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Date: January 4, 2007 Contact: Mary Apple, 406-896-5258     A new interagency recreation pass is available for sale at Bureau of Land Management Offices throughout Montana and the Dakotas. The “America the Beautiful-National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass” combines the benefits of existing recreation passes from five federal agencies—the BLM, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service.   Access to most public lands remains free. The pass applies to those locations that currently have entrance or standard amenity fees and replaces the Golden Eagle and National Parks Pass. The Golden Age and the Golden Access Passports will be replaced with the Interagency Senior and Access passes. Existing passes remain valid until expired or lost.   All of the revenue derived from passes sold at federal recreation sites will directly benefit the selling agency, and no less than 80 percent of the revenue will remain at the site where the pass is sold. For example, funds from passes sold at Pompeys Pillar National Monument near Billings will be used for maintenance or improvements at the site.   The four different passes in the new interagency program are: 1) a new annual interagency pass costing $80--For visitors to multiple federal sites, the pass offers unlimited coverage of entrance and standard amenity recreation fees for a year, beginning the date of sale and expiring at the end of the month a year later. This pass does not cover campground fees.  2) a $10 lifetime senior pass for U.S. citizens 62 or over;  3) a free lifetime access pass for citizens with permanent disabilities; and  4) a new, free annual volunteer pass for volunteers acquiring 500 hours of service on a cumulative basis.   The new interagency pass is good at vehicle-based entry sites for all occupants in a single, non-commercial vehicle.  At walk-up sites, the pass is good for the pass holder and three adults (total of four adults).  There is no charge for children under 16.  This represents a particularly cost-effective opportunity for families traveling to federal recreation sites.    More information about the pass may be obtained at: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/.   ###