Specials Uses - Overview
Special Uses
The Forest Service manages over 192 million acres of national forests and grasslands that comprise the National Forest System (NFS). Today, our growing population and mobile society have created a demand for a variety of uses of these federal lands. Often these diverse needs require specific approval. The Forest Service provides services that support our national policy and federal land laws. The Agency's special-uses program authorizes uses on NFS land that provide a benefit to the general public and protect public and natural resources values. Currently there are over 74,000 authorizations on the NFS lands for over 180 types of uses.
Each year, the Forest Service receives thousands of individual and business applications for authorization for use of NFS land for such activities as water transmission, agriculture, outfitting and guiding, recreation, telecommunication, research, photography and video productions, and granting road and utility rights-of-ways. The Forest Service carefully reviews each application to determine how the request affects the public's use of NFS land. Normally, NFS land is not made available if the overall needs of the individual or business can be met on nonfederal lands.
As a steward of the National Forests, the Forest Service has a duty to minimize resource impacts on National Forest System lands. Special Use Authorizations provide use of, and access to, National Forest System lands for a wide variety of activities to both commercial and noncommercial operations. Permits are also issued for private, non-exclusive use. Depending on the complexity of the proposal, obtaining a Special Use Authorization can sometimes be a lengthy process.
The National Forest’s in Florida currently possess more than 600 Issued permits and on average receive more than 200 new permit applications, amendments or transfers per year.
Frequently Asked questions:
• When there is a demand to use federal lands by public or private entities to address different uses or needs. Often these diverse needs require specific approval. The Forest Service provides services that support our national policy and federal land laws.
• The Agency's special-uses program authorizes uses on National Forest Systems lands that provide a benefit to the general public and protect public and natural resources values.
• These Authorizations are legal document such as a permit, term permit, lease, or easement, which allows occupancy, use, rights, or privileges of National Forests System lands. The authorization is granted for a specific use of the land and for a specific period of time.
• If you will need to occupy, use, or build on National Forest System lands for personal or business purposes, whether the duration is temporary or long term.
• If there is a fee being charged or if income is derived from the use.
• If an activity on NFS land involves individuals or organization with 75 or more participants or spectators.
Name and Address - Include the full name(s) to be used. If the application includes real property, the name(s) on the legal document must match the application.
Applicant's Agent - This person must be at least 21 years old and may or may not be the same as the applicant. Documentation should be included to verify that this person may sign on behalf of the applicant.
Project Description - Include enough detail to enable the Forest Service to determine feasibility, environmental impacts, benefits to the public, the safety of the request, lands to be occupied or used, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Environmental Protection Plan – Include proposed plans for environmental protection and rehabilitation during construction, maintenance, removal, and reclamation of the land.
Map - Provide a detailed map (U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle or equivalent) or plat (survey or equivalent) showing the requested use in relation to NFS land, identification of applicant's property (if applicable), scale, map legend, legal description, and a north arrow.
Technical and Financial Capability – Provide documentation to assure the Forest Service you are capable of constructing, operating, maintaining, removing the use off NFS land, and reclaiming the land after the authorization terminates.
Alternatives - You must first consider using nonfederal land. Lower costs or fewer restrictions are not adequate reasons for use of NFS lands. Provide alternative locations for the proposal in your application.
To apply for a Special Use Authorization Application, you must first verify if you meet the following Criteria:
- Your request must be consistent with laws, regulations, orders, policies of NFS lands, other federal laws, and applicable State and local health and sanitation laws.
- Your request must be consistent or made consistent with the standards and guidelines in the applicable Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
- Your request must not pose serious or substantial risk to public health or safety.
- Your request must not require exclusive or perpetual right of use or occupancy.
- Your request does not unreasonably conflict or interfere with administrative uses, other scheduled or authorized existing uses, or use of adjacent non-NFS lands.
- The proponent must not owe any fees to the Forest Service from a prior or existing special use authorization.
- No gambling or providing of sexually oriented commercial services can be authorized on NFS land, even if permitted under state law.
- No military or paramilitary training or exercises by private organizations or individuals can be authorized on NFS land, unless it is federally funded.
- No disposal of solid waste or storage or disposal of radioactive or other hazardous substances can be authorized on NFS land.
To apply please provide the documentation listed for the desired use to the District Special Use Permit Administrator for the forest you desire:
• Apalachicola National Forest and Osceola National Forest Rox Oxford: roxanne.oxford@usda.gov, C: 850-815-2248
• Ocala National Forest Eve Shackleton: eve.shackleton@usda.gov, P: 352-625-2520 x2526
Cost recovery fees cover the administrative costs incurred by the U.S. Forest Service to process a special use application or to monitor during implementation of a Special Use Authorization. The fee does not apply to non-commercial group use and recreation special use applications that require less than 50 hours to pro- cess. Fee determination is based on an estimate of the number of hours U.S. Forest Service personnel will spend on work necessary to process an application and to monitor the implementation of a project. That estimate will be applied to the corresponding category and rate in the appropriate processing or monitoring fee schedule. For processing and monitoring requirements of less than 50 person hours, there is a fee schedule. A Cost Recovery Agreement for actual hours will need to be entered into by the proponent for processing and monitoring requirements over 50 hours.
In Addition to a cost recovery charge there is an annual land use fee that can incur on your permit and it will depend on your use in the forest. This will be determined at the time of permit issuance and in certain permits it will be a recuring fee that can change depending on fair market value each year.
Depending on the complexity of the proposal, obtaining a Special Use Authorization can sometimes be a lengthy process. It is important to note not all proponent's will receive approval for a permit, therefore any action taken before receiving a Special Use authorization, such as occupying National Forest System Lands and advertising or expending funds, is premature and at the proponent's risk--and is against the law.
• Submit ALL proposals and applications at least 180 days ahead of your intended start of operations.
• All proposals and applications will be date-stamped when received and processed in order of receipt.
Submit proposals/applications or questions to the District Special Uses Administrator. See “How do I Apply?” section for contact information.
As mentioned before there are over 180 types of uses and we can’t fit them all here. If you cannot find information on your desired special use, provide the following information to the permit administrator mentioned on our “How do I Apply?” section.
• Brochure: General Special Uses Brochure
• SF299-20
• Map of desired location where you wish to implement your special use permit request. Shapefiles, KMZ or KML are encouraged.
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Recreation Events
Examples of recreation events include, but are not limited to, animal, bicycle, motocross, or triathalon races; jeep rallies; dog trials; fishing contests; rendezvous; adventure games; youth treks; wagon trains; concerts; and other similar events.
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Research
There are many diverse research projects on the National Forests in Florida. Research includes experimental forest demonstration areas, observatories, laboratories, stream gauges, weather stations, educational research study, and similar uses not intended to result in further development.
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Non-Commercial Group Events
Most visitors enjoy "non-commercial" activities on their National Forests such as berry picking, camping, picnicking, fishing, participating in assemblies, meetings, rallies, birthday and wedding parties.
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Filming and Photography Permits
National forests are a popular location for the commercial filming and still photography industries.
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Recreation Residences
Forest Service Recreation Residence program started in the early 1900's to give private citizens the opportunity to own a single-family cabin in designated areas on the National Forests.
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Worm Harvesting on Apalachicola National Forest
This permit is only available on the Apalachicola National Forest and currently have two worm harvesting bait permits that can be issued to collect earthworms on forest land.**
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Ocala National Forest Concessionaires
The Ocala National Forest is host to multiple concessionaires which operate year-round on the forest.