July 23, 2019
Bipartisan Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act would streamline the recreational permitting process
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Deb Haaland and John Curtis introduced the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, a bill that would make outdoor recreation more accessible to everyone by streamlining the permitting process for outfitters, educational organizations, and community groups.
“Our country is full of beautiful places that everyone should have access to, but right now the permitting process is creating a barrier for folks who wish enjoy the outdoors with guidance. So, Representative Curtis and I are fixing that problem with a bill that will make it easier for groups to help people get outside and while supporting the jobs in New Mexico’s nearly $10 billion outdoor recreation economy,” said Rep. Haaland.
“The SOAR Act will make it easier for Utahns, and those visiting our great state, to enjoy our public lands and the outdoors,” said Rep. Curtis. “I am proud to be the Republican leader of this bipartisan effort, along with Democratic Congresswoman Haaland and my colleagues on the House Natural Resources Committee. It is clear why this common-sense legislation has garnered support by outdoor recreation and conservation groups alike. A more efficient permitting system benefits everyone.”
The SOAR Act streamlines and improves the recreational permitting process for federal agencies by:
- Improving the process for issuing recreation permits by directing the agencies to eliminate duplicative processes, reduce costs, shorten processing times and simplify environmental review;
- Increasing flexibility for outfitters, guides and other outdoor leaders by allowing them to engage in activities that are substantially similar to the activity specified in their permit;
- Making more recreation opportunities available by directing the agencies to offer more short-term permits and create a program for sharing unused permit service days between permit holders;
- Increasing system transparency by directing agencies to notify the public when new recreation permits are available and requiring the agencies to provide timely responses to permit applicants;
- Simplifying the permitting process for trips involving more than one land management agency by authorizing the agencies to issue a single joint permit covering the lands of multiple agencies;
- Reducing permit fees and cost recovery expenses for small businesses and organizations by excluding certain revenue from permit fee calculations and establishing a simple 50-hour cost recovery fee exemption for permit processing;
- Providing new protections for Forest Service permit holders by recognizing seasonal demand fluctuations and waiving permit use reviews in extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the permit holder (wildfire, etc.);
- Helping control liability insurance costs for permit holders by allowing them to use liability release forms with their clients; and
- Reducing barriers to access for state universities, city recreation departments, and school districts by waiving the permit indemnification requirement for entities that are prohibited from providing indemnification under state law.
U.S. House cosponsors of the SOAR Act include Representatives Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Mike Simpson (R-Ind.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.).
The U.S. Senate companion to the SOAR Act was introduced by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and Steven Daines (R-Mont.).
The full bill text is available HERE.
Support for the SOAR Act
The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act is supported by a broad coalition of organizations, including for-profit outfitters and guides, non-profit outfitters and guides, university recreation programs, and volunteer-based clubs.
Outdoor Industry Association
“Today only twenty percent of America’s children go outside on a weekly basis. To turn the tide on the future economic and health problems this trend will likely lead to, OIA fully supports the bipartisan SOAR Act,” said Patricia Rojas-Ungar, Vice President of Government Affairs for Outdoor Industry Association. “The SOAR Act will ease children’s and families’ access to the outdoors by improving the bureaucratic processes for issuing recreation permits on our nation’s public lands. We want to thank Representatives Haaland (D-NM) and Curtis (R-UT) for their leadership on this issue essential to our children’s future.”
America Outdoors Association
Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act provides common sense strategies to improve the general public’s access to public lands. It reduces the costs associated with the permitting processes to enable individuals, families and youth groups the opportunity to enjoy America’s wilderness and backcountry under the supervision and care of outfitters and guides. Many Americans do not have the skills or knowledge to access these areas safely. This legislation improves access to these areas. America Outdoors applauds both Representatives Haaland (NM-01) and Curtis (UT-3) for sponsoring this legislation.
YMCA of the USA
“Outdoor recreation helps children build positive relationships and develop a sense of achievement and belonging. It is an essential part of the Y’s approach to youth development,” said Kevin Washington, President and CEO, YMCA of the USA. “The current process for recreational permitting is complicated and restrictive. This legislation will simplify the process, enabling the Y and others to share nature’s wonders with many more kids and families and instill in our youth a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors. We thank Representatives Haaland and Curtis for their passionate leadership in easing the recreational permitting process for our public lands.”
Angler’s Covey (fly fishing outfitter from Colorado Springs, CO)
“As a small outfitter, the complexity of the current permitting process has created barriers to business growth,” said David Leinweber, Owner-President of Angler’s Covey Inc. and Chairman of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. “The SOAR act will provide needed relief and allow my business to expand.”
Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
“The Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education is thankful to Ms. Haaland and Mr. Curtis for introducing the SOAR Act,” said Jeannette Stawski, Executive Director. “This important legislation will better facilitate access to enable education institutions, military welfare and morale organizations, and municipalities to do the incredibly important work of introducing people to outdoor recreation on public lands.”
