16 U.S.C. § 460d–3 — Recreational user fees

submitted 58 years ago by Pub. L. 90-483 to r/title-16-CONSERVATION · 357 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

This section bans general entrance fees at Corps of Engineers lakes and reservoirs after March 31, 1970. It lets the Army charge limited fees for developed sites like campsites and boat ramps, capped at $3 per vehicle per day for most day-use sites, with at least 80% of fees staying at the project where they were collected.

(a) Prohibition on admissions fees No U.S. officer or employee may collect an entrance or admission fee at public recreation areas on Corps of Engineers lakes and reservoirs, after March 31, 1970. (b) Fees for use of developed recreation sites and facilities (1) Establishment and collection Subject to the limits below, the Secretary of the Army may charge fees for using developed recreation sites and facilities — including campsites, swimming beaches, and boat launching ramps. But a site that has only a boat launch ramp and a courtesy dock is not covered. (2) Exemption of certain facilities The Secretary may not charge fees for drinking water, wayside exhibits, roads, scenic drives, overlook sites, picnic tables, toilets, open water areas, undeveloped or lightly developed shoreline, or general visitor information. (3) Per vehicle limit For a private, noncommercial vehicle carrying up to 8 people (including the driver), the fee for a site or facility cannot go over $3 per vehicle per day. This limit does not apply to overnight camping sites, or to any site that already charged a fee as of August 10, 1993. The Secretary may adjust the $3 limit each year to match changes in the Consumer Price Index. (4) Use of funds Fees collected go into the Department of the Army's relevant account, as offsetting collections available only when Congress provides for them in advance through appropriations laws. That money pays for operating and maintaining recreation sites and facilities. At least 80 percent of the fees collected at a specific water resources project's recreation areas must be spent at that same project.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a) Prohibition on admissions fees

No entrance or admission fees shall be collected after March 31, 1970, by any officer or employee of the United States at public recreation areas located at lakes and reservoirs under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army.

(b) Fees for use of developed recreation sites and facilities

(1) Establishment and collection

Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary of the Army may establish and collect fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, including campsites, swimming beaches, and boat launching ramps but excluding a site or facility which includes only a boat launch ramp and a courtesy dock.

(2) Exemption of certain facilities

The Secretary shall not establish or collect fees under this subsection for the use or provision of drinking water, wayside exhibits, roads, scenic drives, overlook sites, picnic tables, toilet facilities, surface water areas, undeveloped or lightly developed shoreland, or general visitor information.

(3) Per vehicle limit

The fee under this subsection for use of a site or facility (other than an overnight camping site or facility or any other site or facility at which a fee is charged for use of the site or facility as of August 10, 1993) for persons entering the site or facility by private, noncommercial vehicle transporting not more than 8 persons (including the driver) shall not exceed $3 per day per vehicle, which amount may be adjusted annually by the Secretary for changes in the Consumer Price Index of All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

(4) Use of funds

The fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the currently applicable appropriation, account, or fund of the Department of the Army as discretionary offsetting collections, and shall be available only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, for the operation and maintenance of recreation sites and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, subject to the condition that not less than 80 percent of fees collected at recreation areas of a specific water resources development project shall be used at such project.

Source credit: (Pub. L. 90–483, title II, § 210, Aug. 13, 1968, 82 Stat. 746; Pub. L. 103–66, title V, § 5001(a), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 378; Pub. L. 104–303, title II, § 208(b)(1), Oct. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 3680; Pub. L. 118–272, div. A, title I, § 1154, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3045.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1968Enacted · Pub. L. 90-483 · 82 Stat. 746
1993Amended · Pub. L. 103-66 · 107 Stat. 378
1996Amended · Pub. L. 104-303 · 110 Stat. 3680
2025Amended · Pub. L. 118-272 · 138 Stat. 3045

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 90-483 on 1968-08-13.

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