---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8572"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8572"
heading: "Permit relief for picnic areas"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8572"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences"
  - "Subchapter III — Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation"
  - "Part C — Recreation Not Red Tape"
---

# §8572. Permit relief for picnic areas

- (a) **In general—** If the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) does not require the public to obtain a permit or reservation to access a picnic [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) on [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2) administered by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall not require a covered [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) to obtain a permit solely to access the picnic [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (b) **Covered person defined—** In this section, the term “covered [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b)” means a [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) (including an educational group) that provides outfitting and guiding services to fewer than 40 customers per year at a picnic [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) described in [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title III, § 352, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2916.)