America the Beautiful – National Parks And Federal Recreational Lands Pass

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (in Public Law 108-447) established a new recreation fee program for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), National Park Service (NPS), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Forest Service (FS). The Act authorizes the agencies to collect fees at federal recreational lands and waters. The act authorizes different kinds of fees, outlines criteria for establishing fees, and prohibits charging fees for certain activities or services. The act also authorizes an interagency pass that can be used at federal recreation sites throughout the nation - the America the Beautiful Pass. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is not included in this legislation and so does not take part in collecting these fees and issuing passes, although the America the Beautiful Senior and Disability Access Passes are accepted at Corps campgrounds. The program is scheduled to terminate on December 8, 2014.

There are four types of America the Beautiful Passes (Passes) available. The Annual Pass costs $80 and is available to the general public. It can be purchased on the Internet at http://store.usgs.gov/pass. The Senior Pass costs $10 and is a lifetime pass for U.S. Citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. The Access Pass is free and is a lifetime pass for U.S. Citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. The Volunteer Pass is free and is a pass for volunteers acquiring 500 service hours on a cumulative basis. The Volunteer Pass is good for one year. All of the passes provide access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an entrance fee or standard amenity fee.

Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery does not charge an entrance fee but does issue the Senior Pass and Access Pass as a public service. Persons wishing to obtain an Annual Pass need to bring documentation of their disability to the hatchery. Acceptable documentation includes: statement by a licensed physician; document issued by a Federal agency such as the Veteran’s Administration, Social Disability Income, or Supplemental Security Income; or document issued by a State agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency. Persons wishing to obtain a Senior Pass need to bring personal identification such as a driver’s license to the hatchery. There is a $10 fee for this pass which can be paid for with either cash, debit/credit card or personal check. All persons wishing to obtain either an Access Pass or Senior Pass are strongly encouraged to call the hatchery and make an appointment to ensure that a person able to issue Passes is at the hatchery upon their arrival. The hatchery telephone number is (931)243-2443. http://store.usgs.gov/pass/PassIssuanceList.pdf provides alternate sources for obtaining Passes.

According to agency guidelines, the public is to be informed of projects completed with fee revenues. At Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, during fiscal year 2007, $223.74 was used for copy paper for public outreach and public restroom maintenance; during fiscal year 2008, $1431.00 was used for general brochures intended for distribution to the public; during fiscal year 2009, there were no fee revenues used for public outreach activities.