Stop out-of-control recreation fees

All public land recreationists owe a huge thank you to the Idaho Congressional delegation for forcefully coming out in opposition to the horrible anti-democratic USFS proposal to eliminate the 50 percent discount for seniors and disabled for National Forest campgrounds. Yet this is only the tip of an ugly iceberg. It is crucial to note that USFS is caving in to massive pressure from profit-driven campground contractors. They propose handing over yet more campgrounds to concessionaires while also exempting them from honoring golden eagle passes – patently illegal. 

I strongly urge citizens to quickly email U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell (ttidwell@fs.fed.us) and U. S. Forest Service Director of Recreation Jim Bedwell (jbedwell@fs.fed.us), stating in the strongest terms that the entire proposal printed in the Federal Register Dec. 1 must be rejected.

The top brass of the USFS has gone bonkers with a cancerous privatization philosophy for outdoor recreation that is literally stealing your freedoms.  Stress to them the imperative of serving we the people, not the concessionaires and corporate America. 

Of huge importance is continuing to stress to Congress that the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) must be repealed. Out-of-control oppressive recreation fees at Trailheads, Wild Rivers, and backcountry venues must stop. The USFS cannot cry poor when they just received $650 million for capital improvement and maintenance in the Stimulus bill!   The literal future of recreation on the National Forests is absolutely at stake.  Please become part of the solution. 

“The National Forests are creatures of Democracy,  not the Forest Service.”   – John Freemuth 

Scott Phillips

Hailey, Idaho