I was just send this... 6 months to go... not happy!
The U.S. Forest Service has announced it plans to eliminate the 50% discount at National Forest campgrounds that has traditionally been available to holders of lifetime Senior and Access (permanent disability) passes. The change will apply at campgrounds operated by private concessioners, which represent 50% of National Forest camping capacity and 82% of reservable campsites.
In a notice in the December 1st Federal Register, the agency outlined a new policy that would replace the half-price rule that has been in place since the mid-'60s with a 10% discount. The policy would also require Senior and Access passholders to pay a fee at National Forest day-use sites that are currently covered in full by their passes.
Seniors 62 and older pay a one-time $10 fee for their lifetime pass. Lifetime passes for the permanently disabled are free. Together, Senior and Access passes represent more than 78% of all pass sales.
Under current policy, concessioners are required to honor Senior and Access passes for campground fees under the same terms as if the Forest Service operated the facility directly, meaning that a 50% discount must be offered. Most highly-developed campgrounds are now concessioner-run.
As the concessioner program has expanded over the past thirty years, it has moved away from a small mom-and-pop business model to one dominated by a few large corporations. According to the published notice, those firms brought five specific complaints to the Forest Service: 1) the REA does not require the 50% discount, only Forest Service policy does; 2) the discount is too steep; 3) the 50% discount is non-negotiable and can't be used as a "marketing tool to encourage off-peak use"; 4) as the baby-boomer generation ages, too many people are becoming eligible for the discount; and 5) prices to other campers must be increased to cover the discounts given to lifetime passholders.
She pointed out that under previous policy, offering lifetime passes and substantial discounts to seniors and the disabled was a way of honoring their contributions to our nation and ensuring them access to the benefits of outdoor recreation. "I guess that's out the window now," she said. "No more special honors, no more special breaks. Pay up or stay home now applies to everyone."
The current proposal is to reduce the 50% discount camping to 10% for National Forest Campgrounds run by concessionaires. It will not affect the campgrounds run by the Forest Service itself.
What many don't know is that it is already settled that private entities (concessionaires) who contract with federal agencies and run federal campgrounds are not required by law to honor the 50% camping discounts of the Senior and Access passes. Many of them do, but they are no longer required to do that and haven't been for a few years now.
The Forest Service was the only agency left that required the concessionaires through their own specific rules to provide the discounts.
Campgrounds that are run by the actual federal agencies themselves will still honor the 50% discounts ... at least for the foreseeable future.
ramblemutt said
04:52 PM Dec 5, 2009
Well, I'm sure I'll take a lot of flack for my attitude, but I'm not sure that simply by being a senior I have earned a discount to a federal facility any more than anyone else. I am neither wealthy nor needy. I am aware that many in this world need the discount more than I, and most are not seniors. I carry a Golden Age Passport, but I don't really use it very often. It's nice, but I treat it as a gift, not an entitlement.
I'm sure that the loss of this discount will upset a lot of fellow seniors. I doubt it would have bothered them as much if it were not around to begin with.
Tylersamma said
07:50 PM Dec 5, 2009
Ramblemutt, very well said. But, without the discount we might just as well stay at the more developed parks outside the national park's perimeters. Would the concessionaires then be shooting themselves in the foot?
two travelers said
02:39 PM Dec 6, 2009
I have 10 years before I could use that discount ... We will be lucky to still have a Forest Service by than...patti
The U.S. Forest Service has announced it plans to eliminate the 50% discount at National Forest campgrounds that has traditionally been available to holders of lifetime Senior and Access (permanent disability) passes. The change will apply at campgrounds operated by private concessioners, which represent 50% of National Forest camping capacity and 82% of reservable campsites.
In a notice in the December 1st Federal Register, the agency outlined a new policy that would replace the half-price rule that has been in place since the mid-'60s with a 10% discount. The policy would also require Senior and Access passholders to pay a fee at National Forest day-use sites that are currently covered in full by their passes.
Seniors 62 and older pay a one-time $10 fee for their lifetime pass. Lifetime passes for the permanently disabled are free. Together, Senior and Access passes represent more than 78% of all pass sales.
Under current policy, concessioners are required to honor Senior and Access passes for campground fees under the same terms as if the Forest Service operated the facility directly, meaning that a 50% discount must be offered. Most highly-developed campgrounds are now concessioner-run.
As the concessioner program has expanded over the past thirty years, it has moved away from a small mom-and-pop business model to one dominated by a few large corporations. According to the published notice, those firms brought five specific complaints to the Forest Service: 1) the REA does not require the 50% discount, only Forest Service policy does; 2) the discount is too steep; 3) the 50% discount is non-negotiable and can't be used as a "marketing tool to encourage off-peak use"; 4) as the baby-boomer generation ages, too many people are becoming eligible for the discount; and 5) prices to other campers must be increased to cover the discounts given to lifetime passholders.
She pointed out that under previous policy, offering lifetime passes and substantial discounts to seniors and the disabled was a way of honoring their contributions to our nation and ensuring them access to the benefits of outdoor recreation. "I guess that's out the window now," she said. "No more special honors, no more special breaks. Pay up or stay home now applies to everyone."
Benzar encouraged those who oppose the change to submit comments to the Forest Service and also to contact their congressional delegations. The Forest Service is accepting comments until February 1, 2010 at http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480a60f36. Congressional contact information can be found at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.
Be well... Ara & Spirit
Check out my Journal entry for today - America The Beautiful Interagency Passes - for the scoop on this.
The current proposal is to reduce the 50% discount camping to 10% for National Forest Campgrounds run by concessionaires. It will not affect the campgrounds run by the Forest Service itself.
What many don't know is that it is already settled that private entities (concessionaires) who contract with federal agencies and run federal campgrounds are not required by law to honor the 50% camping discounts of the Senior and Access passes. Many of them do, but they are no longer required to do that and haven't been for a few years now.
The Forest Service was the only agency left that required the concessionaires through their own specific rules to provide the discounts.
Campgrounds that are run by the actual federal agencies themselves will still honor the 50% discounts ... at least for the foreseeable future.