PERMITS

All groups of twenty-five people or more must possess a valid Refuge Use Permit to access the Refuge for wildlife/wildland-oriented educational, scientific, or recreational purposes. Permits are issued by mail or in person only from Refuge Headquarters and are available Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm, federal holidays excluded. Permits should be requested at least two weeks, and up to thirteen months, prior to the desired date. For example, requests for permits for December 1 & December 31, 2002 could have been made in advance as early as December 1, 2001. If available, one rain date per organization may be scheduled. The greatest demand for permits is for the months of May, June, September, and October. In that a limited number of group permits are issued, it is advisable, especially during these aforementioned months, to make your reservation(s) as early as possible.

USER FEES

There is no charge for a permit. However, an entrance fee ($5/vehicle, $2/walk-on or bicycle, $20/commercial vehicle with twenty or fewer passengers, $30/commercial vehicle with twenty-one or more passengers) may be charged. Annual passes are available. A fee waiver may be granted in advance of the visit if a group meets all of the following requirements:

1. the group is from a bona fide institution established for educational and/or scientific purposes.
2. the visit to the Refuge is being made for educational and/or scientific purposes.
3. the educational and/or scientific purposes of the trip are related to the resources of the Refuge.

Regardless of group size, if a group is eligible, the group leader should submit an "Application Form for Waiver of Entrance Fees," available at Refuge Headquarters, for exemption consideration. Waivers are not granted from the Refuge entrance gatehouse.

ACCESS

Generally, access is limited to the normal hours of Refuge operation, sunrise - sunset. The Plum Island portion of the Refuge is closed whenever vehicle capacity is reached. At these times, permittees are allowed Refuge access. Unless otherwise indicated on the permit, use is restricted to designated areas
(trails, boardwalks, roads, parking lots, beach, & observation areas). All other areas, including the dunes, are closed. The Refuge beach is closed from April 1 to mid-late August to provide undisturbed nesting habitat for the piping plover, a federally threatened shorebird. Sections of the beach may reopen in July if it is determined such action will not be detrimental to piping plover nesting success.

PARKING

Busses must park in designated bus spaces available in Lot 1 and Lot 4 (Hellcat Wildlife Observation Area). Busses may drop passengers off at other use areas but must return to the designated areas for parking. Roadside parking is prohibited.

GENERAL

• to reduce user conflict and to avoid rest room system failure, group size is limited to one 50-person capacity bus or a maximum of 50 people if arriving by other means.
• if your trip is cancelled, please notify Refuge Headquarters immediately so other groups can be scheduled.
• in that Refuge conditions are subject to change, it is advisable to contact Headquarters just prior to your visit.