Don't miss this article that appeared on the front page of the New York Times on Friday, March 7 under the headline:

 Recreation Fees Rising in Wake of Fires' Costs

This is the most prominent national coverage of the issue of public lands access fees to date. You will note from the headline and the opening passages that the Forest Service is now shifting the blame for access fees to the cost of firefighting. Don't be fooled by this. In the Forest Service budgeting process, fire and recreation budgets are completely separate.

The fees began long before the extreme fires of recent years. Originally, the justification was backlogged maintenance needs. Then it became reduced appropriated budgets. Now it's firefighting.

Fees have nothing to do with fire. Fee revenue has not made a dent in backlogged maintenance needs. Fees have not prevented the Forest Service from closing and decommissioning thousands of recreation sites. Fees are an issue all to themselves. The public lands agencies have become addicted to fees for their own sake, and will use any excuse to continue them.

The NY Times story is helping gain the attention of officials in Washington who have not previously focused on the fee issue. This is a perfect time to contact your elected officials in the House and Senate and ask them to support S.2438, the Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act. You can find out contact information about your elected officials at www.Senate.gov and www.House.gov . Please call, fax, or email them today.

Thanks,
Kitty Benzar, President
Western Slope No-Fee Coalition

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