§6803 Public participation

Summary

The Secretary must give the public chances to help create or change recreation fees for federal lands and waters. The Secretary must publish a notice in the Federal Register six months before creating a new fee area. New or changed fees must also be announced in local newspapers and publications near the site. Before starting any new fee area, the Secretary must make and publish guidelines that explain how the public can take part and how agencies will show, every year, what they told the public about how fee money is used. The Secretary must set up a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee for each State or region that covers Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management recreation sites, unless there is not enough local interest or another committee can do the job. There can be more than one committee if needed. The committee can advise on starting, changing, stopping, or expanding standard or expanded amenity fees. It must meet at least once a year. If the Secretary rejects a committee recommendation, the Secretary must tell two congressional committees at least 30 days before acting. Each committee has 12 members, nominated by the Governor and county officials and appointed by the Secretary. Membership must be balanced: five recreation users (winter and summer, motorized and non-motorized, hunting and fishing), four interest groups (such as outfitters, guides, local environmental groups, veterans), and three others (state tourism official, tribal representative, local government representative). Members serve staggered 2- or 3-year terms and may be reappointed. The committee chooses its chair, six members make a quorum, and recommendations need a majority in each membership category plus documented public support. Members are not paid. Meetings must be announced at least one week ahead in a local newspaper of record and the Federal Register, be open to the public, and keep records available for public inspection. The committee is subject to chapter 10 of title 5.