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 RE-
SOURCES BY THE SECRETARIES OF THE INTERIOR AND AG-
RICULTURE.— 
(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 
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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 In-
terior 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 Secre-
taries may make reciprocal delegations of the respec-
tive authorities, duties, and responsibilities of the Sec-
retaries in support of the Service First Initiative 
agency-wide to promote customer service and effi-
ciency. 
(3) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section alters, ex-
pands, or limits the applicability of any law (includ-
ing 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 De-
partment 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 Initia-
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tive, the Secretaries are authorized to mutually trans-
fer funds between, or reimburse amounts expended 
from, appropriate accounts of either Department on 
an annual basis, including transfers and reimburse-
ments for multiyear projects, except that this author-
ity 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 describ-
ing the activities undertaken as part of the Service 
First Initiative in the prior year. 
(c) PILOT PROGRAM FOR SPECIAL RECREATION PER-
MITS 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 
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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 author-
izations under the pilot program established under 
paragraph (1). 
(3) LEAD AGENCIES.—In carrying out the pilot 
program established under paragraph (1), the Secre-
taries 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 sepa-
rate special recreation permits or commercial use 
authorizations, of which— 
(i) not fewer than 2 offices are man-
aged by the Secretary; and 
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(ii) not fewer than 2 offices are man-
aged by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service. 
(4) RETENTION OF AUTHORITY BY THE APPLICA-
BLE SECRETARY.—Each of the Secretaries shall retain 
the authority to enforce the terms, stipulations, condi-
tions, and agreements 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 oc-
curring on the Federal recreational lands and waters 
managed by the applicable Secretary, under the au-
thorities that apply to the applicable Federal rec-
reational lands and waters. 
(5) OPTION TO APPLY FOR SEPARATE SPECIAL 
RECREATION PERMITS OR COMMERCIAL USE AUTHOR-
IZATIONS.—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 
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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, facili-
ties, or services. 
SEC. 316. FOREST SERVICE AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGE-
MENT 
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 Sec-
retary concerned determines that a permittee under para-
graph (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 recre-
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ation permit issued under paragraph (1) to a long-term 
special recreation permit. 
(d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this subsection alters or af-
fects the authority of the Secretary to issue a special recre-
ation 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 per-
mit— 
(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 fre-
quently 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. 
(b) USE-OF-ALLOCATION REVIEWS.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—If the Secretary of Agri-
culture, 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 serv-
ice provider of the visitor-use days allocated under a 
long-term special recreation permit described in para-
graph (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 con-
ducting 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 visitor-use days a recreation service 
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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 vis-
itor-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 per-
mit 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 Agri-
culture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, or 
the Secretary, as applicable, shall adjust the number of vis-
itor-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 
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satisfactory during the most recent review conducted 
under subsection (a) of section 317, the annual num-
ber 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 serv-
ice provider on the date on which the special recre-
ation 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 
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 as-
sign unused visitor-use days, made available under section 
313(c)(1)(B), to— 
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(1) any other existing or potential recreation 
service provider, notwithstanding the number of vis-
itor-use days allocated to the special recreation per-
mit 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 addi-
tional visitor-use days to a qualified recreation service pro-
vider. 
SEC. 319. LIABILITY. 
(a) INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), as a condition of issuing a special recre-
ation 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 con-
cerned may require the holder of the special recreation 
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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 authoriza-
tion; and 
(B) includes the United States as an addi-
tional insured in an endorsement to the applica-
ble 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
ENTI-
TIES.—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 
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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 insur-
ance coverage required by the Federal land management 
agency for the activities conducted under the special recre-
ation permit or commercial use authorization in the form 
of— 
(1) a commercial general liability insurance pol-
icy, which includes the United States as an addi-
tional insured in an endorsement to the policy, if the 
State is authorized to obtain commercial general li-
ability 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 para-
graph (2), a Federal land management agency shall 
not implement, administer, or enforce any regulation, 
guidance, or policy prohibiting the use of an excul-
patory agreement between a recreation service pro-
vider or a holder of a commercial use authorization 
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and a customer relating to services provided under a 
special recreation permit or a commercial use author-
ization. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Any exculpatory agree-
ment used by a recreation service provider or holder 
of a commercial use authorization for an activity au-
thorized under a special recreation permit or commer-
cial 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 com-
mercial 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 
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(B) revise any policy described in subpara-
graph (A) as necessary to make the policies of 
the Secretaries pertaining to the use of excul-
patory agreements by recreation service pro-
viders and holders of commercial use authoriza-
tions consistent with this subsection and across 
all Federal recreational lands and waters. 
