16 U.S.C. § 6214 — Cabin user and transfer fees

(a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) must establish a fee under this section for the issuance of a special use permit for the use and occupancy of National Forest System land for recreational residence purposes. (b) Interim fee During the period beginning on January 1, 2014, and ending on the last day of the calendar year during which the current appraisal cycle is completed under subsection (c), the Secretary must assess an interim annual fee for recreational residences on National Forest System land that is an amount equal to the lesser of— (1) the fee determined under the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.), subject to the requirement that any increase over the fee assessed during the previous year must be limited to not more than 25 percent; or (2) $5,600. (c) Completion of current appraisal cycle Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2014, the Secretary must complete the current appraisal cycle, including receipt of timely second appraisals, for recreational residences on National Forest System land under the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.) (referred to in this section as the “current appraisal cycle”). (d) Lot value Only appraisals conducted and approved by the Secretary under the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.) during the current appraisal cycle must be used to establish the base value assigned to the lot, subject to the adjustment in subsection (e). If a second appraisal— (1) was approved by the Secretary, the value established by the second appraisal must be the base value assigned to the lot; or (2) was not approved by the Secretary, the value established by the initial appraisal must be the base value assigned to the lot. (e) Adjustment On the date of completion of the current appraisal cycle, and before assessing a fee under subsection (f), the Secretary must make a 1-time adjustment to the value of each appraised lot on which a recreational residence is located to reflect any change in value occurring after the date of the most recent appraisal for the lot, under the 4th quarter of 2012 National Association of Homebuilders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index. (f) Annual fee (1) Base After the date on which appraised lot values have been adjusted under subsection (e), the annual fee assessed prospectively by the Secretary for recreational residences on National Forest System land must be under the following tiered fee structure: Fee Tier Approximate Percent of Permits Nationally Fee Amount Tier 1 6 percent $650 Tier 2 16 percent $1,150 Tier 3 26 percent $1,650 Tier 4 22 percent $2,150 Tier 5 10 percent $2,650 Tier 6 5 percent $3,150 Tier 7 5 percent $3,650 Tier 8 3 percent $4,150 Tier 9 3 percent $4,650 Tier 10 3 percent $5,150 Tier 11 1 percent $5,650. (2) Inflation adjustment The Secretary must increase or decrease the annual fees set forth in the table under paragraph (1) to reflect changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, applied on a 5-year rolling average. (3) Access and occupancy adjustment (A) In general The Secretary must by regulation establish criteria under which the annual fee determined under this section may be suspended or reduced temporarily if access to, or the occupancy of, the recreational residence is significantly restricted. (B) Appeal The Secretary must by regulation grant the cabin owner the right of an administrative appeal of the determination made under subparagraph (A) whether to suspend or reduce temporarily the annual fee. (g) Periodic review (1) In general Beginning on the date that is 10 years after December 19, 2014, the Secretary must submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that— (A) analyzes the annual fees set forth in the table under subsection (f) to ensure that the fees reflect fair value for the use of the land for recreational residence purposes, taking into account all use limitations and restrictions (including any limitations and restrictions imposed by the Secretary); and (B) includes any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to modifying the fee system. (2) Limitation The use of appraisals may not be required for any modifications to the fee system based on the recommendations under paragraph (1)(B). (h) Cabin transfer fees (1) In general The Secretary must establish a fee in the amount of $1,200 for the issuance of a new recreational residence permit due to a change of ownership of the recreational residence. (2) Adjustments The Secretary must annually increase or decrease the transfer fee established under paragraph (1) to reflect changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, applied on a 5-year rolling average. (i) Effect (1) In general Nothing in this section limits or restricts any right, title, or interest of the United States in or to any land or resource in the National Forest System. (2) Alaska The Secretary may not establish or impose a fee or condition under this section for permits in the State of Alaska that is inconsistent with section 3193(d) of this title. (j) Retention of fees (1) In general Beginning 10 years after December 19, 2014, the Secretary may retain, and expend, for the purposes described in paragraph (2), any fees collected under this section without further appropriation. (2) Use Amounts made available under paragraph (1) must be used to administer the recreational residence program and other recreation programs carried out on National Forest System land. (k) Repeal of Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 Effective on the date of the assessment of annual permit fees under subsection (f) (as certified to Congress by the Secretary), the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.) is repealed.