Portland, Ore. -- On August 28, 2017 the price of the America the Beautiful -- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass will increase from $10 to $80 as result of the National Park Service Centennial Act P.L. 114-289.

The National Park Service Centennial Act raised the price of the senior pass (currently $10) so that it is on par with the cost of a regular annual pass (currently $80). It also authorizes a $20 annual pass for senior citizens. Increasing the onetime cost for those 62 and older to the current level of the America the Beautiful annual pass is a reasonable way to help insure our parks and federal recreation areas will remain available for future generations. As stewards, the BLM manages public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation.

The Senior Pass, along with five passes included in the America the Beautiful -- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass program -- provides access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by six Federal agencies. The Senior Pass covers all entrance fees and standard amenity (day use) fees and may provide senior discounts for things such as tours or campsites. The pass also waives the entrance fee for travelling companions.

"The lifetime Senior Pass will continue to give seniors access to parks and public lands nationwide, and even at $80, it is an incredible value," said Jamie Connell, State Director for BLM Oregon/Washington.

Senior passes purchased before August 28 are still good for life. The current $10 Senior Pass will continue to be sold until the $80 senior pass is implemented on August 28.

Additional information about the BLM's recreation program is available online at: https://www.blm.gov/visit.

WASHINGTON -- This week, July 17-21, the Bureau of Land Management joins the Department of the Interior in celebrating the Trump Administration's "Made in America" Week. With responsibility for managing more than 10 percent of the nation's land and 30 percent of its subsurface minerals, the BLM supports American-made goods and services in many ways.

"The BLM strives to be a good neighbor in the communities we serve, while providing opportunities for economic growth as well as traditional uses such as ranching, mining, logging, energy development as well as recreational activities like hunting and fishing," said Acting Director Michael Nedd. "Public lands provide valuable, tangible goods and materials we rely on every day to heat our homes, build our roads, and feed our families, among many other activities."

In total, the BLM's management of public lands supported 374,000 jobs and provided $88 billion in economic output throughout the country in FY 2015.

The BLM's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America's public lands for the multiple use and enjoyment of present and future generations. This includes a variety of commercial-, recreation-, and conservation-based products and services. In addition to energy-related products such as coal, oil, natural gas, and renewables, examples include:

· Non-energy minerals. Many types of non-energy minerals, including sand, gravel, dirt, and rock, are essential for everyday construction uses. The BLM issued new contract sales and use permits for nearly 20 million cubic yards of such mineral materials in 2015, with a combined value of nearly $28 million.

· Grazing. The BLM administers nearly 18,000 permits and leases held by ranchers who graze their livestock, mostly cattle and sheep, at least part of the year on more than 21,000 allotments. We manage livestock grazing on 155 million acres of public lands.

· Forestry. One-quarter of the 245 million acres managed by the BLM are forest ecosystems. Through responsible management, the BLM ensures the health and resilience of the nation's public forest lands, as well as the availability of forest products like timber. In 2015, the BLM offered 243 million board feet of timber for sale, enough to build approximately 10,500 homes.

· Helium. The Federal Helium Reserve is a resource owned by the American people and managed by the BLM. Crude helium is an important resource for technology development and other important uses related to national defense, energy, medicine, industry, and space exploration. Currently, the BLM's crude helium plant satisfies approximately 42 percent of U.S. helium demand and 15 percent of global demand.

· Recreation. BLM-managed public lands offer more recreational opportunities -- such as hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking -- than those managed by any other federal agency. Lands used for recreation (including the BLM's National Conservation Lands) contribute significantly to local economies, with BLM-managed lands receiving more than 62.4 million recreation-related visits in 2015.


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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America's public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In fiscal year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.


Attached Media Files: 2017-07/5514/106206/Made_in_America_Public_Lands_PR_Final_071817.pdf