As a part of a national adjustment to U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s recreation fee program, day-use fees in selected National Forests and Grasslands in Texas recreation areas will no longer be charged, officials announced today.

Day-use fees will no longer be collected at Stubblefield Lake in Sam Houston National Forest, Boles Field in Sabine National Forest and West Lake Crockett in Caddo National Grasslands.

This decision results from the agency’s efforts to comply with provisions of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, (REA) which President Bush signed this year. The law permits federal land management agencies to continue charging modest fees at campgrounds, rental cabins and other high-impact recreation areas on federal lands. Some sites which had previously required fees under the original recreation fee demonstration authority, (demo), do not meet the new criteria. Those fees will be removed immediately.

"Recreation on federal lands has grown tremendously over the past several years, and the demo program has been a valuable tool for allowing forest managers to meet visitor demands for enhanced visitor facilities and services," said Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth. "The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act raises the bar for sites to qualify for charging fees so that the public can enjoy more amenities at such sites."

All Forest Service units which charged recreation fees under the previous demo program reviewed their current fee sites and determined whether or not their sites meet requirements as outlined under REA. About 450 fees will be removed this year from the program nationally because they do not meet the qualifications of a fee site, which include having designated developed parking, a permanent toilet facility and security services.

The majority of fees are reinvested at the site where they were collected to operate, maintain and enhance service, such as trails, toilet facilities, boat ramps and interpretive exhibits.

The Forest Service will continue to implement the provisions of REA in a careful manner and in coordination with those who enjoy recreation activities to achieve the greatest degree of public satisfaction possible.

The Act requires public involvement whenever changes occur in the fee program, and the establishment of Recreation Resource Advisory Councils, which will provide recommendations for establishing any new fees.

The REA, a part of the 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, also affects the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. It replaced the 1996 Recreation Fee Demonstration program. The Act calls for current nationwide interagency passes to merge into one, which will be named the "America the Beautiful" pass. This pass is still under development so current interagency passes, including the Golden Eagle, Age and Access Passports as well as the National Parks Pass will continue to be sold and honored.

Millions of people each year visit their national forests and grasslands and the vast majority of all of the Forest Service’s services are free. In all, the Forest Service manages 193 million acres, including 122,000 campsites, 11,000 picnic sites, 133,000 miles of trail as well as many cabin rentals, boat launches and other facilities.

For more information about the program, visit www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs.