Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act” or the “SOAR Act”.
Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act
A BILL
To modify the procedures for issuing special recreation permits for certain public land units, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Associated agency— The term associated agency means the Federal land management agency, other than the lead agency, that manages a public land unit that is the subject of a single joint special recreation permit under section 7(a).
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).
Lead agency— With respect to a single joint special recreation permit application submitted under section 7(a), the term lead agency means the Federal land management agency designated to administer the single joint special recreation permit under section 7(a)(2).
Long-term special recreation permit— The term long-term special recreation permit means—
for a public land unit managed by the Forest Service, a priority use permit; and
for a public land unit managed by the Bureau of Land Management, a multiyear special recreation permit.
Multijurisdictional trip— The term multijurisdictional trip means a trip that—
uses 2 or more public land units; and
is under the jurisdiction of 2 or more Federal land management agencies.
Public land unit— The term public land unit means—
a unit of the National Forest System;
a unit of the National Park System;
a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
a district of the Bureau of Land Management; and
a project of the Bureau of Reclamation.
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).
Secretary concerned— The term Secretary concerned means—
the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to a public land unit described in paragraph (6)(A); and
the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to a public land unit described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (6).
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).
Sec. 3 Special recreation permit and fee
Definitions— Section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “section 3(f)” and inserting “section 803(f)”;
in paragraph (2), by striking “section 3(g)” and inserting “section 803(g)”;
in paragraph (6), by striking “section 5” and inserting “section 805”;
in paragraph (9), by striking “section 5” and inserting “section 805”;
in paragraph (12), by striking “section 7” and inserting “section 807”;
in paragraph (13), by striking “section 3(h)” and inserting “section 803(h)”;
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 moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order;
by inserting after paragraph (8) (as so redesignated) the following:
“(9) Recreation service provider—The term recreation service provider means an individual or entity that—
“(A) provides outfitting, guiding, or other recreation services; or
“(B) conducts recreational or competitive events, including incidental sales.”
by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:
“(13) Special recreation permit—The term special recreation permit means a permit issued by a Federal land management agency for specialized individual or group uses of Federal recreational lands and waters, including—
“(A) for outfitting, guiding, or other recreation services;
“(B) for recreation or competitive events, which may include incidental sales;
“(C) for the use of—
“(i) a special area; or
“(ii) an area in which use is allocated;
“(D) for motorized recreational vehicle use in compliance with an applicable travel management plan or other regulation; and
“(E) for a group activity or event.”
Special recreation permit and fee— Section 803 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802) is amended—
in subsection (b)(5), by striking “section 4(d)” and inserting “section 804(d)”; and
by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
“(h) Special recreation permit and fee
“(1) Special recreation permit—The Secretary may issue a special recreation permit for specialized individual or group uses of Federal recreational lands and waters.
“(2) Special recreation permit fee
“(A) In general—The Secretary may charge a special recreation permit fee in connection with the issuance of a special recreation permit under paragraph (1).
“(B) Fees for certain lands
“(i) In general—Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), a special recreation permit fee under subparagraph (A) for use of Federal recreational lands and waters managed by the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall not exceed the difference between—
“(I) the sum of—
“(aa) 3 percent of the annual gross revenue of the recreation service provider for all activities authorized by the special recreation permit; and
“(bb) any applicable revenue addition; and
“(II) any applicable revenue exclusion.
“(ii) Exclusion of certain revenues and payments—In calculating the amount of a fee for a special recreation permit under clause (i), the Secretary shall exclude—
“(I) revenue from goods, services, souvenirs, merchandise, gear, food, and activities provided or sold by a special recreation permit holder in a location other than the Federal recreational lands and waters covered by the permit, including transportation costs, lodging, and any other service before or after a trip; and
“(II) revenue from any recreational services provided by a special recreation permit holder for activities on Federal recreational lands and waters for which a separate permit is issued.
“(iii) Alternative per-person fee
“(I) In general—For Federal recreational lands and waters managed by the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Secretary may charge a per-person fee in connection with the issuance of a special recreation permit under paragraph (1).
“(II) Amount of fee—The total amount charged by the Secretary in connection with the issuance of a special recreation permit under paragraph (1) using a per-person fee under subclause (I) shall be comparable to the amount the Secretary may charge for a special recreation permit fee under subparagraph (A) and clauses (i) and (ii).
“(iv) Effect—Nothing in this subparagraph affects any fee for a commercial use authorization for use of Federal recreational lands and waters managed by the National Park Service.
“(C) Disclosure of fees—A special recreation permit holder may inform customers of any fee charged by the Secretary under this section.
“(3) Reports
“(A) In general—The Secretary shall make available to holders of special recreation permits under paragraph (1) and the public an annual report describing the use of fees collected by the Secretary under paragraph (2).
