Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act

Local retention of ski area fees

This bill would create a Treasury "Ski Area Fee Retention Account" for ski area permit rental charges collected by the Forest Service. Money deposited would be available to the Secretary without further appropriation and remain available for four fiscal years starting the fiscal year after deposit. For each covered ski area, 80% of deposits would be spent at that unit (of that local share, 75% for administration, planning, visitor services, and wildfire planning/risk reduction near recreation sites, and 25% for visitor facilities, access, safety, repairs, and operations). Twenty percent would be available agency-wide. The Secretary could lower the local share if local needs are met, but not below 60%. Funds could not be used for wildfire suppression or to buy land for the National Forest System. Retained fees would have to supplement, not replace, regular operation and maintenance funding. These rules would take effect 60 days after enactment.