SIERRA CLUB STATEMENT ON RECREATIONAL USER FEE PROGRAM

Statement of Melanie L. Griffin
Director, Land Protection Program
February 4, 1999

The Sierra Club opposes user fees for public lands, with the exception of National Park Service entry fees and fees for special services, such as campgrounds and other developed facilities. The current "experimental" user fee program was ostensibly temporary in nature, set to expire in 30 months and subject to a full evaluation at that time. Grassroots opposition to the user fees program has been strong, and the issue has been hotly debated. Nevertheless, this controversial program -- originally a rider to the FY 97 Interior Appropriations bill -- was extended by another rider last year until Sept. 2001. The Sierra Club opposed the extension and strongly opposes congressional efforts to make the program permanent.

The user fee program raises serious questions of free public access, social equity, forest economics, and industry subsidies. The American people already own these lands, and should have free and open access to them. We pay taxes every April 15th to support the professional management of these public lands. Rather than appropriate sufficient funding for public land protection and management, the Congress consistently chooses to subsidize extractive industrial uses of our lands, like mining, grazing and logging. It does not make economic or environmental sense to charge fees for low-impact recreational activities while subsidizing such highly destructive industries. Families should not have to pick up an additional tab for industry every time they enter a National Forest.

The recreational fee program has the potential to transform recreational management of our public lands from a public service orientation to a commercial enterprise. Recreational interests that generate the most income like downhill skiing, off-road vehicle use, resort development and power boating would likely take precedence over lower impact activities like hiking, camping, nature study, and educational outings.

The Sierra Club supports the Capps/Bono proposal which seeks to end the imposition of recreation access and user fees on public lands, other than on National Park Service lands.