USDA Forest Service Insurance Requirements

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The following insurance guidelines are provided to show why insurance requirements are necessary and how the Certificate of Insurance should be prepared in order to meet the agency direction.

The Special Use Permit requires the Permittee to indemnify the United States against any liability for damage to life or property arising from the occupancy or use of National Forest System Lands. The Permit requires the Permittee to have the insurance company name the United States Government (Forest Service) as an additionally insured party. Also, the Certificate of Insurance and the insurance policy shall contain a specific provision to the effect that the policy shall not be cancelled or the provisions changed or deleted before thirty (30) days written notification by the insurance company to the U.S. Government, c/o USDA Forest Service.

A Certificate of Insurance must be presented to the Forest Service before a Special Use Permit will be issued. For long-term or high-risk projects, the Authorized Officer may require that a copy of the actual insurance policy be furnished before the permit is issued.

Required language

The following acceptable additional insured clause shall be shown in verbatim on the face of the Certificate of Insurance or Binder and, as a clause or an endorsement in the insurance policy:

"It is understood and agreed that the United States Government is additional insured solely as respects liability arising from operations of the named insured."

In addition, the following 30-day clause is also mandatory and shall be shown in verbatim on the Certificate of Insurance as well as in the insurance policy:

"It is understood and agreed that the coverage under this policy will not be changed or its provisions changed or deleted before thirty (30) days written notice to the United States Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Supervisor, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 42218 NE Yale Bridge Road, Amboy, WA 98601."

United States Government, c/o USDA Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot National Forest shall be listed in the certificate holder box.

If these clauses are not on the Certificate of Insurance in verbatim, and are not in the insurance policy or on an endorsement as stated above, a Special Use Permit will not be issued.

Insurance Minimums

The amount of insurance required will depend on the degree of risk involved. The table below shows current minimum coverage amounts for some outfitter-guide activities.

 

Type of Activity	Minimum Coverage Amount (in thousands of dollars)
	Split Limit	Combined Single Limit
Aerial Activities -1 person        - 2 or more people	25/500/1000                        25/500/2000	1000 2000
Backpacking	25/300/300	300
Bicycling	25/300/300	300
Four-Wheel Drive Tours, ATV	25/500/500	500
Hunting	25/500/500	500
Nature Hikes	25/500/500	500
Nordic Skiing	25/300/300	300
Pack and Saddle Stock, Equestrian	25/300/300	300
Rafting and Boating (Class IV-V)	25/500/500	500
Rafting and Boating (Class I-III)	25/500/1000	1,000
Rock Climbing	25/500/500	500
Running and Walking Events	25/300/300	300
Snowmobiling	25/500/500	500