“(B) Requirements—The report under subparagraph (A) shall include a description of how the fees are used in each public land unit (as defined in section 2 of the SOAR Act) administered by the Secretary, including an identification of the amounts used for specific activities within the public land unit.”
Use of special recreation permit revenue— Section 808 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6807) is amended—
in subsection (a)(3)(F), by striking “section 6(a)” and inserting “section 806(a)”;
in subsection (d), by striking “section 5” each place it appears and inserting “section 805”;
by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as subsections (c) through (e), respectively; and
by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
“(b) Use of special recreation permit fee revenue—Revenue from a special recreation permit fee may be used for—
“(1) the purposes described in subsection (a); and
“(2) expenses—
“(A) associated with processing applications for special recreation permits; and
“(B) incurred in the improvement of the operation of the special recreation permit system.”
Permanent authorization— Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) is amended—
by striking “The authority” and inserting the following:
“(a) In general—Except as provided in subsection (b), the authority”
by adding at the end the following:
“(b) Applicability—Subsection (a) shall not apply to—
“(1) section 802;
“(2) subsection (d)(2) or (h) of section 803; or
“(3) subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 808.”
Sec. 4 Permitting process improvements
In general— To simplify the process of the issuance and renewal of special recreation permits and reduce the cost of administering special recreation permits, the Secretary concerned shall—
not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act—
evaluate the special recreation permitting process; and
identify opportunities—
to eliminate duplicative processes;
to reduce costs; and
to decrease processing times; and
not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary concerned completes the evaluation and identification processes under paragraph (1), revise, as necessary, relevant agency regulations and policy statements to implement the improvements identified under paragraph (1)(B).
Categorical exclusions—
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall—
evaluate whether 1 or more additional categorical exclusions developed in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) would reduce processing times or costs for the issuance or renewal of special recreation permits without significantly affecting the human environment; and
if the Secretary concerned determines under subparagraph (A) that 1 or more additional categorical exclusions would reduce processing times or costs for the issuance or renewal of special recreation permits without significantly affecting the human environment—
establish those categorical exclusions in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
fully document that a category of actions will not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment; and
revise relevant agency regulations and policy statements to implement those categorical exclusions.
Administration—
In general— In administering a categorical exclusion established under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary concerned shall comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (including regulations promulgated pursuant to that Act).
Extraordinary circumstances— In determining whether to use a categorical exclusion established under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary concerned shall apply, as applicable, the extraordinary circumstances procedures described in—
section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation); or
section 46.215 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
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 for a public land unit under this Act.
Online applications— The Secretary concerned shall make applications for special recreation permits available to be completed and submitted online unless the Secretary concerned determines that making applications for special recreation permits available to be completed and submitted online would not improve the efficiency or accessibility of the permitting process.
Sec. 5 Permit flexibility
Similar activities— The Secretary concerned shall establish a permit administration protocol that authorizes, to the maximum extent practicable, a permittee issued a special recreation permit for a public land unit under section 803(h) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802(h)) to engage in a recreational activity that is substantially similar to the specific activity authorized under the special recreation permit, if the substantially similar recreational activity—
is comparable in type, nature, scope, and ecological setting to the specific activity authorized under the special recreation permit;
does not result in a greater impact on natural and cultural resources than the authorized activity;
does not adversely affect any other permittee issued a special recreation permit for a public land unit under that section;
does not involve the use of a motor, including an electric motor, for a previously nonmotorized use; and
is consistent with any laws (including regulations) and land use or management plans applying to a public land unit.
Voluntary return of surplus service days— The Secretary concerned shall establish a program to allow a permittee issued a special recreation permit for a public land unit to voluntarily and temporarily return to the Secretary concerned 1 or more surplus service days, to be made available to any other existing or potential permittee.
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management temporary special recreation permits—
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 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.
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.
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.
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).
Sec. 6 Permit administration
Permit availability—
Notification of permit availability—
In general— Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), if the Secretary concerned has determined that the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior, as applicable, is able to issue new special recreation permits to recreation service providers seeking to use a public land unit, the Secretary concerned shall publish that information on the website of the agency that administers the relevant public land unit.
Exception for certain permits— With respect to a public land unit managed by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, subparagraph (A) shall apply only to a long-term special recreation permit for the public land unit.
Exception for renewals and reissuances— Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to—
a renewal or reissuance of an existing special recreation permit; or
a new special recreation permit issued to the purchaser of a recreation service provider that is the holder of an existing special recreation permit.
