Paying to walk in your own backyard

by Evan Sisson Wednesday, May. 17, 2000 at 6:14 PM
evsisson@hotmail.com

Who is the ARC and what are they doing to your public land?

The Fee Demostration

Program is being run by

the Forest Service,BLM

and Army Corp. They are

running a pilot program to

test the American puplic's

complience to the idea of

user fees on public land.

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In 1996 congress passed a rider on a

appropriations bill which allows the Forest

Service.BLm and Army corps. of engineers to

charge user fees to recreate on public lands.

Written into the bill is the concept of a joint

effort by the Forest Service and corperations

to begin managing sites and facilities and

charging the public "fair market value"

to recreate on public land. This was lobbied

by a group called ARC (American Recreation

Colalition) some of the members include

Disney,Rei,Harley Davidson,Times-Mirror.

What we have here is double taxation,your

taxes already support the National Forest

Service. And most importantly this is the

beginning of a corperate take over of public

lands. Somethig needs to be done!!!

Several organistations are currentely

contesting this program but more public

outcry needs to be heard!

Check out these web sites:

www.wildwilderness.org and www.

freeourforest.org. A national day of protest

has been set for June 10th let us all get

active or the corperations will be running

OUR public lands.

Original: Paying to walk in your own backyard