16 U.S.C. § 8541: Permitting process improvements

evaluate the process for issuing special recreation permits; and eliminate duplicative processes with respect to issuing special recreation permits; reduce costs for the issuance of special recreation permits; decrease processing times for special recreation permits; and issue simplified special recreation permits, including special recreation permits for an organized group recreation activity or event under subsection (e); and not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretaries complete their respective evaluation and identification processes under paragraph (1), revise, as necessary, relevant agency regulations and guidance documents, including regulations and guidance documents relating to the environmental review process, for special recreation permits to implement the improvements identified under paragraph (1)(B). The Secretary concerned shall, to the maximum extent practicable, utilize available tools, including tiering to existing programmatic reviews, as appropriate, to facilitate an effective and efficient environmental review process for activities undertaken by the Secretary concerned relating to the issuance of special recreation permits. evaluate whether existing categorical exclusions available to the Secretary concerned on January 4, 2025 , are consistent with the provisions of this subchapter; evaluate whether a modification of an existing categorical exclusion or the establishment of 1 or more new categorical exclusions developed in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) is necessary to undertake an activity described in paragraph (1) in a manner consistent with the authorities and requirements in this subchapter; and revise relevant agency regulations and policy statements and guidance documents, as necessary, to modify existing categorical exclusions or incorporate new categorical exclusions based on evaluations conducted under this paragraph. Except as required under subsection (c) or (d) of section 1133 of this title , the Secretary concerned shall not conduct a needs assessment as a condition of issuing a special recreation permit under section 6802(h) of this title (as amended by this title). online; by mail or electronic mail; and in person at the field office for the applicable Federal recreational lands and waters. The term “special recreation permit for an organized group recreation activity or event” means a special recreation permit described in subclause (I) or (III) of paragraph (13)(A)(iii) of section 6801 of this title (as amended by this title). The term “youth group” means a recreation service provider that predominantly serves individuals not older than 25 years of age. If the Secretary concerned allocates visitor-use days available for an area or activity on Federal recreational lands and waters among recreation service providers that hold a permit described in paragraph (13)(A)(iv) of section 6801 of this title (as amended by this title), a special recreation permit for an organized group recreation activity or event shall not be subject to that allocation of visitor-use days. shall make a nominal effects determination to determine whether the proposed activity or event would have more than nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; and the proposed activity or event to be undertaken would have only nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; and establishing additional terms and conditions for the proposed activity or event is not necessary to protect or avoid conflict on or with Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; the proposed activity or event to be undertaken would have only nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; and establishing additional terms and conditions for the proposed activity or event is necessary to protect or avoid conflict on or with Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; the proposed activity or event to be undertaken would have only nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; and establishing additional terms and conditions for the proposed activity or event is necessary to protect or avoid conflict on or with Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; and the proposed activity or event to be undertaken may have more than nominal effects on Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs; and establishing additional terms and conditions for the proposed activity or event would be necessary to protect or avoid conflict on or with Federal recreational lands and waters, resources, and programs. The Secretary concerned may elect not to charge a fee to a recreation service provider (including a youth group) for a special recreation permit for an organized group recreation activity or event. Nothing in this subsection prevents the Secretary concerned from limiting or abating the allowance of a proposed activity or event under paragraph (3)(B)(i) or the issuance of a special recreation permit for an organized group recreation activity or event, based on resource conditions, administrative burdens, or safety issues. A special recreation permit for an organized group recreation activity or event issued under paragraph (3) shall be subject to the health and safety standards required by the Secretary concerned for a permit issued under paragraph (13)(A)(iv) of section 6801 of this title (as amended by this title).