Public lands. The Senate Hearing is just over 90 minutes. It running everyone, the committee will come to order, happy halloween, happy world series everyone stayed up late watching that game. Yes its kind of exciting so we are here today talking about good things, recreation and im going to keep my comments brief because i know colleagues have been engaged in this and a couple of you want to make some opening comments as well but we have three pieces this morning that we are considering, the simplifying act door out sex, they caught the sore act i like the acronym theyre pretty good. 1723 the ski area act from senator gardner, we all love skiing. In 1967 the recreation not red tape act from senator wide in. This is building off one that we held on march where we discussed improving access and permitting to provide recreation opportunities on our federal land so proposals were looking out today is a good start in addressing those issues. Senator heinrich and white and have put forward on legislation to simplify the system to simplify this for those who operate across the spectrum and federal lands and the investment needed for infrastructure to meet the demand of the season recreation this belief recognizes the Important Role that recreation is playing in our economy, according to the bureau of economic analysis. The Outdoor Recreation account for 2. 2 of current dollar gdp, or 427 billion dollars this includes not only an impact sectors like outfitting and guiding but all of the associated impact as well. Lodging, transportation, restrooms, all the leg. In my state we see a big impact from recreation, and 2018 we welcomed on cruise ship visitors and i think this next year were up to about 1. 3 this is in a state of about 120,000 people so we feel that impact its exciting but sometimes its little overwhelming, and the Glacier Visitor Center you have hundreds of people who want to get into the facility every day but it is designed to hold a fraction of that. Forest so there is evolving a plan to respond to increase anne visitation, but its a challenge. I was with senator lee out and well have we had an opportunity to go to the National Park and see the pressures everybody wants to get into the park but how do we accommodate, how do we facilitate our outfitters and our guys are also trying to respond to growing demand. Back country ski guides want to go to new areas in the lands near haines but they are being delayed by a lengthy and Environmental Review process to process the permits. These are all things we hear about, so what were trying to do is ensure that our federal land managers have the resources and flexibility needed to respond to increasing and changing demand so i appreciate colleagues work on these important bills. Im going a turn to senator manchin before i introduce our panel and i know that members a couple of you would like to make introductions of some that are here. If i can id like to defer to my good friend wide and, very good. Thank you all, i want i dont think its a bouquet tossing contest but i want to thank you for your courtesy but i also very much appreciate your leadership on the recreation, issues the work we try to do up here and a bipartisan way and i think we all understand every member here particularly westerners we understand that the Recreation Centers and its clearly a boost for our quality of life in the west and for our economy and a chance to bring americans together for a better health. I really appreciate this my fellow with congressman in bishop is basically one that updates the policies from yesteryear because in yesteryear recreation was not the big economic engine that it is today so thats what the bill is all about. That is 0. 1 and we have on lee davis here he knows a lot about recreation he was responsible for the outfitter and guide provide with the most youre certain days and he also helped create an Oregon State Office an Outdoor Recreation. So ill be running back and forth at the courtesy of the chair and the Ranking Member but colleagues were really talking to the Gold Standard when youre hearing from my fellow oregonian. Last point and im not interested in starting a big controversy but i want to make sure we talk through the chair and the vice chair through the days ahead. That is colleagues we all know because he read the paper about these wildfires that are just ravaging the west and there is a host of issues so we will have to tackle. I want to put two up on the board, one of them is Climate Change i think there are ways we can work collaboratively on that and second is collaboration which is what we try to stress on the ground that is what the end of fire borrowing is all about that is what stewardship has been all about and if we want to have colleagues wonderful places to recreate we are going to have to do something to get an update for the policies to fight fire, madam chair and the vice chair i look forward to working with you on both fronts thank you madam chair on thank you for holding the hearing and i want to thank all of you for being here today i command the sponsors for exploring innovative ways to improve Outdoor Recreation and the businesses that supported. Outdoor recreation has been a powerful economic driver and states across the country in my home state has been no exception ive seen firsthand the jobs that recreation has brought Outdoor Recreation in my state generates 2 of our Gross Domestic Product and supports jobs and now many are supported in Outdoor Recreation. So this is a topic thats near endear to my heart on, as our Committee Reviews on legislation