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SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS
First Step: The Proposal
Each year, the Forest Service receives numerous proposals for various National Forest Lands activities such as water transmission lines, outfitting and guiding, recreation events, telecommunication, research, photography, and rights-of-ways. Depending on the proposal's complexity, obtaining a Special Use Authorization can be a lengthy and costly process.
The Forest Service carefully reviews each proposal. It is your responsibility to provide the Agency with all the information needed to review, evaluate, and make a decision on a submitted proposal. All proposals are subject to two levels of screening. If a proposal passes the second level of screening, it is accepted as an application.
Next Step: The Application
Once your proposal is accepted, then it is time to complete an application. The application form is used to collect more specific information. The permit administrator you are working with will give you the appropriate form. Your application's details will be analyzed according to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and cost recovery fees may be applicable. The environmental analysis process will determine if the proposed use will be authorized with a Special Use Permit.
Processing Fee: Cost Recovery
Cost Recovery is the assessment and collection of administrative fees from special use applicants and permit holders. Cost recovery fees offset some of the Forest Service's administrative costs when processing an application and monitoring a special use for compliance with the terms and conditions of an authorization.
Processing/monitoring fees include the Agency's cost to review and evaluate the application, meet with the applicant, conduct environmental reviews, conduct site visits, conduct technical and financial reviews, and prepare documentation of analyses, decisions, and authorizations.
Cost Recovery applies to all special use proposals formally accepted as applications, including authorizations for new uses, changes to existing authorizations, authorizations issued as a result of the termination of existing authorization, and authorizations issued as a result of a change in ownership or control of facilities under the existing authorization.
Cost Recovery does not apply to:
- Applications or authorizations that require 1 hour or less to process or monitor
- Applications for non-commercial group use or
- Applications for recreation uses that require 50 hours or less to process or monitor.
2024 Cost Recovery Fee Schedule