america the beautiful the national parks and federal recreational lands pass america the beautiful...

America the Beautiful THE NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASSTHE NATIONAL PARKS AND FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASS


Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives• Provide general information to ensure there is

consistency in pass issuance and acceptance among the agencies

• To provide updates and clarification on the Interagency Pass Program

• Describe the eligibility requirements for issuing a free Annual Pass for active duty military members

• Answer your questions



The Pass Program at a GlanceThe Pass Program at a Glance• Almost 1 million passes distributed to the

agencies annually• Generates $30 million• $1.7 million annually to manage the

program including: management as well as design, print and warehousing of the passes

• All overhead costs of the program are paid through internet and partner sales



2012 Changes2012 Changes• 250 hours now required for a Volunteer

Pass• Clarification provided on accepting

documentation from the VA for the Access Pass

• Clarification provided on checking ID to verify pass ownership

• Guidance for issuing a free Annual Pass to Military members



2012 Brochure2012 Brochure



2012 Share the Experience Photo Contest2012 Share the Experience Photo Contest

• Want your site to be on the Annual Pass?– You have to tell visitors about it!!!!

• Advertize it in your handouts/newspaper• Post posters around the your site• Give a brochure to every visitor who comes

through the gate

• The contest will be bigger and better this year, watch for more information in May – www.sharetheexperience.org



Interagency Pass – General Guidelines Interagency Pass – General Guidelines

• Cover entrance fees at FWS and NPS sites and Standard Amenity Fees at USDA FS, BLM and Reclamation sites

• Admit the pass owner and accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or at per person fee areas, the pass owner(s) and up to 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults

• Are not valid for expanded amenity fees



Interagency Pass – General Guidelines Interagency Pass – General Guidelines

• Must be displayed in the vehicle windshield at unstaffed recreation

• Are non-transferable, non-replaceable and void if altered

• Are replaceable if damaged and part of the pass is identifiable

• Pass owners must verify ownership when a pass is used



Interagency Senior & Annual PassesInteragency Senior & Annual PassesNo changes in 2012!

Annual•Must be have one signature and be punched at the time of sale

Senior•Available to U.S. Residents/Citizens 62 years old or older – ID must be presented when a pass is issued•Visitors are encouraged to check locally for discount information



Interagency Access PassInteragency Access Pass• Free lifetime pass• Is only available to U.S. Residents/Citizens who

have a permanent disability

Clarification on VA Documentation• Documentation from the VA that indicates a %

disability also signifies it is permanent• Any percent disability qualifies for a pass



Interagency Volunteer PassInteragency Volunteer Pass

• Cost: Free– Available to Volunteers who accrued 250 hours

• Valid: 12 months• Only one signature, non-transferable• Pass must be punched at the time of issue• Only one pass can be earned per year• Volunteer hours earned reset once a pass is issued



Understanding the 250 Hour RequirementUnderstanding the 250 Hour Requirement



Annual Pass for MilitaryAnnual Pass for Military• Free for active military members with

proper ID – no self-certification• Valid12 months• Can have two signatures, one must sign at time of

issue• Must be punched with the current month at the time of

issue• 2 motorcycles, both drivers must have signed the pass• Partners may not issue Annual Pass –Military• May be issued Decals if eligible • Previously purchased pass will not be refunded



Verifying EligibilityVerifying EligibilityTo qualify the military member must present a Department of Defense ID (CAC Card) to verify the person is an active member of the U.S. military.

Look For:

Uniformed Services

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Coast Guard, National Guard

Geneva Conventions Identification Card



Verifying EligibilityVerifying EligibilityTo qualify for the pass a dependent must present a Department of Defense ID (DD Form 1173) that identifies the dependent and his/her sponsor.

Look For:

USA, USMC, USAF, USN or USCGfollowed by /AD or /DEC “Identification and Privilege Card”



Do Not AcceptDo Not Accept



Supplemental Materials - HangtagsSupplemental Materials - Hangtags• Sites are encouraged to issue a

hangtag with every pass that is issued• Not issuing a hangtag when a pass is

issued may create a inconvenience for the visitor later

• Annual hangtags must have the expiration date punched out

• We will be redesigning the hangtag in 2012



Supplemental Materials - DecalsSupplemental Materials - Decals• Decals are available to all pass holders• A visitor MUST have 3 things

1. A valid Interagency Pass2. Photo Identification3. Registration of an open topped vehicleThe name on all three must match!!

• Decals for Annual pass holders will be punched to match the expiration date on the pass

• Decals for Lifetime pass holders will be punched for 1 year from time of issue



Ordering Interagency PassesOrdering Interagency Passes

• Sites may order no more than 20% of the previous year Annual Pass order

• Free Annual Passes for Military can be ordered starting today

• Official order form must be used for faxed orders.• Orders can be placed by:

– email: [email protected]– Phone: 888-ASK-USGS (888-275-8747)– Fax: 303-202-4693



Making it Right the First TimeMaking it Right the First Time• As time allows, ask questions

• Helping visitors to make the right decision is very important

• FLREA requires that visitors issued Senior and Access Passes meet eligibility requirements

????



Verifying OwnershipVerifying Ownership• Verifying ownership by checking ID when

a visitor presents a pass is important

• Photo ID should be presented every time a pass is used

• After any pass is issued, pass owners may not be required to re-verify that they are “eligible” for the pass



Checking ID Examples Checking ID Examples • A visitor with an Access Pass should never

be questioned about their disability after a pass is issued, any ID sufficient

• A visitor with a Senior Pass is not required to present US issued ID after a pass is issued, any ID is sufficient, including non-US issued ID

• A visitor with a military pass is not required to show his military ID card each time a pass is used



Checking ID ExamplesChecking ID Examples• Examples where a pass might not be

accepted:– A visitor presents a Senior Pass and ID that

shows the visitor is not old enough for the pass

– A DOD contractor presents his free Annual Pass for Military and his Contractor CAC card

• In these cases the pass may not be accepted and should be voided according to your bureau’s policy



More InformationMore Information• This presentation and the SOPs are

available at: http://www.nps.gov/training/tel– Click on the Participant Guide link

• An additional memo will be sent with the updated SOPs and announcement of the on sale date for the passes



NPS SpecificNPS Specific



Refunds and UpgradesRefunds and Upgrades• No refunds of passes purchased, or fees

paid, before the pass was made available• Parks may offer refunds if the visitor pays

a fee or purchases a pass but is qualified for a free pass and requests the refund at same park

• No refunds if the visitor is not at the same park where the fee was paid or pass purchased



Registers and SignsRegisters and Signs• Parks are responsible for reprogramming

their registers and updating signs and needed.

america the beautiful the national parks and federal recreational lands pass america the beautiful...

Documents

pass issuance

national parks

interagency pass program

free annual pass

access pass clarification

volunteer pass clarification

pass ownership guidance

identifiable pass owners