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HILARY S. FRANZ <br />COMM15SIONER OF PURLIC LANDS <br />DNR seeks a statute <br />change to RCW 4.24.220 <br />as an important first <br />step in responsibly and <br />equitably meeting the <br />growing demand for <br />organized recreation in <br />Washington. <br />The change would bring <br />DNR in line with similar <br />exemptions to other <br />State Natural Resources <br />Agencies. <br />CONTACT <br />Brian Considine <br />Legislative Director <br />Cell 360-764-0013 <br />brian.considine@dnr wa.gov <br />019y Diaz <br />Deputy Legislative Director <br />Cell- 360-918-3555 <br />olgy.diaz@dnrw.a.gov <br />Recreational Commercial Use Fees <br />A small fix to state statute could have a big Impact on DNR's ability to <br />manage recreation events on DNR-managed lands <br />DNR receives more than 100 organized <br />recreation event permit applications <br />annually for events on DNR-managed <br />land. Events include competitive running <br />and biking races, fundraisers, and <br />outdoor education opportunities, and <br />more. Currently, the agency needs <br />authority to develop a consistent and <br />transparent permitting system that <br />ensures permittees adequately mitigate <br />for the impacts of these events. More <br />people are engaged in recreation <br />activities on state lands and this bill helps <br />DNR keep up with the growing demand <br />to recreate on DNR-managed lands. <br />Increase Consistency: Permit denials have far-reaching effects for our partners and <br />nearby communities. The current process is inconsistent due to the lack of investments in <br />DNR programs and projects. This results in permit denials and missed opportunities for <br />rural economic development in gateway communities, and, makes it difficult for partner <br />organizations to plan for events across the state. This statutory change provides some parity <br />with authorities given to other natural resources agencies and will allow DNR to permit and <br />manage events consistently across the state while protecting our natural resources. <br />Improve Transparency: DNR'!, perm4ting structure car be difficult to navigate and <br />cannot provide revenue to help cover the Costs that would help build efficiencies and <br />transparency to the process. This bill allows DNR to work with Tribes and stakeholders to <br />develop a permit appficatior� process and fee structure that is acceptable and more <br />transparent, without compromising our managerrent of state lands or have the agency lose <br />recreational immunity. This also allows DNR to recover costs of managing organized <br />iecreational events, including setting clear expectations up front for permittees, while <br />making the permit process predictable and equ4able for our current and future partrers. <br />Redu-Ke IMpacts: Settng perrn�t fees for recreational events is needed to manage high <br />use recreation sites that require more management by staff-- time and resources that are. <br />not offset by permit fees. Author4ing DNR to develop a fee structure under the recreational <br />1mrrunity statute (FLCVIV I -, cril�cal to the lg�,ncy's ahility to better manage the <br />_;� �4.210) 1 <br />growing demand for organized recreation Providing DNR the legal stand�ng to develop a <br />fee structure. would help us recoup management costs and improve outdoor exper�ences <br />for all Washingtonians. <br />