16 U.S.C. § 8544 (CONSERVATION)
§ 8544. Service First Initiative; permits for multijurisdictional trips
(a) Omitted
(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.
(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 January 4, 2025, 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 January 4, 2025, the Secretaries shall issue not fewer than 10 sets of separate special recreation permits described in paragraph (13)(A)(iv) of section 6801 of this title (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 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.
(Pub. L. 118–234, title III, § 315, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2903.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: As amended by this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), means as amended by title III of Pub. L. 118–234.
heading: Codification
text: Section is comprised of section 315 of Pub. L. 118–234. Subsec. (a) of section 315 of Pub. L. 118–234 repealed section 1703 of Title 43, Public Lands.