Is the Forest Service turning National Forests over to the private sector?
The recreation fee program actually helps ensure that federal agencies remain the managers of that land. Under the program, the fees are returned to the place where they are collected for improvements and maintenance of the land, facilities and services. In managing National Forests in Oregon and Washington the Forest Service works with many partners to offer the best services possible. These include volunteers, nonprofit organizations, other nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector where appropriate. The recreation fee program has neither resulted in an increase in developed facilities, nor a change in private sector provision of services in the Pacific Northwest. The emphasis is to maintain existing facilities.
