You will have to contact Forest Service Office in the area you want to direct. They will determine if your activity meets the requirements of the Pre-App for Special Uses screen:
- The proposed use complies with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, orders, and policies that apply to the National Forests and Ranges;
- The proposed use is consistent or can be made consistent with a forest plan that established standards and guidelines for the management of the land on which the activity will occur;
- The proposed use will not result in serious or significant risks to public health or safety;
- The proposed use will not create an exclusive or perpetual right of use or occupancy;
- The proposed use will not unreasonably interfere with administrative use by the Forest Service, other existing authorized uses, or adjacent non-NFS land uses;
- The proponent must not owe any Forest Service fees from a previous or existing private use license;
- The proposed use does not involve gambling or providing commercial services of a sexual orientation, even if permitted by state law;
- The proposed use does not include military or paramilitary training or training, unless such training is federally funded;
- The proposed use does not involve the disposal of solid waste or the disposal of radioactive or other hazardous materials.
- If you meet the initial screening requirements, a Forest Service administrator will provide instructions on what information will be required to complete your application. If your proposed event does not meet the screening requirements, you will be notified that the proposal, as submitted, is rejected.
A proposal that passes the initial examination proceeds to the second level examination. Your proposal will be accepted as an application if it meets all of the following:
- The proposed use will be consistent or compatible with the purposes for which the lands are administered; And the
- The proposed use would be in the public interest; And the
- Qualified supporter. And the
- The proponent can demonstrate the technical or financial ability to carry out the use and fully comply with the terms and conditions of the permit; And the
- There is someone authorized by the supporter to sign the permit or there is someone willing to accept responsibility for the terms and conditions of the permit. When you pass this screen satisfactorily, the Forest Service will process your request
Planning process
The United States Forest Service determines the needs, usage, capacity, and allocation levels for guides and outfitters before issuing any new permits. When conducting a “Needs Assessment,” they look at “the accessibility, size, difficulty of the terrain, current levels of equipment and orientation, and the demographics of visitors in the area” (CRS).
If there is potential for adverse impacts on the land, the Forest Service will conduct a "resource capacity analysis" to determine how much land can be used without adverse environmental impacts and associated impacts.
After these two assessments, the Forest Service chooses who gets the permits. This is split between unequipped visitors, trade guides, and outfitting operations. It can also be divided between priority use and temporary use licenses.
Permit conditions and fees
The Forest Service authorizes guides and outfitters with two types of special use permits: (1) Priority Use Permits and (2) Temporary Use Permits.
Priority Use Permits: It is intended for Continuing Business Directory and supply operations and is issued for up to 10 years (as long as no new business is entered). If a new business also wants a specific, limited permit, the Forest Service can issue an introductory flyer to applicants and choose to guide or equip competitively.
Selection criteria: type and quality of service proposed, applicant's experience, verification of financial resources, and possible fees traced back to the federal government.
Temporary use permits: For operators who need one-time or short-term use of Forest Service lands. They are not eligible for renewal.
expenses: Consequently CRSTrade guides and outfitters operating under a priority use permit pay FS a land use lease fee of approximately 3% of their adjusted gross revenue (determined by the FS as “total revenue and revenue additions minus applicable exclusions”).
Insurance and liability
Forest Service policies require public liability insurance for "permits based on the likelihood and severity of injury." Minimum starts at $300,000 Total coverage for low-risk activities (eg, backpacking, snowboarding, nature hiking).
There is no service-level policy for the use of liability waivers for commercial recreational operators, but some Forest Service districts prohibit permit holders from requiring their customers to sign liability waivers. Alternatively, some allow commercial outdoor guides to request Visitor Acknowledgment of Risk (VAR) forms (must be approved by the Forest Service).
Check with your Forest Service office to verify what insurance and liability they require and deny.
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