(d) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section applies to a con-
cession 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 PER-
MITS.—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 spe-
cial recreation permit to recover administrative costs in-
curred 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. 
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(b) DE MINIMIS EXEMPTION FROM COST RECOV-
ERY.—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 assess-
ment 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 con-
cerned collectively processes multiple applications for spe-
cial 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 prac-
ticable, the agency processing an application for a special 
recreation permit shall use existing studies and analysis to 
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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 En-
hancement 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 Fed-
eral, 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 Na-
tional Parks and Federal Recreational Lands 
Pass under section 805; and 
‘‘(B) any pass covering any fees charged by 
participating States and counties for entrance 
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and recreational use of parks and public land in 
the participating States. 
‘‘(b) AGREEMENTS WITH STATES AND COUNTIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries, after con-
sultation 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— 
‘‘(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 agen-
cy; 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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Sec. 805A. Availability of Federal, State, and local recreation passes.’’. 
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SEC. 322. ONLINE PURCHASES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A 
DIGITAL VERSION OF AMERICA THE BEAU-
TIFUL—THE NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL 
RECREATIONAL LANDS PASSES. 
(a) ONLINE PURCHASES
OF AMERICA
THE BEAU-
TIFUL–THE
NATIONAL
PARKS
AND
FEDERAL
REC-
REATIONAL 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 Sec-
retaries 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 
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units and subunits of those agencies, which 
shall include information about where and 
when a National Parks and Federal Rec-
reational Lands Pass may be used.’’. 
(b) DIGITAL VERSION OF THE AMERICA THE BEAU-
TIFUL—THE NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATION 
LANDS PASS.—Section 805(a) of the Federal Lands Recre-
ation 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 Na-
tional 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 es-
tablished under subparagraph (A).’’. 
(c) ENTRANCE PASS AND AMENITY FEES.—Section 
803 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 
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U.S.C. 6802) (as amended by this title) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) ONLINE PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to providing on-
site 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 ac-
cordance 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 Serv-
ice refuges or units of the National Park System pursuant 
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to subchapter II of chapter 1019 of title 54, United States 
Code (formerly known as the ‘‘National Park Service Con-
cessions 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 OPPOR-
TUNITIES. 
(a) DEFINITION OF SEASONAL CLOSURE.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘seasonal closure’’ means any period during 
which— 
(1) a unit, or portion of a unit, of Federal rec-
reational 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-sea-
son or winter-season tourism, do not take place at the 
unit, or portion of a unit, of Federal recreational 
lands and waters. 
(b) COORDINATION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall consult 
and coordinate with outdoor recreation-related busi-
nesses 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 organiza-
tions, 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 Fed-
eral recreational lands and waters on out-
door recreation opportunities, adjacent busi-
nesses, and local tax revenue; and 
(iii) opportunities to extend the period 
of time during which areas of, or infra-
structure 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 
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(B) to solicit input from, and provide infor-
mation for, outdoor recreation marketing cam-
paigns. 
(2) LOCAL COORDINATION.—As part of the con-
sultation and coordination required under subpara-
graph (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, In-
dian 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 Sec-
retary 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 
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201 
(B) make information about extended sea-
son schedules and related recreational opportuni-
ties available to the public and local commu-
nities. 
(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 visi-
tation. 
(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 in-
crease recreation use during the offseason; and 
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(B) improvement of access to the relevant 
unit to extend the recreation season. 
(5) REQUIREMENT.—An extension of a recre-
ation season or increase in recreation use during the 
offseason under paragraph (1) shall be done in com-
pliance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, 
and policies, including land use plans. 
(6) AGREEMENTS.— 
(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 pe-
riod of time during which an area of, or infra-
structure on, a unit of Federal recreational lands 
and waters is made open to the public. 
