Pisgah Ranger District April 20, 2010 Cradle of Forestry

National Forests in NC Lands and Special Uses Program Manager – Ray Johns Pisgah National Forest Special Uses Team Linda Randolph, Darlene Huntsinger, and Ryan McCormick

2009 National Forests in NC Residential Day Camp Policy 2008 Outfitter Guide Policy and Definitions Permit Renewals – Priority Use

Fee Calculations Actual Use Permit Requirements

Audit by Albuquerque Service Center Definition of A Trip from Outfitter Guide Regulations “The period that begins when the client first comes under the care and supervision of the outfitter or guide, including arrival at the holder's headquarters or local community, and ends when the client is released from the outfitter's or guide's care and supervision”

New Definition: Residential Day Camp To qualify as a Residential or Day Camp program on the National Forests in North Carolina, the permit holder must maintain a facility located on private land, the use of National Forest System (NFS) land is considered incidental to the primary activities provided by the camp and not dependant on NFS lands.

New Definition: Duration of Outfitted or Guided Trip*. The period that begins when the client departs the camp for NFS lands, and ends when the client returns to the base camp. Duration of the trip is used to calculate client days. If trip is less than 24 hours then total duration is measured in days. * The definition contained FSH , Chapter 30 has been modified for residential and day camps as the use of NFS lands is considered incidental and not the primary activity provided by a camp located on private land. This adjustment is made to ensure fees that are assessed under the permit are proportional in use to Outfitters & Guides that primarily use NFS lands during the course of their activities.

On October 19, 2007 (72 FR 59246), the Forest Service published a notice in the Federal Register proposing revisions to outfitting and guiding. 10 year permits Priority Use

On April 14, 2005 (72 FR 59246), the Forest Service published a notice in the Federal Register revising the policy on Outfitter Guides. FS Manuals and Direction was revised in Changed maximum permit term length for Priority use permits to 10 years Made FS Policy consistent with the Bureau of Land Management and the Park Service. Objective : To help build sustainable businesses in rural communities and consistency among agencies since many outfitters operate on lands administered by all three agencies

 Permit Tenure  10 year Priority Use Permit  New Permit Form - changes to clauses regarding renewals NOTE: The Authorized Officer has the discretion regarding the actual term of the permit. Permits issued for ten years are issued to outfitters that have a long- standing satisfactory track record with the Forest Service.

Traditional Way - Capacity Study - Study of Use of an area by public and commercial users FS Manual m Allocation of Use for Priority Use Permits When issuing a priority use permit, allocate use in accordance with the applicable land management plan, the applicable project implementation decision, or other appropriate analysis.

FS Manual m During the 5 th year of a priority use permit, review actual use, and adjust the allocation of use to match the highest amount of actual use in 1 calendar year during that period. This is also a clause in the 10 year permit

FS Manual m  For holders with 1,000 service days or less or the equivalent in quotas, add an additional 25 percent of that amount and for holders with more than 1,000 service days or the equivalent in quotas, add an additional 15 percent of that amount in consideration of market fluctuations, availability of state hunting licenses, and natural phenomena that may have adversely affected the holder’s ability to utilize the authorized use fully, provided that the combination of the highest amount of actual use in 1 calendar year and the additional 25 or 15 percent of use not exceed the amount of use allocated when the permit was issued. This is also a clause in the 10 year permit

 Review actual use, and adjust the allocation of use to match the highest amount of actual use in 1 calendar year from  For holders with 1,000 service days or less, add an additional 25 percent of that amount and for holders with more than 1,000 service days or the equivalent in quotas, add an additional 15 percent of that amount

 Graduated Rate Fee System – Option A  The fee is based on an average client-day charge using a fixed schedule. ( , Chapter 37)

Average Client-Day Charge Client Day Fee Less than $8.00$ 0.25 $8.01 to $ $20.01 to $ $35.01 to $ $50.01 to $ $75.01 to $ $ to $ $ to $ $ to $ $ to $ $ to $ $ to $ $ to $ Over $ % of the Average Adjusted Client- Day Charge

Duration of the outfitted or guided trip is used to calculate total client days, which in turn are used to determine the average client-day charge and the adjustment ( or discount) for use off the National Forest System lands. See section 37.21c for related direction.

