§8544 Service First Initiative; Permits for Multijurisdictional Trips

Summary

The Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture can run a program called the Service First Initiative starting in fiscal year 2024 and each year after. Under that program they can work together or for each other on projects, planning, permits, leases, contracts, and similar activities. They can share or put offices in the same buildings and try out rules for unified permits. They may give each other authority to act across their agencies to help customers and save time. If money is available, they may transfer or repay funds between the two departments for these efforts, but they cannot break rules about how those funds must be used. Each year they must report what they did to the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Nothing here changes which laws apply to lands managed by the BLM, Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, or Forest Service. Within 2 years after January 4, 2025, the Secretaries must start a pilot program to offer people doing trips that cross multiple federal recreation areas a set of separate permits or commercial authorizations that cover each unit involved. Within 4 years after January 4, 2025, they must issue at least 10 such sets. The pilot must name a lead agency and let people apply at at least 4 offices, with at least 2 run by the Department of the Interior and at least 2 run by the Forest Service. Each Secretary keeps the power to enforce the permit terms that apply to the lands they manage. People may apply for either individual permits for each unit or for the pilot’s set. The pilot does not apply to National Park Service concession contracts for lodging, facilities, or services.