In May of
2000, the New Hampshire State Legislature passed a resolution
a section of which asked for Fee Demo to not be implemented in New
Hampshire. And now, two years later on April 11, the New Hampshire
Legislature has stepped up its position and passed a new stand-alone
resolution asking Congress to abolish Fee Demo.
The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed the resolution overwhelmingly on a voice vote, and the New Hampshire Senate passed the resolution unanimously.
The resolution reads as follows:
"STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One
A RESOLUTION urging Congress to abolish the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program on public lands including the White Mountain National Forest.
Whereas, in 1996 Congress passed the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1996 that included a rider creating the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program; and
Whereas, the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program requires citizens of New Hampshire to pay to park in the White Mountain National Forest; and
Whereas, citizens of New Hampshire already pay federal income taxes that should adequately fund the operation and maintenance of national forests; and
Whereas, the federal government has failed in its commitment to New Hampshire citizens to fully fund payments in lieu of taxes for acquired federal lands; and
Whereas, the fee constitutes a regressive tax that bears no relation to the actual costs of recreation including hiking, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, wildlife observation, or picknicking; and
Whereas, the parking fees deny limited-income citizens access to public lands and inhibit volunteerism and stewardship of public lands; and
Whereas, the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program has undermined the longstanding goodwill between the White Mountain National Forest and New Hampshire citizens and communities; and
Whereas, the traditional support of New Hampshire citizens for activities such as trail maintenance and fire safety have been compromised; and
Whereas, fees are now required to gain access to areas that are unimproved and undeveloped; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the United States Congress is respectfully urged to abolish the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program and permit citizens of New Hampshire to enjoy the national forests without payment of a fee; and
That a copy of this resolution shall be sent by the house clerk to the President of the United States, the Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each member of the New Hampshire congressional delegation."
On April 8, the Board of Commissioners of
La Plata County, Colorado unanimously voted to pass Resolution 2002-12. The
resolution reqeusts that the budgets of public lands agencies be adequately
funded from appropiations and that no recreational fees be implemented in
La Plata County.
The resolution reads as follows:
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LA PLATA COUNTY, COLORADO, CONCERNING THE RECREATIONAL FEE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
WHEREAS, in 1996 Congress authorized the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, which allows the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to charge visitors daily and yearly fees for recreation on publicly owned land under their management; and
WHEREAS, several “fee demo” programs have been implemented in Colorado, including Yankee Boy Basin, Vail Pass, the Gunnison Gorge, Mount Evans, and others; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable to expect that the fee demo program may be considered for implementation on public land in La Plata County, Colorado, which contains numerous popular recreation areas on federally owned land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management; and
WHEREAS, at a hearing held on February 11, 2002 before the Board of County Commissioners of La Plata County, Colorado over 75 people appeared to voice their opposition to the implementation of the fee demo program in La Plata County; and
WHEREAS, the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners strongly supports the concept of local control and respects the role of local elected officials, considering the opinions, needs and desires of their communities, to make sound policy decisions that affect their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners believes it is important to share with our congressional delegation its opinion with respect to the fee demo program, which, if implemented in La Plata County, could have a significant impact on both tourism and the enjoyment of federal public lands by local residents;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LA PLATA COUNTY, COLORADO AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the United States Congress is urged to fully fund the budgetary needs and requests of our public land agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and others, to ensure adequate resources to fulfill their missions and obligations to our nation’s citizens who support these agencies with their tax dollars; and
2. That the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners hereby requests that no recreational fees be imposed on federal lands under the fee demo program within the boundaries of La Plata County. If a fee demo program is proposed for La Plata County, we request that it not be implemented without specific input and approval of the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners.
3. That the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners opposes any reauthorization of the fee demo program unless approval of local elected officials is required to be received prior to implementation of the fee demo program in a particular jurisdiction.
4. That, as an alternative to the fee demo program, we would urge federal agencies to seek partnerships with local civic groups, recreational organizations and others, in an attempt to address some of the pressing needs that exist on public lands due to their recreational use and popularity.
5. That the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners hereby pledges to continue to communicate, cooperate and collaborate with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management within La Plata County in their efforts to protect, yet keep accessible, our local natural resources and recreational areas.
ADOPTED this 8th day of April, 2002 in Durango, La Plata County, Colorado.