on Outdoor Recreation i believe that we need to ensure the ideas being discussed for rule communities. All three bills attempt to do that and well have impacts i believe in this states not only with them being introduced but especially in West Virginia and acted this way to provide assistance to skiers on federal land well we will be hearing about how this will impact the skiing industry i want to mention that we have to that use for service land and a fourth located thats been a close and is for sale. I look forward to discussion about ways we can be better partners with the ski industry and the appropriate use of fair revenue on we will also be discussing the bills and providing backpacking trips on federal land and senator wife that says a system of natural Recreation Areas. West virginia was actually home to the first Recreation Area designated in 1965 which is the prosperous Recreation Area this has common things, facilitating public lands well supporting jobs and local economy, is following this hearing chairman and i will get to work with our colleagues on a recreation package to report on this committee. The heart and soul of that package will be the same as the bills we are discussing today. Not only make it easier for people to enjoy their public lands but also grow businesses in all Rural Communities coming from alaska and West Virginia we have a firsthand experience of this importance. With that as a basis we have been and developing additional ideas for the package for example one of the areas ive been on supporting is how we can benefit gateway communities. Those are the communities that are next to the recreation destination, where they either seen before and after push coming to visit. They testified before the Committee Earlier this year about how difficult it was to establish businesses in a gay way community. His system polls 50,000 riders annually but 87 of our nonWest Virginia. Meaning they need hotels peace and stayed at hotels they wish to age. And im sure the continues to be very difficult to establish the infrastructure that is needed to accommodate increased visitation and some of these roll areas. I look forward working with the colleagues and many other ideas as we assemble a bipartisan recreation packages in the coming weeks, with that i want to thank the witnesses in madam chairman thank you. Senator i know that you had wanted to make introductions and perhaps briefly speak about your bill. Senator you want to make an introduction and senator heinrich you have a bill up here giving everybody, were never gonna get to these guys. I just want to hear from the witnesses, who wanted to shift same criticize but lets return to cnn partner. Thank you very pleased to have before the committee on the Vice President of Public Affairs and testifying on behalf of the national sea area association, and sourced in colorado where its mountain was started in 1962 by the tenth Mountain Division of world war ii, since then resources have grown into a Success Story spending 37 ski areas, all inc. Together by its industry pleading epic paths and is that correct, and all together but a low ski writers and a great value and the former ski Police Instructor and as chair because he can attest to a pretty good guy to be in the mountains with and thank you very much for being here today and i think you have an 86 acres opening keystone right now. Well, amazing, great thank you. Thank you very much madam chair i am pleased to help you welcome ban to our committee today as a witness he and i share the hometown of casper and precious resources that wyoming has to offer, he spent more than a decade with the Outdoor Leadership School where he had been extraordinary in terms of being an advocate for outdoor education, efficient and responsible use of public lands and permitting of course. When i think about the history of this country likely, john moore carried a stick and and sell police Teddy Roosevelt carried a gun, but they were all under the same conclusion we need to reserve and pass on these resources and allow others to enjoy them. So ive had many conversations about ways to avoid the cumbersome permitting process that this wades public use of public lands, im glad that hes here today and we have a reliance on recreation and tourism is a key component of our economy, and much of the recreation occurs on public lands managed by public agencies. So we need to have an effective and efficient process that encourages Public Access and these landscapes i look forward to the expertise iran to share with the committee today and i also want to congratulate you, i know that monday you will be asserting work with american outdoors as the executive director so its big news and i look forward to continue to work with you, so thank you madam chairman. Great thank you all. Most of you have been introduced but i will provide my welcome to each of you, we will start off the discussion here this morning with an individual who has been before the committee, we have had many dealings with chris the deputy chief for the National Forest system in the u. S. Forest service and chris we thank you for the many efforts that you have made and i know youre spending a lot of attention and times on alaska related issues and thank you for your leadership, nikki is with the committee she is this instant director for conservation of lands and community partnerships, we thank you for being here this morning and i look forward to your comments. Perennial require has been introduced and welcome and, its always good to have somebody that can be against speaking with a