Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 29, 2012 - 11:04am PT
|
MAY YOU BURN IN HELL!
Forest Service to drop fees at most national forests
Death of the 'Adventure' Pass
|
|
Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 11:07am PT
|
oh yea.
|
|
Lokesh
Mountain climber
Big Bear California
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 11:27am PT
|
Its the reason I quit the Forest Service as an FPO in the 90's
I refused to write tickets for the Adventure Pass
|
|
Dos XX
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 11:39am PT
|
I must confess to having mixed feelings on the demise of the Adventure Pass. I guess I'm a Dudley Do-Right for always having had one, but it was also a huge Pain-in-the-A** to have the pass in the right car on the right day, in a place where I could actually find it. What I liked about it was that the fees collected were (supposedly) applied directly to the upkeep and repair of local N.F. infrastructure.
I'm guessing that most Tea Partiers and their ilk find little value in financially supporting something like a National Forest, so as their influence grows, congressional funding for maintenance of infrastructure in the National Forests will likely diminish. It seems fair that those who visit and enjoy the forest, even if it's just to park and hike cross-country to a crag, should shoulder some financial responsibility for its upkeep.
|
|
Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 11:40am PT
|
Hooray!!!!!
|
|
Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 11:44am PT
|
you need to wake up, dosXX, and stop letting yourself get shoved around.
OPINION
GETTLEMAN, District Judge:
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (“REA”)
prohibits the United States Forest Service from charging fees
“[s]olely for parking, undesignated parking, or picnicking
along roads or trailsides,” for “hiking through . . . without
using the facilities and services,” and “[f]or camping at unde-
veloped sites . . . .” 16 U.S.C. § 6802(d)(1)(A), (D) & (E).
Despite these clear prohibitions, the Forest Service collects
fees from all drivers who park their vehicles in a mile-wide
piece of the Coronado National Forest running along the 28–
mile Catalina Highway, the only paved road to the summit of
Mount Lemmon, a heavily used recreational area an hour’s
drive from downtown Tucson, Arizona.
The Forest Service was exceeding the scope of its authority
under the REA by charging fees to those who drive to Mount
Lemmon, park their cars, then picnic, hike, or camp in nearby
undeveloped areas. Plaintiffs also sought to enjoin the Forest
Service from collecting such fees. The district court granted
defendants’ Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. Plaintiffs
appealed. Because plaintiffs are correct that the Forest Ser-
vice’s fee structure contravenes the plain language of the
REA, we reverse the district court’s dismissal of Count I2 and
remand to allow plaintiffs to pursue that claim.
you can thank these folks for fighting the good fight:
http://www.westernslopenofee.org/
and i'll bet the sunsabitches will be back.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 29, 2012 - 11:47am PT
|
Dos XX, I doubt that many or even most who celebrate today's news are Tea
Partiers. I assume they are, like me, believers that paying to use our
national heritage is like paying to sleep with my wife. Wait a minute,
those other believers, uh, never mind...
|
|
Dos XX
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 11:50am PT
|
Tony -- I get where you're coming from, but the USFS is not the Evil Empire. I've found the vast majority of USFS personnel, from upper level managers to rangers, to be dedicated to preserving some of the best places on the planet, and willing to do so while getting paid sh*t.
|
|
Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:04pm PT
|
assume they are, like me, believers that paying to use our
national heritage is like paying to sleep with my wife.
The Forest Service charged people a fee to sleep with your wife?
|
|
Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:06pm PT
|
I suppose the $80 Annual Everything Park Pass will now be discounted by $35, to reflect the fact that it no longer serves as an annual Adventure Pass anymore.
It's only fair.
|
|
Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:08pm PT
|
Ghost,
Bet they had to pay up front, and no rough stuff.
|
|
Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:08pm PT
|
Good one Ghost. I wonder how much.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 29, 2012 - 12:08pm PT
|
Ghost, I was just trying to redo that while you posted but gave up in the hope that
you would do the clarification for me, as you did so well.
|
|
D'Wolf
climber
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:10pm PT
|
Nothing personal, Dos XX, but USFS personnel know going in what they will be paid and yes, they're pretty decent people overall. If the career path doesn't fit their financial goals in life they can make other choices, just as the rest of us.
The USFS is supposedly funded by civialian tax dollars; not my fault that the dollars they should receive are allocated elsewhere (stolen) by the Dept. of Interior for other purposes - that sucks for sure. However, that does not give them the right to willingly and knowingly violate the law. I pay my taxes, I should be allowed to recreate on MY land without further "fees". I don't want nor need excessive "land management" by the USFS or BLM.
And, actually, I think you're incorrect about your "tea party" comment; most conservative "tea party" types do not want excessive government involvement of this nature, but definitely do support the idea of Natl. Parks, etc.
Cheers,
Thom
|
|
steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:13pm PT
|
Not to mention most of the fees ended up going to wipe out more of our lands to put in RV parking/camping areas and going (surprise) to install infrastructure for the sole purpose of collecting the fees themselves.
|
|
nature
climber
CO
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:14pm PT
|
About time. nothing like a program that operates in the red in most places.
|
|
Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:19pm PT
|
Sorry about that Reilly, but I couldn't help myself.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 29, 2012 - 12:22pm PT
|
Ghost, I don't mind playing the straight man for you. :-)
|
|
D'Wolf
climber
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:24pm PT
|
Sadly, they may do an end-around: invest their own money (actually OUR tax dollars) on "improvements" that fall under the category of "ammenities", then begin charging the fees again to recoup the money spent plus future profits.
Next fight will be to stop the process of "improving" these recreational areas.
Thom
|
|
Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 - 12:30pm PT
|
Around here ( SBNF ), all the *improvement* money was squandered paying rangers to check for pass compliance.
They put up a whole bunch of signs warning against parking anywhere without your *pass*, but that's it for improvements.
It was just a scheme to take money out of your pocket, and give it to un-productive Federal "workers".
Improvements? Not one damn thing to show for all that money around here.
I still have to piss in the dirt where I park, bring my own water, and pack out my trash. Just like it always was.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!