Heinrich, Capito Celebrate Final Passage of Bipartisan Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), celebrated the Senate’s passage of their bipartisan Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, legislation to improve the permitting process for outfitters, educational organizations, and community groups to access public land. The legislation was included in the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, recreation legislation that already passed in the House and will now go to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
“Our public lands are where we go to camp under the stars, chase elk, and fish for trout in mountain streams,” said Heinrich. “As a former guide myself, I know from experience how paperwork and bureaucracy can get in the way of getting outside. I’m proud that we have passed my bipartisan legislation to cut red tape to help small businesses and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy our public lands and continue growing economic development through outdoor recreation. We just made it easier for families, schools, and community groups to get outside and enjoy our public lands.”
“Making it easier to explore and enjoy the incredible beauty of our public lands is a key priority, especially at home in West Virginia,” said Capito. “I’m thrilled our SOAR Act has passed as part of the EXPLORE Act and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. Once officially law, it will reduce bureaucratic red tape and make commonsense changes to current permitting requirements that can discourage outfitters from utilizing our public lands and in turn, constrain economic development. These changes to federal public lands regulations will help support the outdoor recreation industry and benefit the local communities and economies that they serve.”
The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act streamlines and improves the recreational permitting process for federal agencies:
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Improves the process for issuing recreation permits by directing the agencies to eliminate duplicative processes, reduce costs, and shorten processing times.
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Increases flexibility for outfitters, guides and other outdoor leaders by allowing them to engage in activities that are substantially similar to the activity specified in their permit.
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Increases system transparency by directing agencies to notify the public when new recreation permits are available and requiring the agencies to provide timely responses to permit applicants.
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Creates a pilot program for agencies to issue a single joint permit covering the lands of multiple agencies for trips involving more than one land management agency.
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Reduces permit fees and cost recovery expenses for small businesses and organizations creating a de minimis exemption for cost recovery and requiring the proration of costs that apply to multiple permits
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Reduces barriers to access for state universities, city recreation departments, and school districts by waiving the permit indemnification requirement for entities that are prohibited from providing indemnification under state law.
The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act was supported by a wide range of organizations, including the Wilderness Society, American Mountain Guides Association, The Mountaineers, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, and the Outdoor Industry Association.
The bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Angus King (I-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Steven Daines (R-Mont.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).
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