firsthand relationship to the industry that he represents an easterly doesnt we welcome you to the committee, lee davis has been introduced by senator widen and we are pleased that you are with us with we appreciate what you will provide and we ask you to keep your comments to about five minutes. Your full statements will be included as part of the record and then we will have an opportunity for questions afterwards. Im going to excuse myself a couple minutes to introduce an amendment but we will lead off the committee here with mr. French, thank you. P8 thank you very much, i really appreciate the opportunity today to talk about our viewers on these three bills. The simplifying Outdoor Recreation act and the ski area retention act, you know when i glance back at my 30 years ive been with the Forest Service i served as a recreation technician, now is a sit here and think about my role is deputy chief i realize i always have had a passion for connecting people to the recreational opportunities and its where i take my family. I ski in those resorts and i know the ones they close and it was harder to see that happen. And i use many of these Services Provided by our guides, you know when i look at this i think anything we can do to improve our ability to serve our Recreation Community and partners and enhancing the connection folks have to public lands thats a good day. How to recreation is a significant use of force system, arose from 143 millions in 2009 nine years later isnt 150 million. Recreation and National Force system sustains more private sector jobs in any other program and provides the single largest stimulus for gateway communities. It contributes more than 11 billion dollars to americas Gross Domestic Product and supports 148,000 full and part time jobs, most of which are in those gateway and rule communities. How do recreation opportunities and amenities are consistently ranked as one of the primary reasons people moved to rule towns and can be contributor, at the Forest Service we administer 30,000 recreations is generating two billion dollars to the holders, in particular the Forest Service manages 122 ski area permits and approximately 8000 outfitter and guide permits. These permits enable professionals, uk shall institutions to lead a wide range on four system lands. Whether drafting, downhill skiing, horseback riding big game hunting or youth educations trips please. For many of these activities they represent, this represents the first introduction that many folks have to the outdoors and the outfitters and guides that they employ generate jobs and incomes from local communities. We also manage nearly 159,000 trails, the largest Trail Network in the nation, we host over 60 of the ski area visits and we are proud to provide a vital respite on, as well as opportunities for voting, Fishing Hunting in hiking. Usda approves the overall goals for four system lands, the recreation not red tape act and complement to streamline processes, provide a higher level of Customer Service to our public and partners. It will increase available resources to improve the administration of an experience of risky areas, finally Outdoor Recreation provides millions of americans ridge opportunities to connect with their lands and heritage, the Forest Service is honored to serve in this and put works to improve the lives and livelihood of many throw Outdoor Recreation. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony and i look forward to work on these important bills. Thank you, miss has to get. Good morning, i am nikki ascot asked acting director for conservation lands and partnerships, thank you for inviting me here today to testify on, the recreation not red tape act and the simplifying Outdoor Access for recreation. These bills that amend the federal lands recreation enhancement act aim to improve the efficiency and the cost for applying for and administering special recreation permits. They also authorize single giant recreational permits for trips, it supports the trips of and goals about these on federal land overseas acres including public lands managed by the poem the bureau of reclamation and the National Park service as well as the Forest Service. These lands host of a remarkable variety of recreational opportunities. Secretary bernard is improving recreational access to public lands and has issued a number of orders and support for this priority. On secretary order three three seven three promotes improved access to public lands and under this policy it has a required new lands such as 13,000 acres to improve access to the Black Foot River in montana and the acres to improve access to the wilderness area and new mexico. Much of the changes proposed in the bills being considered today ddos bushel recreation permits and theyre associated fees. Fees collected for each permit allow the government to implement projects that benefit on such as maintaining recreational sites and issues 1000 of these recreational permits throughout the air and special recreation prevents at any one time, as doilies align with the secretarys priorities to increase access and promote recreational opportunities and public lands, we believe these bills have the potential to address some longstanding challenges and we look forward to working with the sponsors and committee to address a number of technical issues on. Both issues single joy and recreation permits for trips across agency batteries, when a single joint recreation permit is propose the pills authorize the designation of a league agency for the permanent. The bill also authorize agencies to dele