Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced the creation of a new advisory panel on recreation Tuesday that will focus on better ways to exact fees from national park visitors and make sure the fees go toward improving park infrastructure.
Zinke drew criticism last month when he proposed doubling entrance fees at 17 national parks to raise revenue for maintenance. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said the proposal has caused her concern and is open to a hearing on the issue.
Providing recommendations on fees will be one part of Zinke’s new “Made in America Recreation Advisory Committee.”
The committee’s primary aim is to provide advice to him on establishing public-private partnerships across all public lands “with the goal of expanding access to and improving infrastructure on public lands and waterways,” the Interior Department said.
“By forming this committee, I look forward to hearing from the best and the brightest in our private sector on how to improve the public experience on our federal lands and waters by expanding access for all Americans,” Zinke said.
The committee will provide recommendations on policies and programs that include implementing “sustainable operations embracing fair, efficient and convenient fee collection and strategic use of the collected fees,” the agency said.
Advisory committee members will be selected from a variety of backgrounds and experiences with the recreational industry, the agency said.