REI
“This Legislation will provide significant relief to outfitters and organizations who lead people outside across the country,” said Rebecca Bear, Director, REI Outdoor Programs and Experiences. “REI applauds representatives Haaland, Curtis, DeGette, Stewart, Gallego and Gianforte for co-sponsoring this legislation.”
The Wilderness Society
“Americans need more opportunities to visit and enjoy our nation’s treasured public lands and waters,” said Paul Sanford, National Director of Recreation Policy at the Wilderness Society. “The SOAR Act will provide those opportunities. We applaud Representatives Haaland and Curtis for introducing legislation to help more people get outdoors and enjoy public lands.”
The Mountaineers
“The Mountaineers have been getting people outside responsibly for over a century, and we strongly believe in the importance of connecting people to place through outdoor recreation,” said Tom Vogl, CEO of the Mountaineers. “This bill will improve numerous permitting processes that currently act as barriers to people experiencing the outdoors. We fully support this work that will help more people recreation responsibly on public lands.”
American Mountain Guides Association
“Outdated regulations in the permitting system have made it time consuming, unpredictable, and in many cases— impossible—for outdoor organizations and businesses to provide outdoor experiences on public lands,” said Alex Kosseff, Executive Director at the American Mountain Guides Association. “The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act removes old roadblocks to facilitated outdoor recreation and enables more Americans to get outside and enjoy public lands.”
National Outdoor Leadership School
“Creating more opportunities for people from all walks of life to have educational and recreational experiences outdoors is what NOLS is about,” said John Gans, NOLS President.” We are proud to be a part of this broad effort to reduce barriers to our shared public lands. In an increasingly urban society, it is essential that our citizens have opportunities to visit and come to know their public lands.”
Utah Guides and Outfitters
Utah Guides and Outfitters is excited to endorse the introduction of the “Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act,” and we thank Representatives Debra Haaland (D-NM) and John Curtis (R-UT) for their co-sponsorship of this bill and their efforts to protect small businesses and public lands. We are a group of small businesses that provide access to the backcountry and wild places of Utah. The SOAR Act provides a certain and streamlined process for obtaining the permits we need to operate our businesses. It is a common sense approach to permitting that will help us in our efforts to protect these precious resources while we also provide access and educate our guests about Utah’s unique and beautiful public lands.
Western River Expeditions
“I would like to personally thank Representative Haaland and Representative Curtis for their Sponsorship of the SOAR Act. It represents an unprecedented consensus among key stakeholder groups and provides necessary and overdue reform to the permitting process for guides, outfitters and educational groups. The SOAR Act will provide stability for small businesses that are primarily located in rural communities, and that are critical to those local economies,” said Brian Merrill, President & CEO.
Members of the outdoor industry and the conservation community supporting the bill include:
Aerie Backcountry Medicine
Alaska Alpine Adventures
Alaska Guide Collective
America Outdoors Association
America Walks
American Alpine Club
American Alpine Institute
American Fly Fishing Trade Association
American Hiking Society
American Horse Council
American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education
American Mountain Guides Association
American Sportfishing Association
Angler’s Covey
Appalachian Mountain Guides
Archery Trade Association
Association for Experiential Education
Association of Marina Industries
Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE)
Avid4 Adventure
Big City Mountaineers
Chicks Climbing and Skiing
Choose Outdoors
Colorado Mountain School
Colorado River Outfitters Association
Colorado Wilderness Corporate and Teams
Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides
Dude Ranchers Association
Estes Park Rock Climbing
Exum Mountain Guides
Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association
Holiday River Expeditions
Idaho Mountain Guides
Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association
International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association
Kent Mountain Adventure Center
Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce
Los Alamos Mountaineers
Mazamas
Middle Fork Outfitters Association
Moab Desert Adventures
Montana Alpine Guides
Montana Mountaineering Association
Montana Outfitters and Guides Association
Montana Wilderness School
Mountain Skills Rock Guides
Nantahala Outdoor Center National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds
National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds
National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Outdoor Leadership School
National Shooting Sports Foundation
New Mexico Council of Guides and Outfitters
New Mexico Wild
New River Mountain Guides
North Carolina Outward Bound School
Open Lands Consulting LLC
Oregon Outfitters and Guides Association
Outdoor Alliance
Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
Outdoor Research
Outward Bound USA
Red River Adventures
Red Rock Climbing Guides
REI
Rising Tide Associates
RV Dealers Association
RV industry Association
Sawtooth Mountain Guides
San Luis Valley Great Outdoors
Santa Fe Climbing Center
Seneca Rocks Climbing School
Sierra Mountain Center
Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance
Specialty Equipment Marketing Association
Suntoucher Mountain Guides
The Mountaineers
The Mountain Guides
The Wilderness Society
Transforming Youth Outdoors
Utah Guides and Outfitters Association
Washington Trails Association
Washington Trails Association
West Virginia Professional River Outfitters
Western River Expeditions
Western Spirit Cycling
Wilderness Education Association
Worldwide Outfitters and Guides Association
Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association
YMCA of Greater Seattle
YMCA of Los Angeles
YMCA of the USA
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