The United States House of Representatives recently passed legislation which would direct the Forest Service to create campground permits with terms up to 30 years. The 30-year term for the permits is for the purpose of facilitating large improvements needed to upgrade existing campground facilities. Under the proposed statute, within three years after enactment of the statute the Forest Service would be required to issue at least one permit in each region of the National Forest System. The Bureau of Land Management would have to meet a similar requirement. The permittee would then be required to spend a certain amount of funds within the first three years of the permit. Those expenses could then be deducted from any fees owed. Any structures constructed by the permittee would be owned by the federal government. The name given to the proposed legislation is the EXPLORE Act or the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act.
In order for the proposed legislation to be enacted into law, the U.S. Senate must pass its comparable proposed legislation, named AORA (“America Outdoors Recreation Act”). The President would then need to sign the legislation. At that point, the legislation’s timeframes would commence.