House passes Westerman bill to expand outdoor recreation opportunities

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Act (EXPLORE), bipartisan legislation sponsored by Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) to expand outdoor recreation access nationwide.

Westerman released the following statement on the policy provisions included in the EXPLORE Act to reopen overnight camping at Albert Pike Recreation Area:

“Ever since the Forest Service suspended overnight camping at Albert Pike Recreation Area, I’ve heard from countless constituents who are disappointed with the decision and frustrated with the mismanagement of the site since the suspension. As such, I included comprehensive and responsible policies in the EXPLORE Act that will ensure the Forest Service reopens overnight camping and better manages the Albert Pike Recreation Area. No one understands the blessing of outdoor recreation opportunities quite like Arkansans, which is why I’m proud to champion the EXPLORE Act to ensure that outdoorsmen and women can safely enjoy their favorite recreation sites, like Albert Pike, for generations to come.”

Click here for Westerman’s full statement on the passage of the EXPLORE Act.

BACKGROUND:

One of the most popular sites within the Ouachita National Forest is the Albert Pike Recreation Area (APRA), a unique area that has long attracted outdoorsmen and women from across the country. The U.S. Forest Service suspended overnight camping at APRA following a major flash flood that tragically killed 20 people on June 11, 2010. Since then, APRA has been to limited day use. Congressman Westerman’s EXPLORE Act will:

• Safely re-open any existing overnight campsites outside of the 100-year flood plain within 30 days of the bill’s enactment.

• Identify 54 areas that may be suitable for overnight camping in the recreation area within 6 months of the bill’s enactment.

• Establish at least 27 new overnight camping sites outside of the 100-year flood plain, including at least 8 with electric and water hookups, for public use within 2 years of the bill’s enactment.

• Require the rehabilitation necessary to make publicly accessible areas in APRA suitable for year-round day use.

In addition to reopening overnight camping at APRA, the EXPLORE Act will:

• Improve access to public lands and waters for outdoor recreation.

• Modernize technology to improve visitor experiences, like increasing broadband connectivity and creating digital recreation passes.

• Streamline the permitting process and reduce fees for small businesses that depend on public land access.

• Protect rock climbing in iconic places and create new long-distance bike trails.

• Restore campgrounds and modernize infrastructure.

• Support gateway communities by addressing housing shortages and outdated infrastructure.

• Improve accessibility for military service members, veterans, individuals with disabilities and children.

The EXPLORE Act is supported by more than 100 outdoor organizations, including several Arkansas based organizations who advocate for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, recreational boating, rock climbing, and more.

Click herefor more information.

Westerman introduces Bipartisan Lakes Act to expand opportunities for outdoor recreation facilities

Bruce Westerman

Steve Womack

WASHINGTON - Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), and Steve Womack (R-AR-03), introduced H.R. 6906, the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act to expand opportunities to improve and develop outdoor recreation facilities at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) managed areas.

“Outdoor recreation is among one of the top economic drivers in the U.S., especially in states like Arkansas. Because of discrepancies in current federal law, managers of some of our favorite outdoor recreation sites have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to maintain and manage the sites. The LAKES Act will correct the discrepancies, cut out the burdensome federal red tape, and make it easier for the Corps to manage their sites for generations to enjoy for years to come,” Rep. Westerman said.

“Outdoor recreation is a fundamental part of life for folks in my district, and its popularity – and the demand for increased access – is growing nationwide. Local favorites for my constituents, like Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, provide all kinds of opportunities for outdoor fun. But local managers have to jump through countless hoops to keep these places safe and enjoyable,” said Rep. Huffman. “Our bill will guarantee the Army Corps can retain recreation fees at the sites they’re collected and it will open doors for management partnerships with tribes and local organizations so we can all care for the country’s treasured public spaces.”  

“Arkansas’ Third is home to world-class outdoor offerings, attracting tourists and residents alike to enjoy the immense beauty and participate in our endless recreational activities. However, under current federal law, local managers of recreation sites we all know and love, such as Beaver Lake and Table Rock Lake, must cut through endless bureaucratic red tape to maintain and operate these sites effectively,” said Rep. Womack. “The LAKES Act would rectify this by allowing the Army Corps to retain recreation fees collected onsite, keeping maintenance and operations decisions out of the hands of federal bureaucrats and into the hands of the local managers who know these sites best.”

