---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8542"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8542"
heading: "Permit flexibility"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8542"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences"
  - "Subchapter III — Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation"
  - "Part A — Modernizing Recreation Permitting"
---

# §8542. Permit flexibility

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall establish guidelines to allow a holder of a [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) under subsection (h) of [section 6802 of this title](/usc/16/6802.md) (as amended by this title), to engage in another recreational activity under the [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) that is substantially similar to the specific activity authorized under the [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4).
- (b) **Criteria—** For the purposes of this section, a recreational activity shall be considered to be a substantially similar recreational activity if the recreational activity—
  - (1) is comparable in type, nature, scope, and ecological setting to the specific activity authorized under the [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4);
  - (2) does not result in a greater impact on natural and cultural resources than the impact of the authorized activity;
  - (3) does not adversely affect—
    - (A) any other holder of a [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) or other permit; or
    - (B) any other authorized use of the [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2); and
  - (4) is consistent with—
    - (A) any applicable laws (including regulations); and
    - (B) the land [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k), resource [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k), or equivalent plan applicable to the [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2).
- (c) **Surrender of unused visitor-use days—**
  - (1) **In general—** A [recreation service provider](/usc/16/8531.md?p=3) holding a [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) described in paragraph (13)(A)(iv) of [section 6801 of this title](/usc/16/6801.md) (as amended by this title) may—
    - (A) notify the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) of an inability to use [visitor-use days](/usc/16/8531.md?p=5) annually allocated to the [recreation service provider](/usc/16/8531.md?p=3) under the [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4); and
    - (B) surrender to the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) the unused [visitor-use days](/usc/16/8531.md?p=5) for the applicable year for temporary reassignment under [section 8547(b) of this title](/usc/16/8547.md?p=b).
  - (2) **Determination—** To ensure a [recreation service provider](/usc/16/8531.md?p=3) described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1) is able to make an informed decision before surrendering any unused [visitor-use day](/usc/16/8531.md?p=5) under [paragraph (1)(B)](#c-1-B), the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall, on the request of the applicable [recreation service provider](/usc/16/8531.md?p=3), determine and notify the [recreation service provider](/usc/16/8531.md?p=3) whether the unused [visitor-use day](/usc/16/8531.md?p=5) meets the requirement described in [section 8546(b)(3)(B) of this title](/usc/16/8546.md?p=b-3-B) before the [recreation service provider](/usc/16/8531.md?p=3) surrenders the unused [visitor-use day](/usc/16/8531.md?p=5).
- (d) **Effect—** Nothing in this section affects any authority of, regulation issued by, or decision of the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) relating to the use of electric bicycles on [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2) under any other Federal law.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title III, § 313, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2901.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

As amended by this title, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c)(1), means as amended by title III of Pub. L. 118–234.