On Wednesday, designated as “Great American Outdoors Day,” the Interior Department will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by waiving entrance fees at all fee-collecting public lands managed by the department.
Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, group day use and use of special areas, remain in effect, the department said.
“Through the Great American Outdoors Act, we are investing in the American people, and in the future of our public lands and sacred spaces,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. “I invite all Americans to experience the beauty and bounty of our nation’s public lands – not just on Aug. 4 but every day of the year.”
While most of the 423 national parks are open, the Interior Department said visitors may find limited services in and around national parks. It urged travels to check individual park websites or download the NPS App for specific details about their operations.
GAOA provides full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million per year. The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established by Congress in 1964 to fulfill a bipartisan commitment to safeguard the nation’s natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans.
GAOA also established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) to provide needed maintenance at facilities on public lands and Indian schools.
For Fiscal Year 2022, GAOA-funded projects are expected to support more than 17,000 jobs and generate $1.8 billion in local communities. Between planned Fiscal Year 2021 and proposed Fiscal Year 2022 funding, Interior has LRF deferred maintenance projects in all 50 states and multiple U.S. territories.