Stakeholder support:

“Thank you to Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) for championing the introduction of The Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, President and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). “This legislation prioritizes the maintenance and upkeep of high-use recreation infrastructure and facilities enjoyed by millions of Americans. By providing the Army Corps of Engineers with the ability to reinvest recreation fees into the operations and maintenance of recreation access points, the LAKES Act helps support the outdoor recreation economy, which contributes more than $1 trillion to our country’s economy and represents a significant pastime for millions of Americans.”

Background:

• Under current law, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recreation facilities cannot retain recreation fee revenues collected onsite, an authority afforded to the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service.

• The Challenge Cost Sharing Cooperative Management Program was created for participating agencies to split operation and management expenses with outside groups. However, despite interest from private and nonprofit organizations, USACE is limited to partnering with non-federal public entities.

• The USACE is one of the nation’s largest federal outdoor recreation providers, managing nearly 257,000 facilities across 43 states.

• U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Boozman (R-AR), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Steve Daines (R-MT) are cosponsors of the Senate companion LAKES Act.

The LAKES Act would: 

• Allow USACE to retain 80% of recreation fees collected onsite for operation and management expenses at that location.

• Amend the Challenge Cost Sharing Cooperative Management Agreement authority to enable nonprofit entities to enter into cooperative agreements to operate and maintain recreation facilities under USACE jurisdiction.

• Keep resources and decision-making related to the operation and maintenance of recreation facilities under USACE jurisdiction in the hands of local managers rather than federal officials.

Click here to view the full bill text.

Click here to view a letter of support from over 25 organizations representing various sections of the U.S. outdoor recreation industry.

Issues:Transportation and Infrastructure

Arkansas joins ‘Confluence Accords’ to promote outdoor recreation and conservation

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Outdoor recreation officials from Arkansas, Maryland, and New Hampshire recently signed on to the Outdoor Recreation Industry Confluence Accords. The signing, which happened in Little Rock, brings the total number of states in the coalition to 16.

The Confluence of States is a nonpartisan organization developing a national platform to grow the outdoor recreation industry, protect the nation’s wild places and transform conservation into a driver for economic prosperity, according to a statement from the Arkansas Department of Heritage.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/06/arkansas-joins-confluence-accords-to-promote-outdoor-recreation-and-conservation/

Governor Announces Office of Outdoor Recreation; Acquisition of Blue Mountain in Maumelle Pinnacles

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson announced today that he is opening the Office of Outdoor Recreation to coordinate awareness, opportunity, and stewardship of Arkansas’s outdoors.

The Governor announced that the state has added Blue Mountain to its inventory of outdoor recreational sites and has entered into a memorandum of understanding to operate the Lake Sylvia Recreation Area.

“We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and you don’t have to look far in any direction to know that,” Governor Hutchinson said during a news conference in the Governor’s Conference room. “We want to keep it that way. The Office of Outdoor Recreation will maximize opportunities for outdoor recreation in Arkansas, while preserving our past and conserving our beauty.”

This office will reside in the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (ADPHT) under the leadership of Secretary Stacy Hurst, who soon will start the search for a director.

With the acquisition of Blue Mountain, the state will have charge of all three mountains in the chain of Maumelle Pinnacles, which includes Pinnacle Mountain and Rattlesnake Ridge. The addition of Blue Mountain is another example of the public-private sectors working together. The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) purchased Blue Mountain from PotlatchDeltic. Conserving this land protects the Little Maumelle River and adds to a 12,000-acre conservation and recreation corridor.

The Lake Sylvia Recreation Area is the only surviving Girl Scout Camp constructed by the Works Progress Administration.

Outdoor recreation in Arkansas brings in nearly $10 billion a year, supports 96,000 jobs worth $2.5 billion, and generates $698 million in local and state tax revenue.

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson to Make a Special Announcement on Outdoor Recreation in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK – Outdoor recreation in the Natural State supports around 96,000 jobs with an estimated combined wages or salaries of $2.5 billion.

On Monday afternoon, Governor Asa Hutchinson will be joined by Stacy Hurst, Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, and Congressman French Hill to make a special announcement regarding outdoor recreation in the state of Arkansas. This will include the announcement of new offerings that will expand state tourism and further emphasize the beauty of the Natural State.

WHAT:                Governor Hutchinson to Make a Special Announcement Regarding Outdoor Recreation in Arkansas

WHEN:               1 p.m. | Monday, June 21, 2021

WHERE:             Governor’s Conference Room
                              State Capitol
                              Little Rock, Arkansas

WATCH:             The news conference will be live streamed here: 
                              https://www.youtube.com/c/GovernorAsaHutchinson/live