Recreation Fee Collections and Expenditures Report for Fiscal Year 2020
October 13, 2020
In Reply Refer To:
2930 (932) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 10/22/2020
Instruction Memorandum No. CAIM-2021-001
Expires: 09/30/2022
To: All CA District Managers, District Budget Analysts, Field Office Mangers and
Outdoor Recreation Planners
From: State Director
Subject: Recreation Fee Collections and Expenditures Report for Fiscal Year 2020
Due Date: 11/20/2020
Program Area: Recreation
Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) directs Field and District Offices to complete the attached FY20 Spreadsheet and 1232 Revenue and Expenditures Spending Plan by November 20, 2020.
Policy/Action: The BLM collects Recreation Use Permit (RUP) fees for specific recreation activities and uses of public lands, including camping and day use at developed sites, and for the use of boat launches. The BLM also collects fees from Special Recreation Permits (SRP) for commercial and competitive recreation activities that occur on public land. Please use the FY20 Spreadsheet to input the 1232 expenditures by planned expenses category, future expenses by planned expenses category and the table created in the spreadsheet for the 1232 Revenue and Expenditure Spending Plan. The District Budget Analyst can assist the Field Offices to pull the necessary information to fill in the FY20 spreadsheet.
In BLM’s H-2930-1 Recreation Permit and Fee Administration Handbook, Chapter 2. Section III.C. Expenditures (page 2-20) these fees can then only be used for:
(A) Repair, maintenance, and recreation facility enhancement related directly to visitor enjoyment, visitor access,
and health and safety.
(B) Interpretation, visitor information, visitor service, visitor needs assessments, and signs.
(C) Habitat restoration directly related to wildlife-dependent recreation that is limited to hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, or photography.
(D) Law enforcement related to public use and recreation.
(E) Direct operating or capital costs associated with the recreation fee program; and
(F) A fee management agreement or a visitor reservation service.
Also found in BLM’s H-2930-1 Recreation Permit and Fee Administration Handbook, Chapter 2. Section III. A., Expenditures, (page 2-19), BLM’s policy is for field offices to retain 100% of their fee revenue for maintaining and enhancing their recreation sites and services for the public. To enhance the public understanding of how the fees are used, the BLM California is responsible for gathering and providing fee report information annually and this information can be obtained if requested (exact dollar amounts will not be included) from the Recreation Program Lead in the California State Office. See Fee Guidelines, Chapter 2, Section II. General Fee Policy and Guiding Parameters in H-2930-1 for specific details (pages 2-2 and 2-3).
Please submit the Spending Plan to Andrew Burrows at, aburrows@blm.gov by November 20th.
Timeframe: This IM is effective upon receipt.
Background: The BLM authorizes fee-based recreation use of the public lands and related waters through the issuance of SRPs and RUPs. The BLM’s authority to issue permits is described in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and 43 Code of Federal Regulations Section 2930. The authority to collect and retain recreation fees is specified in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004, Public Law 108-447, Section 3(b).
The intent is not to maximize fee revenue but to help protect natural resources, provide for public health and safety, and facilitate access to public lands and related waters. Fees are a way of ensuring that those who actively use recreation opportunities make a greater, but reasonable contribution toward protecting and enhancing those opportunities than those who do not.
The BLM, at all levels, is accountable to the public for monitoring fiscal integrity and efficiency, appropriate revenue distribution, and evaluation of the fee program. Of consideration to BLM is the development of strategic plans providing for the timely use of these funds, documentation of expenditures and projects completed.
Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: The BLM 2930 Recreation Permit and Fee Administration Manual and the BLM H-2930-1 Recreation Permit and Fee Administration Handbook.
Coordination: This IM was coordinated with HQ-430 (Division of Recreation and Visitor Services), California State Office Budget staff and Field Office recreation planners.
Contact: For questions regarding this IM, please contact Andrew Burrows, California Recreation Program Lead, at (916) 200-9543.
Signed By:
Karen E. Mouritsen
State Director
Authenticated By:
Lawrence Weitzel
Records Manager
Attachments
- 1232 Revenue and Expenditure Spending Plan
- FY20 spreadsheet