---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8549"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8549"
heading: "Cost recovery reform"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8549"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences"
  - "Subchapter III — Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation"
  - "Part A — Modernizing Recreation Permitting"
---

# §8549. Cost recovery reform

- (a) **Cost recovery for special recreation permits—** In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to a fee collected under [section 6802 of this title](/usc/16/6802.md) or any other authorized fee collected by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8), the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) may assess and collect a reasonable fee from an applicant for, or holder of, a [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) to recover administrative costs incurred by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) for—
  - (1) processing a proposal or application for the [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4);
  - (2) issuing the [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4); and
  - (3) monitoring the [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4).
- (b) **De minimis exemption from cost recovery—** If the administrative costs described in [subsection (a)](#a) are assessed on an hourly basis, the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall—
  - (1) establish an hourly de minimis threshold that exempts a specified number of hours from the assessment and collection of administrative costs described in [subsection (a)](#a); and
  - (2) charge an applicant only for any hours that exceed the de minimis threshold.
- (c) **Multiple applications—** If the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) collectively processes multiple applications for [special recreation permits](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) for the same or similar services in the same [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2), the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall, to the extent practicable—
  - (1) assess from the applicants the fee described in [subsection (a)](#a) on a prorated basis; and
  - (2) apply the exemption described in [subsection (b)](#b) to each applicant on an individual basis.
- (d) **Limitation—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall not assess or collect administrative costs under this section for a programmatic environmental review.
- (e) **Cost reduction—** To the maximum extent practicable, the agency processing an application for a [special recreation permit](/usc/16/8531.md?p=4) shall use existing studies and analysis to reduce the quantity of work and costs necessary to process the application.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title III, § 320, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2908.)