News Release
Fee-free Days Honor Vets, New Citizens
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USDA Forest Service
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September 16, 2008
Day-use fees at most U.S. Forest Service recreation sites will be waived on Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 to honor America ’s veterans and new citizens.
Saturday, Sept. 27, marks the 15th National Public Lands Day, the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve America's public lands. Visitors to federal recreation sites will not be charged day-use fees. On Sunday, Sept. 28, another day of celebration honors new U.S. citizens, and day-use fees also will be waived.
These one-day fee waivers are honored at inter-agency federal recreation sites. Concessionaires operating day-use facilities have the option of waiving fees. Fees are not waived at campgrounds or for recreation rentals.
National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Last September, 110,000 volunteers worked to improve public lands in 1,300 locations in every state. This year, eight federal agencies and many state and local lands are expected to participate in this annual day of caring for shared public lands.
Volunteers at sponsored events on National Public Lands Day will receive inter-agency fee-free coupons as recognition for their efforts. For information on volunteering, visit publiclandsday.org
The Sept. 28 fee waiver is a one-time event in honor of new citizens of the United States, as part of the interagency “This Land is Your Land” initiative kicked off on Ellis Island July 7, 2008. Fees will be waived for all visitors, not just for new Americans. This does not affect National Public Lands Day volunteer events, or the issuance of the interagency fee free coupons to volunteers on Sept. 27.
Other traditional federal inter-agency fee-free days include Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and National Trails Day in early June. For more information on specific fee sites, call your local national forest or visit their website through www.fs.fed.us
