National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986
PL 99-522 (S.2266), enacted 10/22/1986

100 STAT. 3000 
PUBLIC LAW 99-522—OCT. 22, 1986 
Public Law 99-522 
99th Congress 
Oct. 22, 1986 
[S. 2266] 
National Forest 
Ski Area Permit 
Act of 1986. 
National Forest 
System. 
16 u s e 497b 
note. 
16 u s e 497b 
note. 
,,„.„ 
16 u s e 497b. 
An Act 
To establish a ski area permit system on national forest lands, 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. 
This Act may be cited £is the "National Forest Ski Area Permit 
Act of 1986". 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
(a) provide a unified and modern permitting process for nordic 
and alpine ski areas on national forest lands; 
0)) provide for ski area permits which more closely reflect the 
acreage and other physical requirements of modern ski area 
development; and 
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(c) provide a permit system which will be more commensurate 
with the long-term construction, financing, and operation needs 
of ski areas on national forest lands. 
SEC. 3. SKI AREA PERMITS. 
(a) LAW APPLICABLE TO PERMITS.—The provisions of the Act of 
March 4,1915 (16 U.S.C. 497) notwithstanding, the term and acreage 
of permits for the operation of nordic and alpine ski areas and 
facilities on National Forest System lands shall henceforth be gov-
erned by this Act and other applicable law. 
(b) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter re-
ferred to as "the Secretary") is authorized to issue permits (herein-
after referred to as "ski area permits") for the use and occupancy of 
suitable lands within the National Forest System for nordic and 
alpine skiing operations and purposes. A ski area permit— 
(1) may be issued for a term not to exceed 40 years; 
(2) shall ordinarily be issued for a term of 40 years (unless the 
Secretary determines that the facilities or operations are of a 
scale or nature as are not likely to require long-term financing 
or operation), or that there are public policy reasons specific to 
a particular permit for a shorter term; 
(3) shall encompass such acreage as the Secretary determines 
sufficient and appropriate to accommodate the permittee's 
needs for ski operations and appropriate ancillary facilities; 
(4) may be renewed at the discretion of the Secretary; 
(5) may be cancelled by the Secretary in whole or in part for 
any violation of the permit terms or conditions, for nonpayment 
of permit fees, or upon the determination by the Secretary in 
his planning for the uses of the national forests that the per-
mitted area is needed for higher public purposes; 
(6) may be modified from time to time by the Secretary to 
accommodate changes in plans or operations in accordance with 
the provisions of applicable law; 
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PUBLIC LAW 99-522—OCT. 22, 1986 
100 STAT. 3001 
(7) shall be subject to such reasonable terms and conditions as 
the Secretary deems appropriate; and 
(8) shall be subject to a permit fee based on fair market value 
in accordance with applicable law. 
(c) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—^Within one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate rules and 
^ 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act, and shall, to the 
extent practicable and with the consent of existing permit holders, 
convert all existing ski area permits or leases on National Forest 
System lands into ski area permits which conform to the provisions 
of this Act within 3 years of the date of enactment of this Act. 
(d) Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to amend, modify or 
otherwise affect the Secretary's duties under the National Environ-
mental Policy Act, or the Forest and Rangelands Renewable 42 use 4321 
Resources Planning Act as amended by the National Forest note. 
Management Act, including his duties to involve the public in his 
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decisionmaking and planning for the national forests. 
note. 
Approved October 22, 1986. 
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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2266: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 99-449 (eomm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
eONGRESSIONAL REeORD, Vol. 132 (1986): 
Oct. 9, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 10, considered and passed House.