Forest Service Holds 50% Discounts
March 18, 2010
On Wednesday Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced his decision not to change the fee structure charged to holders of passes at Forest Service campgrounds operated by private contractors leaving intact the half-off camping fee rates now available to holders of the government issued $10 lifetime Senior Pass.
The Forest Service had proposed changes to discounts provided to holders of Golden Age and Golden Access Passports and Senior and Access Passes that would have lowered the discount form 50% to 10%. The response from the public–more than 4,000 comments–universally opposing the rate changes, convinced Tidwell that the proposed changes were not the best way to address services provided by private contractors at Forest Service recreation sites.
“Each year more than 175 million people enjoy recreational opportunities on National Forests and Grasslands, and that includes more than 15 million visits to our campgrounds,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Particularly in these difficult economic times, it is very important to maintain affordable access to our National Forests and Grasslands, giving people easy ways to recreate and find respite in the great outdoors.”
Whether this decision will result in the raising of fees before the mandatory 50% discount is applied remains to be seen, but it is good news for seniors, forest campers, and boondockers that use forest service campgrounds (Photo – Deschutes National Forest, Oregon), and is a testament to the government listening to and being influenced by the public sentiment.
Concessionaires, however, are not required to accept passes at day use sites. For more information, visit: www.fs.fed.us
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