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Forest Service Fees Found Faulty by Courts

by KREX News Room
by Matt Kroschel

Story Created: Feb 20, 2012 at 10:18 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2012 at 3:24 PM MDT

Grand Junction - In a ruling that is binding in nine western states and sets a nationwide legal precedent; the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found unanimously last week that the U.S. Forest Service's recreation fee programs must allow citizens to park at trail-heads and go for a hike without paying a fee.

The case (Adams v. U. S. Forest Service) was brought in 2008 by four hikers who visit the Coronado National Forest around Mt. Lemmon, near Tucson.

The San Francisco Appeals Court found the U. S. Forest Service at fault for charging parking fees to people who go for a hike without using amenities such as picnic tables, trashcans, and bathrooms located nearby, or who camp in dispersed, undeveloped parts of a National Forest.

Judge Robert Gettleman, writing for the unanimous three-judge panel, stated in the ruling that "Everyone is entitled to enter national forests without paying a cent."

Forest access fees began in 1996 under the Fee Demo program. They include the Adventure Pass, which covers much of the four National Forests in southern California, the Northwest Forest Pass, required at hundreds of trail-heads in Oregon and Washington, the Red Rocks Pass at Sedona, Arizona, American Fork Canyon near Provo, Utah, Mt. Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado, and dozens of other forest fee programs around the nation.

In 2004, Fee Demo was replaced by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), enacted by Congress for ten years. The FLREA clearly prohibited fees solely for parking and hiking, but the U. S. Forest Service continued operating fee programs around the country that did just that.

Attorney Mary Ellen Barilotti of Hood River, Oregon, has been handling litigation against the forest access fee programs for more than ten years. This ruling is the culmination of her tireless efforts to hold the U. S. Forest Service to the letter of the fee laws that Congress enacted. In recent years, Barilotti has been assisted by attorney Matt Kenna of Durango, Colorado.

The Western Slope No-Fee Coalition has led the opposition to forest access fees since 2001 and worked closely with Barilotti and Kenna on the Arizona case. President Kitty Benzar said, "Millions of Americans will once again be free to go for a walk in their national forests, which they jointly own and which have been maintained by their tax dollars for over a century, without being ticketed by Forest Service staff."

The Forest Service is studying the ruling, and has 60 days to request a rehearing.

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Anon said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 1:05 PM

"Lets enforce this at the Monument. Those communist who ran that place think they own it. Well, guess what? We own it!! Hah!!" Actually, in a pure communist system, it WOULD be owned and accessible by the public.

The CNM is Next said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 10:05 AM

Lets enforce this at the Monument. Those communist who ran that place think they own it. Well, guess what? We own it!! Hah!!

Nun said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 11:13 PM

For once the courts side with the public. The Forest Service needs to be reminded who actually owns the forest and are paid by the owners.

John said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 12:44 PM

Good. No more parking fee at Mesa Lakes!

Prophet said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 12:40 PM

Good. The word needs to get out to that campground host at Weir Johnson Reservoir who enforces a fee for parking at the trail head that leads to Leon Lake!

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