Effect— Nothing in this paragraph creates a prerequisite to the issuance of a special recreation permit or otherwise limits the authority of the Secretary concerned—
to issue a new special recreation permit;
to add a new or additional use to an existing special recreation permit; or
to make special recreation permits available to members of the public.
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.
Electronic mail notification— The Secretary concerned shall—
establish a system by which potential special recreation permit applicants may subscribe to receive notification of the availability of special recreation permits by electronic mail; and
direct employees of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior, as applicable, to use that system to notify the public of the availability of special recreation permits.
Permit application acknowledgment— Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary of the Interior receives a completed application or the Secretary of Agriculture receives a complete proposal for a special recreation permit for a public land unit, the Secretary concerned shall—
provide to the applicant notice acknowledging receipt of the application or proposal; and
issue a final decision with respect to the application or proposal; or
provide to the applicant notice of a projected date for a final decision on the application or proposal.
Sec. 7 Permits for multijurisdictional trips
Single joint special recreation permits—
In general— In the case of a multijurisdictional trip, the Federal land management agencies with jurisdiction over the multijurisdictional trip may offer to the applicant a single joint special recreation permit that authorizes the use of each public land unit under the jurisdiction of those Federal land management agencies.
Lead agency— In offering a single joint special recreation permit under paragraph (1), the applicable Federal land management agencies shall designate a lead agency for administering the single joint special recreation permit based on the following considerations:
The length of the multijurisdictional trip and the relative portions of the multijurisdictional trip on each public land unit.
The congressional or administrative designations that apply to the areas to be used during the multijurisdictional trip and the degree to which those designations impose limitations on recreational use.
The relative ability of the Federal land management agencies with jurisdiction over the multijurisdictional trip to respond to the single joint special recreation permit application in a timely manner.
Other relevant administrative considerations.
Application— An applicant desiring to be offered a single joint special recreation permit under paragraph (1) shall submit to the lead agency an application, as required by the lead agency.
Option to apply for separate permits— An applicant for a special recreation permit for a multijurisdictional trip may apply to each applicable Federal land management agency for a separate permit for the portion of the multijurisdictional trip on the public land unit managed by each applicable Federal land management agency.
Prohibitions— Nothing in this section allows an activity that would otherwise be prohibited on the public land unit at which the activity would take place.
Requirements— In issuing a single joint special recreation permit under subsection (a), the lead agency shall—
coordinate with each associated agency, consistent with the authority of the Secretary concerned under section 330 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (43 U.S.C. 1703), to develop and issue 1 joint permit that covers the entirety of the multijurisdictional trip;
in processing the joint special recreation permit application, incorporate the findings, interests, and needs of the associated agency;
in issuing the joint special recreation permit, clearly identify the agencies that have the authority to enforce the terms, stipulations, conditions and agreements of the joint special recreation permit, as determined under subsection (d); and
complete the permitting process within a reasonable timeframe.
Cost recovery— The coordination with the associated agency under subsection (b) shall not be subject to cost recovery.
Enforcement authority—
Delegation of authority to lead agency— In administering a single joint special recreation permit under subsection (a), the associated agency shall delegate to the lead agency the authority—
to enforce the terms, stipulations, conditions, and agreements of the joint special recreation permit, as may be required by the regulations of the Secretary of the associated agency; and
to suspend, terminate, or revoke the joint special recreation permit for—
noncompliance with Federal, State, or local laws and regulations;
noncompliance with the terms of the joint special recreation permit; or
failure of the holder of the joint special recreation permit to exercise the privileges granted by the joint special recreation permit.
Retention of authority by the associated agency— The associated agency shall retain the authority to enforce the terms, stipulations, conditions, and agreements in the joint special recreation permit that apply specifically to the use occurring on the public land unit managed by the associated agency.
Withdrawal—
In general— The lead agency or an associated agency may withdraw from a joint special recreation permit at any time.
Issuance of separate permits—
In general— In the case of a withdrawal by 1 or more agencies under paragraph (1), if the holder of the joint special recreation permit is in compliance with the requirements of the joint special recreation permit, the lead agency and each associated agency shall issue to the holder of the joint special recreation permit a new, separate special recreation permit for any use occurring on the public land unit managed by the agency.
Requirements— A special recreation permit issued under subparagraph (A) shall contain the same or substantially similar terms, conditions, and operating stipulations as the joint special recreation permit from which an agency has withdrawn under paragraph (1).
No new application— The holder of a joint special recreation permit from which an agency has withdrawn under paragraph (1) shall not be required to submit a new application for a separate special recreation permit under subparagraph (A).
Treatment of public land units charging entrance fees— For any trip that originates on, or outside of, but passes through, a public land unit that charges entrance fees, entrance fees may be collected in addition to the special recreation permit fees (as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801)).