(B) IN-KIND
CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Sec-
retary concerned may accept in-kind contribu-
tions of goods and services provided by busi-
nesses, local governments, or other entities for 
purposes of paragraph (1). 
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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 Na-
tional Forests and Public Lands Act’. 
‘‘SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
‘‘The purpose of this Act is to leverage volunteer en-
gagement 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 with-
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out compensation as volunteers for or in aid of recreation 
access, trail construction or maintenance, facility construc-
tion or maintenance, educational uses (including outdoor 
classroom construction or maintenance), interpretive func-
tions, visitor services, conservation measures and develop-
ment, or other activities in and related to areas adminis-
tered 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 inci-
dental 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 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. 
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‘‘(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 provi-
sions 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 vol-
unteer 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 co-
operator under a mutual benefit agreement or cooper-
ative 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 co-
operative agreement in the mutual benefit agreement, 
including direction that specifies— 
‘‘(A) the volunteer services, including the ge-
ographic boundaries of the work to be performed 
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by the volunteers, and the supervision to be pro-
vided 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 nec-
essary to verify that volunteers are performing 
the volunteer services and the cooperator is pro-
viding the supervision agreed upon; 
‘‘(D) the equipment the volunteers are au-
thorized to use; 
‘‘(E) the training the volunteers are re-
quired to complete; 
‘‘(F) the actions the volunteers are author-
ized 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 vol-
unteer (as those terms are used in section 6) to have liabil-
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ity 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 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 im-
provement 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 
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(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
IMPROVE-
MENT SERVICES.—The term ‘‘recreation enhancement 
or improvement services’’ means— 
(A) establishing, repairing, restoring, im-
proving, relocating, constructing, or recon-
structing 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; 
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(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 fea-
tures at a recreation site; 
(ix) boat landings; 
(x) hunting or fishing sites; 
(xi) infrastructure within ski areas; or 
(xii) visitor centers or other interpreta-
tive sites; and 
(B) activities that create, improve, or re-
store 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 con-
tract) entered into between the Secretary and a Gov-
ernor, 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 offi-
cial of an affected State or the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico. 
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(7) SECRETARY
CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary concerned’’ means— 
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to National Forest System land; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to National Park System land and public 
lands. 
(b) GOOD
NEIGHBOR
AGREEMENTS
FOR
RECRE-
ATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned may 
enter into a good neighbor agreement with a Gov-
ernor, Indian Tribe, or county to carry out author-
ized recreation services in accordance with this title. 
(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary con-
cerned 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
REV-
ENUE.—Section 8206(b)(2)(C) of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a(b)(2)(C)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘(C) TREATMENT OF REVENUE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Funds received 
from the sale of timber by a Governor, In-
dian Tribe, or county under a good neigh-
bor agreement shall be retained and used by 
the Governor, Indian Tribe, or county, as 
applicable— 
‘‘(I) to carry out authorized res-
toration 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
EFFECTIVE-
NESS.—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 
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Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.) with respect to any authorized recreation serv-
ices 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 ad-
ministered by 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 edu-
cational group) that provides outfitting and guiding serv-
ices 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 
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(2) has been underrepresented in outdoor recre-
ation 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 Re-
sources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives a report that de-
scribes— 
(1) the estimated use of special recreation per-
mits serving covered communities; 
(2) examples of special recreation permits, part-
nerships, cooperative agreements, or other arrange-
ments 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 ac-
tivities; 
(4) any barriers for existing or prospective recre-
ation service providers and holders of commercial use 
authorizations operating within or serving a covered 
community; and 
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(5) any recommendations to facilitate and in-
crease 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 strik-
ing ‘‘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 Inte-
rior’’ 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 author-
ized by this Act are subject to the availability of appropria-
tions made in advance for such purposes. 
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Union Calendar No. 365 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6492 
[Report No. 118–441, Part I] 
A BILL 
To improve recreation opportunities on, and facili-
tate greater access to, Federal public land, and 
for other purposes. 
APRIL 5, 2024 
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with 
an amendment 
APRIL 5, 2024 
Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and Agriculture dis-
charged; committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be 
printed 
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