United States veterans, members of the U.S. armed forces and their families will be admitted free of charge on Veterans Day to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and most other public lands managed by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture.
The fee waiver applies to Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve service members.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the fee waiver program in September. The administrative fee waiver of entrance and standard amenity fees will apply annually on Veterans Day at public recreation lands managed by Interiors National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation and Agricultures U.S. Forest Service.
The Fish and Wildlife Service has 36 entrance fee sites.
"This is a great way to demonstrate our appreciation for the brave men and women who have made incredible sacrifices to serve our country," said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall.
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, passed by the 108th Congress, overhauled the fee system that governs the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Forest System, certain public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and recreational lands administered by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Act established a new multi-agency pass to cover entrance fees and standard amenity fees on these lands. The target rollout of the new pass is scheduled for January 2007.