Duration of the outfitted or guided trip - The period that begins when the client departs the camp for NFS lands, and ends when the client returns to the base camp. Duration of the trip is used to calculate total client days and hours. If trip is less than 24 hours then total duration is measured in days. EXAMPLE Day Trip to Sam’s Knob to Hike Duration of the Trip = One Day = 24 hours

Where there is use both on and off National Forest System lands, the total number of days or hours for the duration of the trip multiplied by the number of clients on the trip. See section 37.21c for related direction. Total Hours are used to determine discounts Total Client Days are used to determine average daily rate EXAMPLES Day Trip to Sam’s Knob to Hike for 10 campers Total Client Days = One day X number of campers = 10

National Forest System Client Days. The number of days on National Forest System lands for the duration of the outfitted or guided trip multiplied by the number of clients on the trip. DAYS ARE USED TO DETERMINE FEES BEFORE DISCOUNT National Forest System hours. The number of hours on National Forest System lands for the duration of the trip. HOURS USED FOR CALCULATING DISCOUNT if trip is longer than 24 hours Keep up with hours on National Forest land with itineraries for trips longer that 24 hours Example Day Trip to Sam’s Knob National Forest Client Days = 1 day or 24 hours National Forest Client Hours = 6

EXAMPLE Overnight Trip on Art Loeb Trail for 10 campers - Itinerary Leave Camp on June 14 at 7 am Arrive National Forest land June 14 at 8 am Backpack Art Loeb Trail Leave National Forest land on June 15 at 6pm Arrive at camp June 15 at 7 pm Duration of the Trip 34 hours on National Forest land Total Client Hours = 48 Total and National Forest Client Days = Two days X number of campers = 20 Client days

Adjustment for Use off NFS Lands- Discount  The fee is reduced if the outfitter or guide’s clients occupy NFS lands for 60% or less of the duration of the trip. Example Day Trip  % Time Spent on National Forest = 25 % 6 hours / 24 hours = 40 % Discount Example Overnight Trip % of Time Spent on National Forest = 70 % 34 hours / 48 hours = No Discount % On NFS Lands Fee Reduction Less than 5% 80% 5 to 60%40% Over 60%NONE

Example 21 day session 10 campers pay $2000 – Early Bird Special/multiple child discount 10 campers pay $4000- Registered after March 1 10 * $ * $4000 = $60,000/ 20 (campers) = Average Price per session $3000 Average Daily Rate = $3000/21 days = $ Note: This rate can be averaged for all sessions. You must submit documentation for average daily rate if it is different from Advertised Rate

 The Value of goods and services that are donated or bartered that are directly related to the trip.  EXAMPLE : Backpacks donated to camp by REI – camper charged additional fee to rent or purchase backpack for trip on National Forest  The value of services or privileges that are not available to the general public and that are donated or provided without charge to organizations; individuals; employees, owners officers family members. Examples include: free trips for friends and family, free trip for free meals at the restaurant next-door, a 50% discount for employees. NOTE : The full value of the addition must be included in the calculation to support the average daily rate

Revenue derived from goods or services sold on private land that are not associated with the operation on NFS lands. Examples include souvenirs, telephone toll charges, accident insurance. Amounts paid to a State or local government licensing authority for sales of hunting and fishing licenses or recreation fee tickets. Revenue for the sale of operation equipment, rental equipment, capitalized assets, such as horses, tack, watercraft, rental skis.

 Spreadsheet  Provided on Web Site - includes Activity, Specific location, date, average daily rate, discount  Advantage – Calculates fees  Itinerary and Average Daily Rate must be documented  Word Documents – TWO REQUIRED 1. Actual Use Form  Provided on Web Site - includes Activity, Specific location, date 2. Fee Calculation Sheet May require several depending on discounts 

 Operating Plan Certification  Estimated Use – must be in line with previous use authorized and for activities permitted within areas designated areas  List of Guides with Qualifications  Insurance