Sec. 8 Forest Service permit use reviews
In general— If the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) conducts a special recreation permit use review in renewing a special recreation permit or adjusting allocations of use in a special recreation permit, the Secretary shall—
take into consideration the performance of the special recreation permit holder during the reviewed period; and
if the special recreation permit holder receives a satisfactory performance review, allocate to the special recreation permit holder the highest level of actual annual use during the period under review plus 25 percent of that use, not to exceed the level allocated to the special recreation permit holder on the date on which the special recreation permit was issued.
Additional capacity—
In general— If additional use capacity is available, the Secretary may, at any time, assign additional use capacity to 1 or more qualified recreation service providers.
Assignment not subject to cap on use— Notwithstanding subsection (a), in assigning additional use capacity under paragraph (1), the Secretary may assign additional use capacity to an existing special recreation permit holder even if that assignment would exceed the amount of use allocated to the special recreation permit holder on the date on which the special recreation permit was issued.
Waiver— The Secretary may waive a special recreation permit use review for any period during which use of the assigned capacity has been prevented by a circumstance beyond the control of the special recreation permit holder, such as—
unfavorable weather;
fire;
natural disaster;
wildlife displacement;
business interruption;
insufficient availability of hunting and fishing licenses; or
significant seasonal variability or off-peak periods within the allocated period of use.
Approval of non-use—
In general— In any circumstance for which the holder of a special recreation permit would qualify for a waiver under subsection (c), on request of the holder of the special recreation permit, the Secretary may approve non-use by the holder of the special recreation permit without reducing the number of service days assigned to the special recreation permit.
Temporary reassignment of use— The Secretary may temporarily assign any period of non-use approved under paragraph (1) to any other existing or potential permittee.
Sec. 9 Liability
Exculpatory agreements—
In general— A Federal land management agency shall not implement, administer, or enforce any regulation, guidance, or policy regarding the use of an exculpatory agreement between a special recreation permit holder and a customer of the special recreation permit holder relating to services provided under a special recreation permit.
Savings clause— Nothing in this subsection preempts, displaces, modifies, or eliminates any State law (including common law) regarding exculpatory agreements.
Indemnification by government entities— The Secretary concerned may not require a recreation service provider to indemnify the United States as a condition for issuing a special recreation permit for a public land unit under section 803(h) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802(h)) if—
the recreation service provider is prohibited by State or local law from providing indemnification to the United States; and
the recreation service provider—
carries the minimum amount of liability insurance coverage required by the issuing agency for the activities conducted under the special recreation permit; or
is self-insured for the same amount.
Sec. 10 Cost recovery reform
Revision of regulations—
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall revise section 251.58 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, and the Secretary of the Interior shall revise subsections (e) and (f) of section 2932.31 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, to be consistent with this section.
Limitation— In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall not include anything in the revised regulations that would limit the authority of the Secretary concerned to issue or renew special recreation permits.
De minimis exemption from cost recovery—
In general— Any regulation promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to establish fees to recover the costs of processing an application for a special recreation permit issued by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, or for monitoring an authorization under a special recreation permit issued by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, shall include an exemption providing that fees may not be recovered for not less than the first 50 hours of work necessary in any 1 year to process the application or monitor the authorization.
Multiple applications— In situations involving multiple applications for special recreation permits issued by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management for similar services in the same public land unit or area that, in the aggregate, require more hours to process than are exempt under the regulations promulgated under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall, regardless of whether the applications are solicited or unsolicited and whether there is competitive interest—
determine the share of the aggregate quantity of hours to be allocated to each application on an equal or prorated basis, as appropriate; and
for each application, apply a separate exemption as specified in the regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) to the share of the aggregate hours allocated to the application.
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. 11 Extension of special recreation permits
In general— Subject to subsection (b), if the holder of a long-term special recreation permit makes a timely and sufficient request for renewal of the long-term special recreation permit, the expiration of the permit shall be tolled in accordance with the undesignated matter following section 558(c)(2) of title 5, United States Code, until such time as the request for renewal has been finally determined by the Secretary concerned.
Limitation— Any tolling under subsection (a) shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.
Responsibility of the Secretary concerned— Before allowing the expiration of a permit to be tolled under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned, to the maximum extent practicable, shall complete the renewal process.
Sec. 12 Effect
In general— Except as provided in subsection (b), nothing in this Act (including an amendment made by this Act) affects 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 units of the National Park System under subchapter II of chapter 1019 of title 54, United States Code.
Exception— Notwithstanding subsection (a), subsections (a), (b), and (d) of section 4, subsections (a) and (b) of section 5, and sections 7 and 9 shall apply to commercial use authorizations under subchapter II of chapter 1019 of title 54, United States Code.