---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8544"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8544"
heading: "Service First Initiative; permits for multijurisdictional trips"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8544"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences"
  - "Subchapter III — Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation"
  - "Part A — Modernizing Recreation Permitting"
---

# §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](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) may carry out an initiative, to be known as the “Service First Initiative”, under which the [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6), or [Federal land management agencies](/usc/16/8401.md?p=1) within their departments, may—
    - (A) establish programs to conduct [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), 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](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) may make reciprocal delegations of the respective authorities, duties, and responsibilities of the [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) 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](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service, United States [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) 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](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) 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](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), 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](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) 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](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) shall establish a pilot program to offer to a [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) seeking an authorization for a [multijurisdictional trip](/usc/16/8531.md?p=2) a set of separate [special recreation permits](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) or [commercial use authorizations](/usc/16/8531.md?p=1) that authorizes the use of each [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2) on which the [multijurisdictional trip](/usc/16/8531.md?p=2) occurs, subject to the authorities that apply to the applicable [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Minimum number of permits—** Not later than 4 years after January 4, 2025, the [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) shall issue not fewer than 10 sets of separate [special recreation permits](/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) or [commercial use authorizations](/usc/16/8531.md?p=1) under the pilot program established under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
  - (3) **Lead agencies—** In carrying out the pilot program established under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) shall—
    - (A) designate a lead agency for issuing and administering a set of separate [special recreation permits](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) or [commercial use authorizations](/usc/16/8531.md?p=1); and
    - (B) select not fewer than 4 offices at which a [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) shall be able to apply for a set of separate [special recreation permits](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) or [commercial use authorizations](/usc/16/8531.md?p=1), of which—
      - (i) not fewer than 2 offices are managed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7); and
      - (ii) not fewer than 2 offices are managed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
  - (4) **Retention of authority by the applicable Secretary—** Each of the [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) shall retain the authority to enforce the terms, stipulations, conditions, and agreements in a set of separate [special recreation permits](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) or [commercial use authorizations](/usc/16/8531.md?p=1) issued under the pilot program established under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) that apply specifically to the use occurring on the [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2) managed by the applicable [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7), under the authorities that apply to the applicable [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2).
  - (5) **Option to apply for separate special recreation permits or commercial use authorizations—** A [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) seeking the appropriate permits or authorizations for a [multijurisdictional trip](/usc/16/8531.md?p=2) may apply for—
    - (A) a separate [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) or [commercial use authorization](/usc/16/8531.md?p=1) for the use of each [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2) on which the [multijurisdictional trip](/usc/16/8531.md?p=2) occurs; or
    - (B) a set of separate special recreational permits or [commercial use authorizations](/usc/16/8531.md?p=1) made available under the pilot program established under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
  - (6) **Effect—** Nothing in this subsection applies to a concession contract issued by the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service for the provision of accommodations, facilities, or services.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title III, § 315, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2903.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

As amended by this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), means as amended by title III of Pub. L. 118–234.

### Codification

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.